Jamshedpur: From the narrow lanes of Parsudih to the national cinema spotlight, Jamshedpur’s Vishwadeep ‘Zist’ has scripted a moment of pride for the city by writing a song for Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman in the critically acclaimed silent film Gandhi Talks. The film was released nationwide on Martyrs’ Day and has drawn attention for its powerful storytelling rooted in Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of truth and non-violence.
Directed by Kishore Pandurang Belekar, Gandhi Talks is a rare silent film with no spoken dialogue. Instead, its emotional depth is carried through background music and songs composed by A.R. Rahman. Among the three songs featured in the film is “Nindiya Pari,” a soulful lullaby penned by Vishwadeep ‘Zist’, marking the biggest milestone of his 13-year-long struggle in Mumbai.
Born and brought up in Parsudih, Vishwadeep completed his studies in Mass Communication from Karim City College before moving to Mumbai in 2013 with dreams of becoming a lyricist. Without any industry backing or godfather, he persevered through years of uncertainty, gradually carving a space for himself in Bollywood through sheer determination and belief in his craft.
Speaking about the achievement, Vishwadeep described working with A.R. Rahman as a dream he never imagined would come true. He shared that “Nindiya Pari” is a song portraying a father’s love for his daughter, which deeply resonated with Rahman and earned a place in the film. The appreciation he received from the legendary composer during the music launch, he said, made his years of struggle worthwhile.
Vishwadeep credits his family’s cultural environment for shaping his creative journey. A deeply personal childhood incident — learning that a Bengali song sung by Lata Mangeshkar was written by his father, Manoj Kanti Sen, without due credit — inspired him to take up writing seriously. He began writing poetry at the age of 13, a passion that steadily evolved into a professional career.
His journey in films began with Sajid Ali’s Woh Bhi Din The, where he wrote the song Mujhko Mili under music director Joy Barua. This was followed by the title track of Khamoshi, composed by Sameer Tandon and sung by Shruti Haasan, and Yeh Pal Hain Apne from Bejoy Nambiar’s film Dange. Over the years, his lyrics have been voiced by celebrated singers including Hariharan, Alka Yagnik, Mohit Chauhan, Papon, Monali Thakur, Neeti Mohan, Jonita Gandhi, Kunal Ganjawala, and Shruti Haasan.
Beyond films, Vishwadeep ‘Zist’ remains deeply connected to literature and poetry, regularly performing at poetry recitals and mushairas across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Surat, and Jamshedpur.
