“I want to become a granddad soon,” says Big B. Now, we are not saying that but a national news channel devoted half an hour slot on prime time this Sunday to this headline. Now, let me elucidate the facts a bit more clearly. Amitabh Bachchan was the chief guest at the launch of lyricist Sameer’s biography ‘Safarnama’ at Bhaidas Hall in Mumbai on Saturday.

Sameer who was overwhelmed by the occasion with the who’s-who present to celebrate his big moment, reminisced how his father lyricist Anjaan had written the famous ‘Khaike Paan Banaraswala’ for AB in the original ‘Don’. Sameer himself has written many songs for Big B (Including the forthcoming ‘Babul’). In an emotional moment, the lyricist of 500 films and over 5000 songs said that he wishes that his five year old son will be writing lyrics for Abhishek Bachchan’s son some day. It was in this context that Mr Bachchan in a lighter vein said while speaking good about Sameer that, “I have to catch a flight and would have to leave early and I am also eager to reach home so that I can ask Abhishek to produce a few sons so that Sameer’s son can write for them.” It was disheartening to see the news channels picking up Bachchan’s byte and repeating it again and again and not for a single time mentioned in what context he had said it.    

As for the evening of poetry and song, then I must say it was a pleasure all the way to listen to good voices of singers like Jaspinder Narula and Babul Supriyo amongst many others belting out one song after another written by Sameer. I’ve never held Sameer in a high esteem as a lyricist but I must say that the kind of respect he commands from the big wigs of industry that day is a huge achievement in its own way. It was clear everyone had a lot of respect and regard for the man. Amongst those present were Yash Chopra, David Dhawan, Vashu Bhagnani, Anu Malik, Jatin-Lalit, Advertising guru-lyricist Prasoon Joshi, Kunal Ganjawala, Udit Narayan, Shravan (Nadeem-Shravan), Ashok Pandit etc.