Kalyanji Bhai- The Musician behind the Immortal Been Tune of 'Nagin'

 

Kalyanji Bhai of the Kalyanji Anandji music duo started his career as a musician. He was very good at Harmonium, violin, guitar, and drums. He played these instruments under many music directors.

 Kalyanji, who introduced a new electronic instrument called the clavioline. With this instrument, he played the been for a snake sequence in the film Nag Panchami (1953), the music of which was scored by Chitragupt. People came to watch the film just to listen to this music . Hemant Kumar heard this tune and decided to use this in the song "Man Dole Mera Tan Dole" of Nagin(1954). The song and this tune became immortal. 

He was soon the most sought-after musician in Bollywood. Kalyanji then, with his brother Anandji, started an orchestral group called Kalyanji Virji and Party which organized musical shows in Mumbai and outside. This was the first attempt made for holding live musical shows in India.

In 1957 Subhash Desai, the elder brother of the great filmmaker Manmohan Desai signed him as an independent music director. He signed him not for one film but for 11 films in one stretch. The first film was 'Samrat Chandragupt' released in 1958. The film was a hit and the music was also a hit. Recall the most popular song 'Chahe Paas Ho, Chahe Door' by Lata Mangeshkar. 

This was followed by his composing music scores for more films like Post Box 999 before Anandji who was assisting him, joined him officially to form the Kalyanji Anandji duo in Satta Bazar and Madari (1959). Chalia (1961) was their earliest major hit. It was in 1965 his 2 films Himalaya Ki God Mei and Jab Jab Phool Khile made him a great music director.

 He not only mastered in many musical instruments but also be known for introducing Jaz in Hindi films. He used to do mimicry of many artists of his time. He also knew astrology and face reading.
It was the music of Saraswatichandra (1968) that endorsed the genius of the brothers, more so because the classical tunes came soon after their modern Rhapsody in Haseena Man Jayegi.The songs "Chandan sa badan, Phool tumhe bheja hai, Chod de sari duniya, Hamne apna sab kuch khoya... were instant hits.

Both Kalyanji and Anandji worked as music composers for over 250 films, 17 of which were golden jubilees and 39 silver."Jiska Mujhe Tha Intezaar" from Don (1978), "Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door The" from Aamne Saamne (1967), "Yeh Saman" from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), "Humare Siva  Tumhare Aur Kitne deewane" from Apradh (1978), "Main Pyaasa Tum saawan' from Faraar (1975), "Jeevan se bhari teri aankhe", "Zindagi ka safar hai ye kaisa Safar", "Pal Pal dilke paas", "Neele Neele Ambar Par" are some of their notable songs. 

Song of Samrat Chandragupt 1958

Song of Chhalia (1960)

Song of Bluff Master, 1963

Song of Jab Jab Phool Khile, 1965

Song of Himalay Ki God Mein, 1965

Song of Upkar 1966

Song of Saraswatichandra, 1968

Song of Purab Aur Paschim, 1970

Song of Sachaa Jhutha, 1970

Song of Safar 1970

Song of Johny Mera Naam, 1970

Song of Kora Kagaz 1974

Song of Dharmatma, 1975

INDEEVAR- The Most Underrated Lyricist

Indeevar who wrote more than 1000 songs for Bollywood Films was not given his due he deserved.He had a wide range,penning emotionally uplifting songs, Indeevar also wrote peppy numbers including Nazia Hassan’s sung “Aap Jaisa Koi” and Feroz Khan’s Qurbani song “Laila O Laila”. 
Indeevar was born on 1st Jan in 1924 as Shyam Lal Babu Rai  and grew up to become a freedom fighter. He wrote under the pseudo name of Azad for which he was imprisoned by the British. He became a household name with the release of the song "Bade Armano Se Rakhha Hai Pehla Kadam"  from Malhar in 1949.

It was singer Mukesh who gave him the break as a lyricist from the film Malhar(1949) which was produced by him and composed by Roshan.He along with Music Director Kayanji Anandji gave many hit & memorable songs.

It was Indeevar with whose lyrics Laxmi-Pyare made their debut in ‘Parasmani’ I don’t have to quote the songs. They were so beautiful. In ‘Madari’ too the Lata song, ‘Pyar mera majboor pardesi piya’ was a big hit.. In ‘Dulha Dulhan’ Indeevar wrote that classic Mukesh number: ‘Jo pyar tu ne mujh ko diya hai’ and ‘Hum ne tum se pyar kiya hai jitna kaun kare ga itna’.

