Lyricist Sreemani feels that keeping oneself abreast with the latest trends in music and soundscape is the key to success. As he turns a year older today (September 15th), the prominent Tollywood lyricist throws light on what has made him tick in the hyper-competitive, demanding Telugu cinema space.
"Over the past five years, sound design in both music and lyrics has evolved. The listener is going to remember your song only if the aural aesthetic is unique. I stay informed about the emerging trends," Sreemani says, adding that, for him, the lyrics have to age well. "They have to offer freshness to the listener even after a decade," he comments.
Sreemani, in recent months, has stood by his own standards. "Songs like Bujji Thalli and Hailessa in Thandel, Nijama Kala in Lucky Bhaskar, and tracks from AAY earned me good recognition," he tells, suggesting that the visions of the directors of these movies helped him navigate the tricky game. Thandel was an emotional love story, and penning profound love songs is a dream for any lyricist. Little wonder that Sreemani is staying on the top of the age, working on some of the most important movies in the making: Dulquer Salmaan's Aakasamlo Oka Thaara, Sai Durgha Tej's Sambarala Yeti Gattu, and Nikhil Siddharth's India House. Each of these movies belongs to rare genres. The first of these is a drama, the second one is a raw, emotional action drama, while the last one is a period drama set in the British-Indian era.
Over the years, Sreemani has also written for big-ticket movies starring superstars like Mahesh Babu. A song written for Maharshi received praise from Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, a legend he deeply admires. "It was director Sukumar garu who introduced me to the industry with 100% Love. So, when he appreciated me for a song in Geetha Govindam, it truly felt special," Sreemani reveals.
Sreemani doesn't pen some crucial, narration-based songs without knowing the whole story. For Maharshi's Idhe Kadha, he learned about the whole character arc of Mahesh's character.
There are moments when some songs made him sought-after for particular genres. Gaganapu Veedhi Veedhi in Pawan Kalyan's Attarintiki Daredi is one such instance.
He notices a palpable change in the tastes of listeners in the Instagram era. They expect songs to be catchy. "They want songs to be instantly likeable. In the age of instant chartbusters, you have to balance depth and engagement," Sreemani analyzes. "I ensure the song communicates the emotion clearly to everyone through subtle words, without losing meaning in sound," he ponders.
Sreemani, far from being exhausted as a song-writer, now wants to venture into other branches of writing. He hints at wanting to debut as a dialogue writer. For years, he has participated in story discussions whenever he could. "As far as I am concerned, I have to do my bit to enhance the appeal of literary interventions," he says.
