Mumbai, Oct 6
Actress Somy Ali has voiced her concern over society’s indifference toward poets, emphasizing how their true worth often goes unrecognized during their lifetime.
In her recent post on Instagram, she reflected on the lack of dignity and respect shown to those who dedicate their lives to words and expression. Ali noted that their contributions are often celebrated only after their passing. Somy posted a video of herself and penned a lengthy note that read, “One of the most beautiful Hindi songs ever. I wish I could translate it. It’s about the lack of dignity and respect society displays against poets. It’s only upon their death, their work is cherished and they never get to learn their worth.â€
She added, “But this song is about a poet who doesn’t care about whether or not society accepts his poetry and he keeps on. The message is to do what makes you happy rather than seeking validation from those who don’t appreciate you or your existence. My childhood crush Rajesh Khanna (Kaka ji) lip syncs this song sang by the legendary Kishor Kumar ji. The movie is amazing too. Must watch with subtitles.â€
“I was literally seven when I watched this and was crying assuming the post is actually losing his life. A decade later, I was playing his daughter’s role in a movie called #mafia with Mr. Raza Murad. It was a triple treat as the most beautiful and talented actress for me in the entire world being, Rekha, was also a part of the song. #beauti̇fulsongs #kakajiisthebest #razamurad #namakharam #rekhajikideewani #somyalisfavs #amitji.â€
On the work front, Somy Ali gained recognition for her performances in popular films such as “Anth†(1994), “Yaar Gaddar†(1994), “Andolan†(1995), and “Chupp†(1997).
— IANS
Reader Comments
Somy Ali makes a valid point. In our society, we're so busy chasing material success that we forget the soul of our culture lies in poetry and art. Remember how Faiz Ahmed Faiz's work gained global recognition only after his death?
While I appreciate the sentiment, I wish Somy had suggested practical ways to support living poets. Just talking about the problem isn't enough - we need action. Maybe organizing poetry readings or buying poetry books would help?
Beautiful message! The part about doing what makes you happy rather than seeking validation really hit home. In today's social media age, we're all seeking likes and validation. Poets remind us of deeper truths. â¤ï¸
As someone new to Indian culture, I find this perspective fascinating. The reverence for poetry seems so deeply embedded in Indian society through Bollywood songs and classical literature. It's sad that living poets struggle though.
True that! Look at Sahir Ludhianvi or Kaifi Azmi - their work defined generations of film music, but how many young people today know about their struggles? We need to teach our children to value poetry from school itself.
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