The songs of ‘Chotey Babu’, ‘Himalaya Ki God Mein’ and Saheli were also big hits. But Upkar came as a major hit in his career too. How can we forget, among other hits of the movie, that sad number by Manna Dey for Pran: ‘Kasme wade pyar wafa sab baaten hain baton se kya’

In ‘Poorab aur Pachchim’ too Indeevar created havoc with his lyrics, specially the song, ‘Koi jab tumhara hridaya tod de, ‘

He wrote for almost all the music directors of his time except S D burman.With the arrival of the disco beat and the Bhappi Lahiri wave, Indeevar put poetry on the backburner and stood up to the task of delivering mindless lyrics. There was a preset combination for all these Southern-style 'pots-n-pans' hits: Jeetendra, Sridevi, Jaya Pradha, Bhappi Lahiri and Indeevar. All the way from Himmatwalas' (1983) ‘Nainon Mein Sapna’ to Tohfa's nonsensical title song, Indeevar willfully accepted and adapted to the changing trends in film music.

Towards the end of his career, he notched up a few hits with actor-turned-filmmaker Rakesh Roshan such as Karan Arjun (1995) and Koyla (1997). But even as he was trying to redeem himself as a poet, Indeevar passed away on February 27, 1999, leaving behind his words :

Song from Malhar 1951

Song from Malhar 1951

Song from Baadbaan (1954)

Song from Parasmani (1963)

Song from Dulha Dulhan 1964

Song from Himalay Ki God Mein (1965)

Song from Saheli (1965)

Song from Upkar (1967)

Song from Dil Ne Pukara (1967)

Song from Saraswati Chandra (1968)

Song from Safar (1970)

Song from Johny Mera Naam (1970)

Song from Sachha Jhutha (1970)

Song from Purab Aur Pachhim (1971)

Song from Amanush (1975)

Song from Qurbani (1980)

Song from Jurm (1990)

The MUSIC DRECTOR DUOS Of Bollywood

The trend of composer duos is not new. Earlier decades too boasted of talented music directors like Shankar-Jaikishan, Kalyanji-Anandji, Laxmikant-Peareylal. The first to work as the music director duo.were Husnalal Bhagatram..Both were brothers.Most composers who work in teams feel that working as a duo helps in sharing thoughts and generating ideas.In this blog I have taken 10 such Composer Duos.

Husnalal Bhagatram..

They made their presence on the film music right on their entry in 1944 with the film “Chand” that came with a hit song “Do Dilon Ko Yeh Duniya” sung by Manju. Their compositions “Ek Dil Ke Tukde Hazar Huye” (Pyar Ki Jeet) and “Suno Suno Ai Duniya Walo,Bapu Ki Yeh Amar Kahani (Amar Kahani) sung with his characteristic soulful involvement became runaway hits.The rise of the talented music director duo Husnlal-Bhagatram virtually marked the beginning of Hindi film music’s golden era in the early 1940s. Who can forget the Husnlal-Bhagatram gems sung by Lata “Chale Jana Nahi Nain Mila Ke” (Badi Bahen-1949) and “Abhi To Mai Jawan Hun-Khushiyo Ke Din Manaye Ja” (Afsana-1951)?

Song from Pyar Ki Jeet 1948

Song from Afsana-1951

Shankar Jaikishan

Shankar-Jaikishan, along with other artists, composed "everlasting" and "immortal melodies" in the 1950s, and 1960s,They made their debut as Independent composer with Raj Kapoor's Barsaat in 1949.They formed a core team with lyricists Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri and with singers Mohammed Rafi Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.Shankar-Jaikishan made a significant contribution in promoting Indian classical music throughout their career. It was their established practice to have at least one song in a movie based on semi-classical style. These included songs like `Jhanak-jhanak tori baje payaliya' (Mere Huzoor), `Chham chham baje re payaliya' (Jane-anjane), `Radhike tune bansari churayi' (Beti Bete), `Manmohana bade jhoothe' (old `Seema'), `Koi matwala aya mere dware' (Love in Tokyo), `Ajahu na ayae baalma, sawan beeta jaye' (Sanjh aur Savera), `Lapak jhpak tu aa re badarwa' (Boot polish), `Ye barkha bahar sautaniya ke dwar' (Mayur pankh), `Re man sur mein ga' (Lal pathar)
While working as a team, Shankar and Jaikishan used to compose their songs separately. Generally, Shankar liked to work with Shailendra and Jaikishan with Hasrat Jaipuri.During their career, S-J won Filmfare Best Music Director Awards nine times. 

