Each song was poetic...

Legendary composer Khayyam, recently honoured with the K L Saigal Life Achievement Award, tells Neha Bhatt why songs didn't need to be "promoted" in his time.

What are you working on now?
I have to keep myself busy, because I don’t like to sit idle. While I plan to continue my work in the film industry, I have also been involved in a few projects for television. At the moment, I am weighing my options vis-à-vis the film offers I have in hand. I recently completed a Doordarshan serial for which I composed music. It’s called Bikhri Aas Nikhri Preet. At the same time, I’m composing an album with USA-based artiste Anshu Sharma. But one thing must be said: 50 per cent of my work is my wife Jagjit Kaur’s contribution. It would be wrong not to mention her.

The music you composed for films such as Umrao Jaan and Kabhie Kabhie continues to be popular. What is your reaction to what is called popular music today?
I don’t have a problem with the quality of music today. I have no doubt about the sincerity of this generation of music composers. But, I suppose, filmmakers have their own agenda about the kind of music they want for their films. It’s the obscenity that accompanies the music that I don’t agree with. It’s plain dirty. In my experience, if the music of a film is good, it will be a super-hit without the producer having to spend crores on its publicity. Unfortunately, it looks like most of today’s music has the shelf-life of its promotional period. The song is forgotten the moment a new tune comes into the market. In my time, music would travel in the most the natural way — it would gain popularity based primarily on the strength of its composition and singers. Each song was poetic, purposeful, melodious and meaningful — we didn’t need promotion.

Outside of music, what are your interests?
I like to watch cricket and tennis once in a while. It’s good to divert the mind and not get lost in one aspect of life. I also immerse myself in poetry, most often the works of Ghalib, Khusro and Harivanshrai Bachchan.

How much relevance do awards hold at a time when questions have been raised about their authenticity?
I have received many state and national awards and it is always encouraging to be honoured. It’s another way of saying that people must have understood my work and what I am.