'Who wants to watch Mahatma Gandhi?' : Swanand Kirkire opens up on skeptics who predicted the Sanjay Dutt starrer ‘Munna Bhai’ would flop

For lyricist, singer and actor Swanand Kirkire, music was never part of the original plan. Long before he became known for writing memorable songs such as 'All Izz Well', 'Tu Kisi Rail Si' and several other chartbusters, his ambition was to direct films.

However, destiny had a different script in store. Speaking about his journey on World Music Day, Kirkire revealed that the overwhelming success of 'Bawra Mann' opened unexpected doors and gradually steered him towards a flourishing career in songwriting.Speaking to Mid-Day about those early years, he said, "I never wanted to do music as a profession, but it gave me name and fame. I wanted to do direction. But after my first song, Bawra Mann became such a rage, I kept getting opportunities.

Big banners came to me and I did work like 'Parineeta', 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.' so there was no looking back."The song's success not only established him as a lyricist but also connected him with some of the biggest filmmakers and composers in the industry.

The painful reviews during 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S' that nearly shattered confidence

Despite becoming one of India's most respected lyricists, Kirkire's journey was far from smooth. He remembered facing scepticism and criticism during the early stages of his career, especially when working on projects that challenged conventional thinking. One such example was director Rajkumar Hirani's 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.', which many industry insiders initially believed would fail because of its unusual premise and references to Mahatma Gandhi.

Looking back, Kirkire recalled, "When we were making Munna Bhai, everybody said it won’t work and who wants to watch Mahatma Gandhi? But the makers encouraged us and said they would go with it. Eventually, we became a trend." He added that taking creative leaps often attracts criticism before audiences fully embrace the idea.The lyricist also revisited the difficult period following the release of 'Bawra Mann', composed by Shantanu Moitra.

Contrary to what many may assume today, the song was not universally praised when it first arrived. "The first review was too bad. Me and Shantanu Moitra were crying reading that review. We kept wondering, ‘What have we done?’" he revealed. Over time, however, the song found its audience and eventually became one of the most loved tracks of its era.

Why 'Navrai Majhi' was a gamble worth taking

Among the many songs he has written, Kirkire considers 'Navrai Majhi' from director Gauri Shinde's 'English Vinglish' a major example of how taking risks can pay off.

At a time when Bollywood wedding songs were largely dominated by Punjabi beats and themes, the team chose to celebrate Marathi culture instead.Explaining the thought process behind the decision, Kirkire said, "Gauri Shinde, the director, me and Amitra, we took that chance. We made a Marathi song. And it became a rage to an extent that in every wedding people dance on Navrai Majhi." The track, composed by Amit Trivedi, went on to become a wedding favourite across the country despite initial doubts surrounding its appeal.The success of 'Navrai Majhi' reinforced Kirkire's belief that artists must constantly challenge accepted formulas. According to him, innovation often requires stepping away from what appears commercially safe and trusting one's creative instincts. "So you have to keep breaking the norms and take risks. Sometimes you might fail and sometimes you can just hit it out of the park also," he said.He further revealed that many people associated with the film, including its producers, had urged the team to opt for a more conventional Punjabi wedding number.

"Nobody thought that a Marathi wedding song would be so good. Because everybody, even the producers were insisting us to play safe and curate a Punjabi wedding song so everyone can dance on it," he recalled. Yet director Gauri Shinde remained committed to her vision, a decision that ultimately paid rich dividends.

"But director insisted on having a Marathi song and now everybody appreciates it and talks about it," Kirkire added.

What lies ahead for Swanand Kirkire?

Apart from his continued work in music and cinema, Swanand Kirkire is also gearing up for his next acting project, 'Yeh Prem Moh Liya'. Directed by

Sooraj Barjatya

, the film features

Ayushmann Khurrana

and Sharvari in leading roles and is among the anticipated releases on the horizon.