Golden Era of Bollywood: Hasrat Jaipuri - A Love Letter written in Real Life becomes Immortal in Reel

Do you know that the immortal song Yeh Meraa Prempatra Padh Kar” sung by Mohammad Rafi in Sangam was actually written for the real girl living next door to Hasrat Jaipuri in Jaipur. In an interview, Hasrat Jaipuri informed this truth but It is not known for sure whether the love letter was actually delivered to her or not?
Hasrat Jaipuri was born on 15th April 1922 at Jaipur. He began writing verse when he was around twenty years old. Around the same time, he fell in love with a neighbourhood girl name Radha. His love was silent but his emotions were not, he thought of expressing them by writing a letter in poetic form. The words were Yeh Mera Prem Patra Padh Kar, ki tum Naaraaz Na Hona. Ki Tum Meri Zindagi Ho.
There was a situation in the film where Rajendra Kumar had to sing a song, for that situation Hasrat Jaipuri suggested the words to Raj Kapoor and informed him of the real incidence also the veteran film producer-director Raj Kapoor liked it enough to include it in his Sangam (1964 Hindi film) and the song ended up becoming a 'hit' song in India.
Hasrat Jaipuri the great Lyricist started his Film career with the immortal song Jiya Beqaraar Hai for the film Barsaat in 1949. It was also the first film of Shankar Jaikishan, That was the beginning of a lifelong association." Yet, there was an unstated agreement that Jaikishan would often prefer Jaipuri to pen lyrics for his tunes, while Shankar would turn to Shailendra.
He wrote a whole range of songs like "Sayonara sayonara" (Love In Tokyo)," Aao twist karen" (Bhoot Bungla)." Ajhoon na aaye baalma" (Sanjh AurSavera), "Duniya Bananewale"(Teesri Kasam) to Romantic songs like Yeh Mera Prem Patra (Sangam)."Zindagi ek safar hai suhana" (Andaz), "Teri pyari pyari soorat ko" (Sasural), "Pankh hote to ud aati re" (Sehra), "Tere khayalon meinhum" (Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne), " Tu kahan yeh bataa" (Tere Ghar KeSaamne), Sau Saal Pehle Mujhe Tum Se Pyaar Tha (Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai) and Bahaaron Phool Barsao (Suraj )
He worked in 350 films and 2000 recorded songs, his last releases were Saazish with Jatin-Lalit and Sher Khan (with Bappi Lahiri), and at the time of his death, he was working on a few small films and a book of Shaayari.
He won innumerable awards, honours and mementoes. Among them were two Filmfare trophies (for `Baharon Phool Barsaoo’ from Suraj and `Zindagi ek safar hai suhana’ from Andaz) and two awards - the Doctorate from the World University Round-Table and the Josh Mahilabadi award from the Urdu Conference for his literary work as a poet. Also the Dr Ambedkar award for a film song, `Jhanak jhanak tori baaje payaliya’ from Mere Huzoor, which was written with a blend of Hindi and Brij Bhasha. Apropos that, the poet once said, "Hindi and Urdu are like two great and inseparable sisters"
He died on 17th September 1999. He still remains the King Of Romance.

In this Blog I have selected some of my favourite Romantic Songs of Hasrat Jaipuri Ji.