MM Keeravani's recent comments that Telugu cine lyrics are now bed-ridden after the passing away of Veturi and the slowing down of Sirivennela have ruffled a few feathers. It's not often that such provocative statements are made by music directors/writers/lyricists, who know the pain of bringing out something creative and who also appreciate the fact that if songs like 'O Papa Lali' have to be written, situations like that have to be created in the first place.

If the situations are lame, the lyrics can only be good at best. The role of a director in spawning timeless lyrics can't be overestimated.

That's why, it was unfair on the part of Keeravani to slam the lyricists in general.

Although the music director used a much harsher word for directors ("brainless", but for a Rajamouli!), they are yet to react vocally against him. Sira Sri, coming as he does from the RGV camp, took on Keeravani rather sarcastically. He asked why he didn't let Sirivennela pen a single song in 'Baahubali-2' or the first part. Of course, Sri had better directed the question at Rajamouli, whose call it was.

Ramajogaiah Sastry, one of the few critically-acclaimed writers, and a protege of Sirivennela himself, too doesn't seem to agree with MM's sweeping observation.

MM might have spoken like this as he is too proud of his lyrics in 'Baahubali-2'. His colleagues are rightly unhappy with the Baahubalian slighting.