Song from Barsaat 1949

Song from Sangam 1964

Kalyanji-Anandji

Unlike Shankar jaikishan they were brothers. Kalyanji was elder to Anandji.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.Samrat Chandragupta (1959) was his first film as Kalyanji Virji Shah,This was followed by his composing music scores for more films like Post Box 999 before Anandji who was assisting him, joined him officially to form the Kalyanji Anandji duo in Satta Bazar and Madari (1959). Chalia (1961) was their earliest major hit. In 1965, two decisive scores, Himalay Ki God Mein and Jab Jab Phool Khile, established them as composers to reckon with.
Some of their best-known works are Don, Bairaag, Saraswatichandra, Qurbani, Tridev  Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Safar. They won the 1975 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for Kora Kagaz.

Song from Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

Song from Kora Kagaz 1969

Laxmikant-Peareylal

They composed music for about 635 Hindi movies from 1963 to 1998, working for almost all notable filmmakers.Laxmikant and Pyarelal met at Sureel Kala Kendra, a music academy for children, run by the Mangeshkar family. After Lata ji came to know about their financially poor backgrounds, Lata recommended their names to music directors like Naushad, Sachin Dev Burman and C. Ramchandra. Similar financial backgrounds and age made Laxmikant and Pyarelal very good friends. 
The first released movie which featured them as music directors was Babubhai Mistry's Parasmani (1963),Laxmikant–Pyarelal hit the big time with Rajshri Productions' 1964 film Dosti. The film had two newcomer heroes who never became popular, and the film was a success due to its music. Songs like "Chahoonga main tujhe shaam savere" and "Rahi manava" became very popular. At that time, many used to think that there was a single person by the name of Laxmikant Pyarelal. Laxmikant–Pyarelal won their first Filmfare Best Music Director Award for the movie.
LP dominated the Weekly Hindi Film songs Countdown programme Binaca Geet Mala,from 1964 to 1980s.They won 7 Filmfare Awards.The team of Laxmikant–Pyarelal and lyricist Anand Bakshi churned out some of the most popular songs in Hindi Cinemas history. The combo composed songs for more than 250 movies. 

Song from Dosti 1964

Song from Do Raaste 1969

Shiv Hari

As a composer for many Yash Chopra films, the Shiv-Hari team offered pleasant melodies in an era when the music scene is said to be truly awful. Ye kahaan aa gaye hum (Silsila), Mere haathon mein nau-nau choodiyaan hain (Chandni), Jaadu teri nazar and Tu mere saamne (Darr) are just some of their many euphonic tunes.They did 8 films together

The duo soon found that they couldn’t find a balance between their work in cinema and their music outside the film circuit, and they quit films after Darr, summarily refusing Yash Chopra’s Dil To Pagal Hai, but that’s another story.

Song from Silsila 1981

Song from Chandani 1989

Nadeem Sharvan

Nadeem–Shravan were the most successful music directors of the 1990s until the early 2000s. They have the strong reliance of Hindustani music in their compositions and were the only composers during the 1990s and 2000s who relied heavily on three particular instruments: the bansuri, the sitar and the shehnai in almost all of their songs. Their first Hindi movie assignment was Maine Jeena Seekh Liya in 1981 sung by Amit kumar. In 1989, their three big movies were released: Ilaaka, Hisaab Khoon Ka and Lashkar.
They composed soundtracks for many films, including Aashiqui (1990), Saajan (1991), Deewana (1992), Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Rang (1993), Dilwale (1994), Raja (1995), Barsaat (1995), Agni Sakshi (1996), Jeet (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Sirf Tum (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kasoor (2001), Hum Ho Gaye Aapke (2001), Raaz (2002), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), Dil Ka Rishta (2003), Andaaz (2003), Tumsa Nahi Dekha (2004), Bewafaa (2005) and many others.They won 4 Filmfare Awards,the first was for Aashiqui in 1991.Kumar Shanu,Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik were the main singers who sang for them.

