Ramajogaiah Sastry: Waltair Veerayya, Veera Simha Reddy will be a musical feast for crowds

Ramajogaiah Sastry, one of the leading lyricists in Telugu cinema, is a fine example of someone who balances mainstream appeal in a song with strong literary value. He has written songs for as many as three Sankranthi releases in 2023, from Waltair Veerayya to Veera Simha Reddy and Vaarasudu (dubbed). While he’s written all the songs for Veera Simha Reddy, he has penned one song for Waltair Veerayya i.e. Neekemo Andham Ekkuva.. Ahead of the festive releases, the lyricist spoke to the media today.

“I didn’t plan to write for all the Sankranti releases. It is just a happy coincidence. Neekemo Andham Ekkuva in Waltair Veerayya is such a fun number to write for. There’s an interesting concept surrounding the song and they gave me a catchy tune and I’m very happy with the way it has shaped up. I will also appear on the screen briefly for Maa Baava Manobhaavalu in Veera Simha Reddy,” the veteran shares.

Writers’ block is something he doesn’t experience, he says, despite working in a flurry of films. “The experience ultimately helps, in addition to the song situations and the right techniques. However, it takes some effort and time to come up with a pathbreaking song. For Veera Simha Reddy and Waltair Veerayya, the banners gave me enough time. Moreover, I heard the entire story of Veera Simha Reddy and could write impactful lyrics. It was a delight to work with Thaman.”

He’s confident that the fourth single of Veera Simha Reddy, Mass Mogudu, will surpass the popularity of the other songs. Being the sole lyricist for an album is advantageous to ensure consistency, the lyricist says. “Beyond ‘the single card’ tag, our aim is here to bring a director’s vision to life. However, if six songs in a film written by different lyricists, it becomes the director’s responsibility to ensure consistency in the wordage.”

The challenge for a lyricist is the same regardless of the star, Sastry mentions. “It’s not easy to come up with something new for a love number. I’d already written for Balakrishna’s songs in the past and there’s pressure to please the listener while not being redundant.” He tries to use words that resonate instantly to a common man and born out of his everyday jargon - the best example being Maa Baava Manobhaavalu. Mass Mogudu is expected to arrive before the climax of Veera Simha Reddy.

The lyricist is sure about the box office prospects of Waltair Veerayya and Veera Simha Reddy. “I have written the lyrics to suit the image of the stars. I mostly write lyrics after a tune is finalised.” On his advice for younger lyricists, he shares, “Honestly introspect if you have the flair for writing a song. Many have the ability to write poetry but writing songs in films is dependent on a tune. One must be prepared to write without a tune too. Simplicity is a must. You need to read well and be patient for opportunities.”