Mushairas today have become a performing art ...Earlier, there were just 10 per cent who were actors. Ninety per cent of the poets had a literary background. Now, only two or three poets, have a literary flavour to their poetry ... A special breed of poets recite only a special kind of poetry (on) controversial, burning issues alone. Today there are just four criteria for organising a Mushaira: Who will conduct it? How many women poets are attending it? How many humorous poets are coming? And how many poets can deliver their verse in 'tarannum'? In fact, there are organisers who go around scouting for 'successful' poets in the poet meets held in smaller towns. Almost like an animal fair, where buyers scout for the best cows.

... The public still likes quality. Look at the songs which are hits these days. Only those with content and combine melody with lyricism. So who says people want mediocrity! Moreover, if you consistently offer a diet high on masala, the flavour of good, clean stuff might just be forgotten. With no choice, the public must necessarily opt for the vulgar and the crass. Poetry is a part of culture. You cannot eradicate it from the fabric of our nation.

I haven't stopped writing lyrics for Hindi cinema. Unfortunately But I am choosy. I write only for those films where the songs are an integral part of the film and there is scope for poetry. I cannot write about Kabootars on the rooftops ... (Source: The Times of India, 27 September, 1998)