I got exposed to B’wood in Kanpur: Sandeep Nath

Lyricist Sandeep Nath, who’s known for songs like 'Sunn Raha Hai Na Tu,' 'Jalwa' and 'Kitne Ajeeb Rishte', may belong to Allahabad, but has a strong Kanpur connect too. The lyricist says that this industrial town was where he got his first taste of Bollywood. In town recently, to attend a friend’s engagement, Nath talks about the city’s contribution in his life as a song writer and filmmaker.
Nath, who used to spend his summer vacations in Kanpur at his nani’s place, says it was Kanpur where he used to get to watch movies."Meri naniji ji ka ghar Birhana road par hai. In my childhood, I used to spend the entire summer vacation here in Kanpur. My father was very strict and he never used to allow me to watch movies in Allahabad. Chhuttiyon main kabhi koi Bhakt Prahlad type ki movie aa jaye toh zaroor dekhne ko mil jaati thi. But when I used to come to Kanpur, I used to get the freedom of watching movies. Luckily there were lots of cinema halls near Birhana Road. And since my mamas used to give me lots of pocket money, I would watch a movie nearly every day. Movie ke baad wahin pe lage thele se khoob chaat-pakodi khaata tha. Dhokla was a novelty at that time because it used to be available only in Kanpur. There were so many attractions for me in Kanpur that I used to love coming here and I used to consider it my real home," says Sandeep.
The song writer-director further adds, "Kanpur is the place where I actually fell in love with movies. This is where I got exposed to Bollywood music too and the words of the songs would haunt me for days. I would think ki kya main bhi kabhi aise gaane likh paunga? And now, I am a lyricist and a filmmaker!"
Continuing with the thought, Sandeep says, "At times I feel ki agar Kanpur main itni movie na dekhta toh shayad aaj main Bollywood mein na hota."
Sharing some more memories of the city with us, Sandeep says, "Whenever I used to come to Kanpur, I would go to bathe in the Ganga with my cousins. Uss time Ganga mein badi-badi boats chala karti thi. We could see the water till the horizon and it used to be a beautiful sight. But this time when I saw the Ganga here, I was shocked. It's so filthy and there's hardly any water in it!" says Sandeep, adding, "Aaj Kanpur aur Lucknow main bhale hi metro appeal aa gayi ho, par agar Kanpur main Ganga nahi rahi aur Lucknow main Gomti nahi rahi toh inn shehron ka koi astitva hi nahi reh jayega."
Sandeep, who is now writing the songs for the Sanjay Dutt starrer 'Saheb Biwi Gangster 3' and also 'Amawas', informs us that he is planning to shoot a web series named Kanpur in the city soon.