Entertainment: Becoming a film lyricist is a dream for many. Poets, writers, and storytellers often aspire to see their names on the silver screen. However, writing songs for films isn’t as easy as it seems, as renowned lyricist Anant Sriram explained. In a recent interview with a web channel, he explained that becoming a film lyricist requires constant practice and dedication. Entering this field requires not only talent but also a lot of patience and perseverance.
Anant Sriram explained that he began his journey as a film lyricist at the age of twelve. He practiced continuously for over twenty years before gradually becoming a professional lyricist. He emphasized that anyone who decides to write for films should be prepared to work hard for at least fifteen years before writing their first song. He added that film songwriting is very challenging and requires understanding many aspects of cinema and staying up to date with changing trends.
He further explained the scale of the Telugu film industry. With direct releases, dubbing projects, and other releases, over 300 films are released each year. On average, if a film has five songs, a lyricist has to write approximately 1,500 songs each year. Yet, only ten top lyricists handle the bulk of this work. Even if each one writes six songs a month, they are still completely busy, resulting in a total of only about 720 songs a year. This leaves the remaining songs open to newcomers, highlighting the opportunities in this field. However, Ananth Sriram explained that very few people actually pursue this profession. With dedication, literary understanding, and passion, he emphasized that anyone can establish themselves as a film lyricist if they heed his advice.
Speaking about his career, Ananth Sriram described 2026 as a special year. This year, he’s successfully writing songs across multiple genres—breakup songs, fresh love tracks, mass songs, introduction tracks, and item numbers. He revealed that his lyrics are included in highly anticipated projects, including the Ram Charan-starrer Peddi, as well as other much-awaited films like Prabhas’ Spirit.
He also explained his working style, revealing that it took him two and a half months to complete a song for Peddi. He had planned to collaborate with director Buchi Babu since Uppena, and that work finally came to fruition with Peddi. Ananth Sriram praised Buchi Babu for placing great importance on music and paying special attention to the lyrics in his films.
