Renowned filmmaker Mani Ratnam has paid heartfelt tribute to legendary lyricist Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, recalling his deep association with the poet and sharing memorable moments from their collaboration. Speaking in a television interview, Ratnam humorously revealed that he and his team would “kidnap” Sirivennela to Chennai, isolating him in a house surrounded only by music to encourage focused songwriting.
The filmmaker shared that while lyricist Veturi initially worked on his films, Sirivennela later filled that space. Their journey began with the film *Prema*, and Ratnam described his relationship with both lyricists as equally warm and creatively fulfilling. Highlighting Sirivennela’s unique process, Ratnam said he would understand every nuance of the story and characters before crafting lyrics, treating each song as an organic part of the film’s narrative.
Ratnam also revealed that he had requested Sirivennela to write the lyrics and dialogues for his ambitious project *Ponniyin Selvan*. Though the lyricist agreed and planned to research the historical language of the period, his untimely passing meant the collaboration could not materialize. “He told me he needed a few weeks, but fate had other plans. His absence has left a deep void,” Ratnam said emotionally.
Calling Sirivennela a poetic bridge between traditional literature and cinema, Ratnam praised him as a lyricist who significantly elevated the quality of film songs and left an enduring legacy in Indian cinema.