Remembering Kalyanji Bhai on his 88th Birth anniversary

Kalyanji Bhai of Kalyanji Anandji duo Music Composer of 1960s and 1970s.Kalyanji and Anandji were children of a businessman who migrated from Kutch to Bombay.Kalyanji was the eldest of three brothers.Kalyanji started his career as a musician, with a new electronic instrument called the clavioline. which was used for the famous "Nagin Been," used in the film Nagin (1954) which had the music of Hemant Kumar.Initially he along with his younger brother Ananji formed a musical group called Kalyanji Virji and Party which organised musical shows in Mumbai and outside.

They came at a time when big music directors like S.D. Burman, Hemant Kumar, Madan Mohan, Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan and Ravi were ruling the Hindi film music world – and it was a golden period of film music – it was very tough to make a place amongst them.The Bharat Bhushan–Nirupa Roy hit Samrat Chandragupta (1959) was their first film as Kalyanji Virji Shah,the song of that film"Chahe Paas Ho" a duet by Rafi and Lata became hit,Another film Post Box 999 came simultaniously,the song NEEND NA MUJH KO AYE became instant hit.Another song MERE DIL MAIN HAI EK BAAT was also became popular.

The younger brother Anandji who was assisting him till then, joined him officially to form the Kalyanji Anandji duo in Satta Bazar and Madari (1959).The Duo's First musical hit was CHALLIA (1961).All the songs of that film were hit."Dam Dam Diga Diga" and"Chhalia Mera Naam" were very popular among masses.Some of the songs of BLUFF MASTER were also became popular in the early 60s but the real recognition happened in 1965 when two decisive scores, Himalay Ki God Mein and Jab Jab Phool Khile, established them as composers to reckon with.The songs of both the films were super hit,Remember the song EK THA GUL AUR EK THI BULBUL of Jab Jab Phool Khile and "Chand Si Mehbooba" and "Kankaria Maar Ke Jagaya" of Himalaya Ki God Me were hit songs of that year.In 1967 came UPKAAR who can forget KASME VADE PYAAR VAFA and MERE DESH KI DHARTI.
The Duo got their first National Award for "Saraswatichandra",in 1968. They got the Filmfare Award in 1974 for KORA KAGAJ.

In the seventies they gave hit music in many films like MAHAL.Johny Mera Naam,SAFAR,Purab Aur Paschim,Sachha Jhuta,Blackmail,Victoria 203,Dharmatma.Maryada,Zanzeer.Infact he was the favourite Music Director of Prakash Mehra.Lots of Amitabh Bachhan films had the music of Kalyanji Anandji

How can we forget their songs like Too kya jaaney wafaa (Haath ki safaai), Ye mera dil, pyaar ka deewaana (Don-original!), Laila main laila (Qurbani), Oh ya Allah (Muqaddar ka sikander), all of which had either the beats or orchestration heavily westernized? That apart the duo also gave quite a few folk numbers like Main to bhool chali babul ka des (Saraswathi Chandra), salaam-e-ishq meri jaan (Muqaddar ka sikander), khaike paan banaaras waala etc.
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