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From judging one of television’s most popular reality shows, to penning lyrics for some of the topmost banners in Bollwood, Javed Akhtar manages to juggle quite a few occupations, and he does so with consummate ease. “I have always had too much time in my hand. I never overburden myself with work.” In Kolkata, to promote the fourth season of Indian Idol along with his co-judges, Anu Maliik and Sonali Bendre, Akhtar talks about his time-management tactics and more.
“For the past three season we have managed to find some very talented singers. While the men are talented, we have always felt that the women have received a raw deal so far. The girls always get eliminated in the voting round and we are hoping that gradually the mindset of the voting audience changes,” says Akhtar. Talking about participants from the previous editions of the show like Prajakta Shukre, Deepali and Monali Thakur, he said that they all had the potential to be winners. And this time he hopes that the competition will have a female winner.
The show’s format too has changed this time, making it more versatile. The reason, says the judge, is because participants often memorised certain songs that suited their voice and performed well. However, that did not test their versatility and they would falter in other rounds. “This time we are looking for singers who can perform a wide range of songs, we are looking for variation.”
Another characteristic feature of the show has been the controversies that have plagued it. It’s often felt that the judges should play bigger role in selecting the winners instead of leaving the fate of the contestants to popular voting. Akhtar feels that the show needs to have a popular winner. “While the judges may be qualified enough to pick up winners we cannot deny the fact that the show is about people, which is the reason the winners and chosen by the voting system,” he says.
Apart from the show, this year will also see the release of the much-awaited Love Story 2050 for which he has penned the lyrics and the release of his next book of poetry, Lava. Akhtar is also waiting eagerly for his son’s on-screen debut Rock On. “I am quite excited about it. I went to Mumbai to be a director but I guess I was too lazy. Farhan managed to become one and now he is also an actor.” And then there are talks about a sequel to Don. “I have little knowledge about it. I may have written the original screenplay with Salim but Farhan and his friend are writing this. If he approaches me for something I will help him.”
Having been a part of Bollywood for more than four decades, Akhtar feels that the films and music too have evolved, especially after the disastrous 1980s—the period he likes to call the dark ages of Hindi cinema. “There was a time when people were moving away from literature and poetry, thankfully that period has gone. These days I feel good to see many youngsters writing poetry. It shows that there is much hope, the only thing left for them to do is to correct their technique. Tshe revival of interest is a positive sign indeed.”
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