Sameer Anjaan discusses songwriting challenges with A. R. Rahman

Veteran Hindi cinema lyricist Sameer Anjaan has discussed the creative difficulties he encountered while collaborating with Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A. R. Rahman. Speaking on Komal Nahta’s ‘Game Changers: The Music Series’ podcast, Anjaan noted that his sole collaboration with Rahman was for the film ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’.

Anjaan explained that the songwriting process was particularly demanding because certain lyrics were inspired by the original words of the ‘Shaheeds’ (martyrs). Reimagining and adapting these historical lines for the film presented a significant challenge, though he described the experience as a ‘fun memory’.

Anjaan, a Guinness World Record holder for writing the highest number of film songs, is recognized for his prolific work during the 1990s and his ability to compose emotional and romantic lyrics.