Veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam has addressed recent remarks made by director Anurag Kashyap, who criticised the increasing use of English lyrics in Tamil film songs. Kashyap had stated that the trend “didn’t make sense at all”, with the rise of bilingual and English-heavy music in South Indian cinema.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Ratnam responded to the criticism in the context of his upcoming film Thug Life, which includes a track titled “Sugar Baby” featuring prominent English lyrics. Ratnam said such choices are guided by creative fit rather than a fixed formula.
“You don’t go in with rules saying, ‘I will do only this,’” he said. “If it feels right, then you take that step which feels right for you. Why box yourself in with some false grammar?”
Ratnam emphasised his long-standing respect for the Tamil language and its literary heritage, noting that many of his past collaborations with composer A.R. Rahman have drawn on Tamil poetry. However, he said there’s room for a mix of styles. “If sometimes you need a ‘Sugar Baby’ and it feels right, then you go for it,” he added.
He also rejected the idea that English lyrics are used simply to appeal to younger audiences. “That alone doesn’t make a product. Just trying to be young and cool is not enough,” Ratnam said. He explained that audiences respond to authenticity, not trends, and that stylistic choices should serve the story and characters.
On staying relevant to younger generations, Ratnam compared it to writing about unfamiliar subjects. “If you have to write a script based on mafia people, you’ve never been one. But you still write films based on that,” he said.
Ratnam is currently promoting Thug Life, which stars Kamal Haasan and features an ensemble cast including Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Pankaj Tripathi. The film marks the first collaboration between Ratnam and Haasan since Nayakan in 1987.
Published - May 28, 2025 11:49 am IST
