Manu Manjith: If you ask me whether I am a lyricist or a fan of Gireesh Puthenchery, I would pick the latter

For over a decade, Dr. Manu Manjith, the much-celebrated lyricist, has been capturing the hearts of Malayali music lovers. From the soulful 'Thiruvavaniravu' to the enchanting 'Angu Vaana Konilu,' his mastery of language has left an indelible mark. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Manu Manjith opens up about his journey, his inspirations, and the ongoing debate surrounding the quality of Malayalam movie songs.Reflecting on his unexpected foray into the film industry, Manu Manjith reminisces about a pivotal moment—a spontaneous phone call to his longtime friend and director Midhun Manuel—that set his lyrical journey in motion."Coming from a family where my mother was a school teacher and my father a bank manager, the film industry always felt like a distant dream. It was only after establishing my career as a doctor that I decided to revisit my long-lost love for cinema. When I heard that Midhun was making a movie, I reached out to him, asking if I could join his team. Without any hesitation, he invited me to Kochi. That was my first step into the industry," Manu Manjith reminisced.Later, the opportunity to write lyrics for 'Om Shanthi Oshana' came to Manu Manjith unexpectedly, marking a turning point in his career."Midhun was working on his debut film, initially titled 'Olakudayum Kunfu Pandayum,' which later became the iconic 'Om Shanthi Oshana.' Knowing that I had previously written some devotional songs and a tribute to Gireesh Puthencherry, he asked if I would like to try my hand at writing a song. And that’s how 'Mandarame' was born," he shared.Making a grand entry into the industry with a major hit, Manu Manjith quickly became a favorite among Malayalam music directors. While his collaboration with Shaan Rahman was creating waves, he also captured hearts with his hit songs in 'Vikramadithyan,' a Bijibal musical. Reflecting on one of his most unforgettable moments, Manu recalled the first words he ever heard from director Lal Jose."Several leading lyricists in Malayalam had submitted their versions for the songs in 'Vikramadithyan.' I had also sent mine and was anxiously waiting for a response. Within hours, I received a message from Lal Jose sir. He said, 'Manu, you have beautifully captured everything I had conveyed. We haven’t met yet, but I’m confident you will go on to write many more songs in Malayalam.' I still cherish those words," Manu shared.This success was soon followed by his much-celebrated hit 'Thiruvavaniravu,' paving the way for a series of chartbusters like 'Muthugavu,' 'Godha,' 'Aanandam,' 'Uyire,' and the recent sensation 'ARM.'No interview with Manu Manjith is complete without mentioning his idol, Malayalam’s all-time favorite lyricist Gireesh Puthencherry. Manu describes the late artist as not just his inspiration, but his obsession."Yes, he is my biggest obsession. If I ever start talking about him, I can never stop. Malayalam is blessed with many talented lyricists, and he is one of the geniuses among them. I haven’t seen any writer balance beauty, sound, emotion, and meter with such perfection. I was fortunate to meet him at a young age, and now, when I look back, I realize how blessed I was to have had that moment in my life. Each of his songs is a textbook for me. People appreciate me for writing in simple language, but I am inspired by the legend who expressed love as simply as, 'Enthinennariyilla Njan Ente Muthine Ethrayo Snehichirunnirunnu.' If you ask me whether I’m a lyricist or a Gireesh Puthencherry fan, I’m the latter," he gushed.While his songs are gaining attention for their poetic beauty, it’s the clever use of colloquial words that makes them even more captivating. Whether it's the catchy 'Kudukku Pottiya Kuppayam' or the lively 'Mayam Kaatti Mayakkidalle,' his lyrics are filled with expressions from the Malabar slang that resonate with listeners."For sure, my songs carry the influence of the Kozhikottukaran in me. Oyyaram, Payyaram—the slang has its own unique beauty. Though it might not be as familiar to people from other districts, they can easily grasp the meaning. I prefer to keep my songs simple; that's how I know it," he added.Sharing his thoughts on the ongoing debate about the quality of contemporary Malayalam songs compared to the old ones, Manu says that everyone believes that their time was the best."Will the current generation ever understand what Sachin Tendulkar means to us? Just like that, everyone thinks of their time as the best. You can't expect a masterpiece of poetry in every movie song. You can write 'Ulakithinodum Porithidumini Njan Ninne Nedan Azhage' for an eccentric lover like Shibu, but not for a random romantic. Movies have evolved over the years, with changes in the emotional depth of characters and plots, and naturally, songs have followed suit. Songs are tools that enhance a situation or a character, so it has got its own way," he concluded.