Sensibilities as writer don't come on platter, says Javed Akhtar

Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, son of eminent Urdu poet Jan Nisar Akhtar, says sensibilities as a writer don't come on a platter and are not available in any shop.

"Sensibilities as a writer don't come on a platter. You can't go and buy them from a shop. It is something you learn and you develop this by reading various kinds of books and classics.

But only reading classics can make you dry and too serious, so young people should also read light literature, humour, and detective novels," Javed said here on Monday.

"I feel you shouldn't be in a hurry to become a writer. One day when you will be full inside, only then you will be able write, because then you can write well," he added.

Jasved spoke at the launch of Kainaz Jussawalla's first novel "Coffee Days, Champagne Nights And Other Secrets". He also said no medium can replace books.

"Nowadays, life has been at a kind of fanatic speed. Everything is either Googled or found on the smartphones. People hardly have any time for books, leave aside writing. They don't have time for reading. But I suppose no medium can replace books."

"Today I see most of the children on iPads or they are watching TV, but the difference between an iPad, which is audio-visual medium, and the book is that you are given a fixed menu. There is no participation of viewer. Viewer is the only receiver."