Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 24, 2014)

From afar, Kapil Sibal seems an unlikely lyricist, or at best, an accidental one. But behind the steely exterior is a poet in hiding and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, is foraying into the art with Raunaq – a music album with seven songs composed by AR Rahman and written by Sibal.

The songs, by Sibal’s own admission, are a reflection of the current social scenario in our country. He has also drawn from personal experiences. “When one writes, his surroundings often end up becoming important participants in the activity. I’ve found that expression through my poetry and the result is beautiful,” the Minister reveals.

Each song revolves around a unique theme. From an individual’s journey through life and the story of a woman’s struggles and eventual success, to love and romance, the album charts several moods.

Collaborating with Rahman was an obvious choice for Sibal considering the musician’s extraordinary body of work and his love for unconventional melodies. “Rahman is a genius. I felt my words had found their soul in his tunes,” Sibal gushes.

He adds that Rahman’s appeal also lies in the fact that his music has a refreshing, non-Bollywood feel to it. “His tone and texture is free of any extravaganza. He creates music, not items. When I wrote these songs, I wanted them in the hands of someone who had consistency of thought and I think Rahman’s music has that.”

With Indian politics at a crucial juncture and his own responsibilities as minister, where does he find the time to write? “If you really like something, you’ll always find the time to pursue it. I'm a romantic at heart. To explore that side, I’ve been writing these songs for the past year-and-a-half,” Sibal asserts.