Javed Akhtar on the ‘Big Challenge’ of Writing Lyrics for The Archies Soundtrack

Among India’s most veteran writers, Javed Akhtar has more than 50 years of working in Indian cinema, from legendary films like Sholay and Deewar to Border in the Nineties and coming-of-age stories like Dil Chahta Hai and period dramas like Jodhaa Akbar.

If there’s anyone who can balance youth-oriented flicks like Rock On!!, Wake Up Sid and Gully Boy alongside capers like Don and historical films like Mohenjo Daro and Panipat, it’s Akhtar. He’s got that proven track record and carries it forward into The Archies, the new Netflix film and adaptation of the Archie comics out on December 7th. The lyricist worked with composer trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar (his daughter), singer-songwriters like Ankur Tewari, Dot. (who plays Ethel Muggs in The Archies) and more, delivering upbeat, roaring songs like “Sunoh,” “Va Va Voom” and “Dhishoom Dhishoom.”

More than anything, Akhtar says it was key to speak the language of the characters through songs, reflecting the personalities of Archie Andrews (played by Agastya Nanda), Betty Cooper (played by Khushi Kapoor), Veronica Lodge (played by Suhana Khan) and more.

In an interview with Rolling Stone India, Akhtar talks about working on The Archies, being familiar with the cultural context, working with artists across generations and why he doesn’t delve on his past work. Excerpts:

Rolling Stone India: What was it like creating a lyrical universe for the music for The Archies? Considering it’s set in the Sixties, in the Anglo-Indian community.

Javed Akhtar: I’ve been writing since the Eighties and I have written for different kinds of films, different casts whether young or old. It offers you a challenge.

Sometimes the film story is different, the cultural background is different but the song has the same vocabulary – jaanejaan blah blah blah. That’s not good lyric writing.

The vocabulary of the lyrics should always come out of the cultural background of the story and what kind of language the culture speaks. Like Rock On!!, like Lagaan, or Jodhaa Akbar. I wouldn’t use “Jashn-e-Bahara” in Lagaan. I won’t use “Mitwa” [from Swades] in Dil Chahta Hain or Rock On!!.

As a songwriter or a dialog writer, those two roles take responsibility of what is heard in the film, the words. They should be in sync with the characters, with the cultural background.

Archies was a big challenge for me. As you say, it’s set in the Sixties and it’s about a little town called Riverdale ahead of Mussoorie and its own culture and so on. Now, you have to stretch your imagination and think about what kind of language these characters will have in their dialogs. I’d heard the dialogs and the attempt of the lyricist should be to have the least difference between the vocabulary of the dialogue and that of the lyrics. It should not feel like the lyrics have come from some other zamaana.

When they are singing a song, we should feel that yes, this vocabulary is within the realm of the experience or memories. That was a big challenge.

We use so many English words while talking, so inevitably whether Archie is singing, Betty is singing or Veronica is singing, some English words will not feel good, it may not suit them and it will look like the songwriter’s language. I have used words very discretely.

Then there’s the additional context to the whole movie, the Archie comic book series. How familiar were you with it? Did you need further familiarization at all?

Actually, if I’m not exaggerating, Archie comics were much more common and in vogue in my days than it is today. I’m familiar with all these characters. Mujhe malum tha, lekin agar kisine zindagi mein Archies ka naam bhi nahi suna tha [I knew of them, but even if someone had never heard of the name in their lives] without reading the comic books, then it’s a self-explanatory story. You’re not watching different characters [in this film].

The film undoubtedly also reflects some Gen Z values and the cast is young, as are some of the singers like Dot. and Tejas. What was the experience like?

You can work with younger people and it’s something I’ve done right from my initial career. You can only function with them if you are realistic enough to realize that there are many things that they know and we don’t. Yes it’s true that there are many things that you know that they don’t, but it is mutual.

Only because you were born 20, 30 or 40 years before them, you cannot sit on a pedestal of wisdom and give them gyaan, because there’s so many things that… it is their world. We are living here, but the world belongs to them. We better be humble enough to listen to them carefully, give respect to their opinions and be with them. You can’t reject and say, ‘I have lived on this Earth for so many more years, I have all the answers. I know what is right.’ That will be totally wrong. You can’t function that way. There comes the generation gap and so on. There has to be genuine respect.

How do you make the connect or rather stay connected with every new generation?

I get connected because I really respect them and admire them. I think they’re doing things that we have not done. They have a better understanding of today’s world, because they’re living in these times. Of course, we have an understanding of our times and particularly language, but certain sensibilities, understanding and expressions which is relevant today are better understood by you. You better listen to them carefully to know what they want and why they want it, or perhaps why they’re not happy with a particular word and want you to replace it. If you have the objectivity, then you can function with them.

What was your favorite song to work on off The Archies soundtrack?

Mujhe 3-4 gaane bohot pasand hai [There are three or four songs I really like], but it’s difficult to pick. I think ‘Va Va Voom’ and ‘Sunoh’ – I liked them a lot.

For someone who has written some of the most relatable work across genres and generations, what would you term as a definitive breakthrough for yourself early on?

I don’t … that is for others to decide. When you are given something to work on, you try to do it as good as possible with your best efforts. Then, it’s gone and if it’s appreciated by the world, thank you very much. If it’s not, then you try again.

I don’t believe in falling in love with my past. You won’t believe it, I have written for films that are very popular and liked by people, but I don’t see them again. I’ve seen not my old films in many, many years. Being involved with your past… it’s not a very healthy thing. Sometimes you get appreciated but you move on and see what you can do now, instead of thinking of what you have already done.

People always argue that music or even lyrics “aren’t what they used to be” and there’s often talk about “the good old days.” As someone who’s been there and seen different decades, what’s your opinion?

Lyrics are part of the narrative. You see, it cannot transcend the narrative because it’s part of it. If you want [1957 film] Pyaasa lyrics [by Sahir Ludhianvi], then you need to have a script like Pyaasa. It’s a story with those situations that give you some room to write the song. If the film is providing such a situation which is intense, emotional, heartfelt, then you’ll able to write a song like that.

The song heavily depends on the situation and the narrative of the film. The songs and lyrics are not monkeys sitting on the shoulder of the narrative. They’re part of it.

What else is coming up for you through 2023 and 2024 that you’re looking forward to?

While we’re talking about Archies, it would be very unfair if we didn’t mention Shankar Ehsaan Loy. I think they have created the right tunes, the orchestration, the right message in the songs. Every note sounds like it’s from the Sixties. They’ve offered so much variety.

‘The Archies’ is now streaming on Netflix. Hear the soundtrack below.