Song from Aashiqui (1990)

Song from Pardes (1997)

Jatin Lalt

The brother jodi who made it big in the 1990s.They began their career in 1991, composing music for the Hindi movie Yaara Dildara. Although the film was a flop, its music was a big hit. The evergeen famous song of the movie was "Bin Tere Sanam", which topped the charts. They were first noticed for their work on the soundtrack of the movie Khiladi and for "Pehla Nasha", a romantic song from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, the film which earned then their first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. 
Jatin–Lalit's score for the cult classic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was a massive success, and is remembered as one of the all-time best Bollywood soundtracks, earning them another nomination at the Filmfare,Some of their best known films are . Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) ,Yes boss 1997,  Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Mohabbatein, (2000),Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Hum Tum (2004), Chalte Chalte (2003) and Fanaa (2006), After working for almost 16 years together, they announced that they would be parting ways due to personal problems.

Song from Khamoshi 1996

Song from Hum Tum (2004)

Anand Milind

The music directors duo consisting of Anand Shrivastav and his younger brother Milind. They have composed music for over 200 Bollywood films and are the sons of 1960s music director, Chitragupta.
They debuted in Ab Aayega Mazaa (1984) and rose to fame after the success of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988).Anand–Milind and lyricist Sameer created more than 950 songs together. Almost every film had Sameer doing the lyrics.Their compositions bore some resemblance to the Laxmikant-Pyarelal school of music, in the early 1990s.
They collaborated with David Dhawan on several hit soundtracks such as Swarg, Bol Radha Bol, Raja Babu, Eena Meena Deeka, Loafer, Coolie No.1, Hero No. 1 and Chal Mere Bhai. They also composed hits for Govinda in Maha Sangram, Swarg, Jaan Se Pyaara, Baaz, Raja Babu (film), Kismat, Coolie No. 1, Chhote Sarkar, Hero No. 1, Banarasi Babu, Dulhe Raja, Rajaji, Aunty No. 1, Akhiyon Se Goli Maare and Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen.

Song from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)

Song from Bol Radha Bol, 1992

Vishal Shekhar

The duo rose to prominence when they composed the songs for the film Jhankaar Beats which included the song "Tu Aashiqui Hai". They won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent for Jhankaar Beats. In 2005 they composed the songs for three films: Salaam Namaste, Dus and Bluffmaster.
Some of their Known films are  Om Shanti Om (2007), Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), Dostana (2008), Anjaana Anjaani (2010), Ra.One (2011), Student of the Year(2012),Chennai Express (2013), Bang Bang! (2014), Happy New Year (2014),Sultan (2016) and Befikre (2016)

Song from Jhankaar Beats.2003

Song from Sultan (2016)

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy

This is not a duo but a musical trio consisting of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa. Composers who have composed music for over 50 soundtracks across five languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and English. Among the most critically acclaimed Indian musicians. The trio have won numerous awards, including National Film Award (India), Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards. 
Shankar Ehsaan and Loy came up from the ranks of the non-film music scene, performing rock, blues, jazz and pop before entering the film music industry.Their first Hindi film was Dus 1n 1997 but became famous from Dil Chahta Hai 2001.
Following Dil Chahta Hai, their next big venture was Dharma Productions' Kal Ho Naa Ho, directed by Nikhil Advani. The album broke all the previous records as a best-selling album. The music won many awards including the National Film Award for Best Music Direction.The year 2005 saw them collaborate with Shaad Ali for Bunty Aur Babli.The soundtrack, despite the initial mixed reaction from various critics, became immensely popular among the public, and went on to win several awards including Filmfare and IIFA awards. The song "Kajra Re" featuring Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan became a rage among the listeners.
Some of their best known films are Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna,Don,Jhoom Barabar Jhoom,Taare Zameen Par ,Rock On,My Name Is Khan ,Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Song from Dil Chahta Hai 2001

Song from Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna 2006

The other Music Director Duos are  Sonik Omi, Sapan Jagmohan, Dilip Sen Samir Sen, Salim Suleiman, Sajid Wazid, Sanjiv Darshan and Ajay Atul