World Poetry Day: Anand Pandit Says, "Amitabh Bachchan Doesn't Just Recite But Embodies Poetry With His..."

"Chehre ne khud apni saza ka intezaam kiya hai," as Amitabh Bachchan delivered the punchline of this poem in the promotional video for the 2021 release 'Chehre' , it became clear once again why this consummate performer is an inimitable legend. On World Poetry Day (March 21), pan-Indian producer Anand Pandit recalls, "My generation fell in love with Amit ji's recitation of Sahir Ludhiyavi's 'Kabhi Kabhi' and the way he filled Javed Akhtar's verses in 'Ye Kahan Aa Gaye Hum' with passion. It was my dream to have him recite poetry in one of my films and when he agreed to record not one but two poems for 'Chehre', I was beside myself with joy. He doesn't just recite but embodies poetry with his masterful diction, perfect modulation and iconic voice."

The poems penned by director Rumi Jaffrey for 'Chehre' were layered with suggestions about what happens to the human psyche when it is shadowed by guilt. "When Amit ji narrated, "Main jurm chehre ke aaj yahan chupane laga hoon," we got chills. He not only delivers a line perfectly but also effortlessly communicates its meaning. He is after all the son of one of India's most celebrated poets Harivansh Rai Bachchan," says Pandit.

Pandit misses the era when poetry was an intrinsic art of Hindi cinema and says, "Be it 'Pyasa', 'Barasat ki Raat', 'Mere Mehboob', 'Ghazal' or 'Taj Mahal' or just the general level of lyric writing, our songs and even stories were so poetic. Recently, 'Saiyyara' had some modern poetry and I think it reminded people of just how romantic and soul-stirring good writing can be."

Since India has had great poetic talents, he hopes more films will revive the tradition of incorporating lyricism in their narratives.