Majrooh Sultanpuri-Who wrote songs for heroes from Saigal to Aamir Khan

Majrooh Sultanpuri was the most versatile lyricist in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning half a century, he is the only lyricist who wrote songs for heroes ranging from Saigal to Aamir Khan and leading ladies from Nargis to Madhuri Dixit.
He could write any kind of lyrics tailor-made for the situation in the film. Be it the peppy “Hum hain rahi pyar ke” (Nau Doh Gyarah) or the nonsense lyrics of “C-A-T cat, cat maane billi” (Dilli Ka Thug) to “Aaj main upar aasman neeche” (Khamoshi – The Musical), Majrooh became the undisputed king of the “situational song.He  got his first break as a lyricist in A R Kardar’s Shah Jahan in 1945, penning the last classic by K L Saigal “Jab dil hi toot gaya”.
Majrooh Sultanpuri was born Asrar Hussain Khan in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the son of a police constable on October 1,1919. After studying Persian in Aligarh, He then joined Lucknow’s Takmeel-ut-Tib College of the Unani (Greek) System of Medicine. He was an established ‘Hakim’ when he happened to recite one of his ghazals at a mushaira in Sultanpur. The ghazal was extremely well received with the audience and Majrooh decided to drop his prosperous medical practice and begin writing poetry seriously.
When he came to Bombay he got the break in 1946 film Shahajehan starring K L Saigal and the immortal song he wrote in that film was Jab Dil hi Toot Gaya..He subsequently did films like Natak (1947), Doli (1947) and Anjuman (1948) but his major breakthrough was Mehboob Khan’s immortal love triangle, Andaz (1949), with hit songs like Tu Kahe Agar, Jhoom Jhoom ke Naacho Aaj, Hum Aaj Kahin Dil Kho Baithe, Toote na Dil Toote na and Uthaye Ja Unke Situm.
Majrooh Sultanpuri worked with all the top music directors of the day – Anil Biswas, Naushad, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, Roshan and Laxmikant Pyarelal, his associations with SD Burman and later were with RD Burman stand out.In fact he introduced R D Burman to Nasir Hussain for Teesri Manzil.
He  was part of the formidable quartet of lyricists that ruled Hindi Cinema in the 1950s and early 60s, the others being Sahir Ludhianvi, Shakeel Badayuni and Shailendra. Majrooh Saab’s career, spanning over five decades, saw him writing wonderful lyrics for well over 300 films, many of them extremely successful at the box office.

Majrooh Saab was the first film lyricist to be awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his invaluable contribution to Indian Cinema. He has also been a recipient of the Iqbal Samman from the Madhya Pradhesh Government, the Sant Gyaneshwar Puraskar of the Maharashtra Government and an award from the Maharashtra State Urdu Academy for Ghazal, his collection of Urdu Ghazals. But perhaps the biggest injustice to his writing came from Filmfare which awarded him the Best Lyricist Award just once – for Dosti (1964)!He passed away in Mumbai on May 24, 2000. Among the last films he wrote for was the Shah Rukh Khan starrer One Two ka Four released after his death in 2001.

My Fav Songs of Majrooh Sultanpuri

Song from Shahjehan 1946

Song from Andaz, 1949

Song from Arzoo (1950)

Song from Footpath (1953)

Song from Aar Paar (1954)

Song from C. I. D. (1956)

Song from Solva Saal (1958)

Song from Kala Pani (1958)

Song from Sujata (1959)

Song from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1959)

Song from Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962)

Song from Aarti (1962)

Song from Dosti (1964)

Song from Teen Devian (1965)

Song from Teesri Manzil (1966)

Song from Mamta (1966)

Song from Pakeezah (1972)

Song from Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973)

Song from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)

Shakeel Badayuni - The Creator of Immortal Love,Romance and Dejection Songs

Shakeel was Naushad’s discovery; it was the composer who got the struggling poet a break in Kardar’s Dard, ending days of poverty for young Shakeel’s large family.He used his experiences of deprivation with painful intensity in his early lyrics.
He confined all his creativity to love, romance and dejection, resisting all temptation to write about social causes. 
Shakeel reached his zenith as lyricist in Mughal e Azam, with each song a lyrical cosmos in itself, the line ‘pyar kiya toh darna kya’ easily the most popular. Another great creation was penning a bhajan as authentic as ‘Man tarpat Hari darshan ko aaj’ from Baiju Bawra.
As the name suggest Shakeel Badayuni was born at Badayun U P on 3rd August 1916.When he joined Aligarh Muslim University in 1936, he started participating in inter-college, inter-university mushairas and won frequently. After completing his BA, he moved to Delhi as a supply officer, but continued participating in mushairas, earning fame nationwide. He was interested in to write songs for films so he moved to Bombay in 1944 where he was introduced in films as lyricist from the film Dard in 1947.
 The songs of Dard proved to be very successful, especially Uma Devi (Tun Tun)'s Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon. Only a few are so lucky that they attain success in their first film, but Shakeel deserved success which started with Dard and continued on over the years. He formed a lasting partnership with Naushad. Together, they would give many hits over the next 25-odd years.
 Among the scores they churned out together, are those of Deedar (1951), Baiju Bawra (1952), Mother India (1957), and Mughal-e-Azam (1960), that stand out. Other films they scored together include Dulari (1949), Shabab (1954), Ganga Jamuna (1961), and Mere Mehboob (1963). Although Shakeel Badayuni worked most extensively with Naushad, he also collaborated with Ravi and Hemant Kumar as well. His lyrics for the song Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin and Ravi's music score both won Filmfare Awards for the hit film Gharana. His other notable film with Ravi is Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), while Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) is his biggest hit with Hemant Kumar. The title song from Chaudhvin Ka Chand, rendered by Mohammed Rafi, won Badayuni the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist in 1961.He received 3 Filmfare Awards in 1962 for the song husnwale tera jawab nahin in the film Gharana and in 1963 for the song kahin deep jale kahin dil in the film Bees Saal Baad
Shakeel also wrote a substantial chunk of his songs for music director Ravi Sharma. Prominent amongst those were Gharana (1961), Ghunghat,Grahasti (1963), Nartaki (1963), as well as Phool Aur Patthar and Do Badan.
Shakeel Badayuni succumbed to diabetes complications at the age of fifty-three, died on 20 April 1970, at Bombay Hospital.

Song from Dard 1947

Song from Dulari (1949)

Song from Babul (1950)

Song from Deedar (1951)

Song from Baiju Bawra (1952)

Song from Dil - E - Nadan (1953)

Song from Shabab (1954)

Song from Mother India (1957)

Song from Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

Song from Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960)

Song from Ganga Jamuna (1961)

Song from Sahib  Gharana 1961

Song from Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) 

Song from Bees Saal Baad 1962

Song from Mere Mehboob (1963).

Song from Leader (1964)

Song from Ram Aur Shyam (1967)

G S Nepali-The Forgotten Lyricist

Born in 1913 at Bettiah Bihar, Gopal Singh Nepali was one of the most renowned Hindi poets of all time. His poems evoke patriotism, love for nature and humane values. He also wrote lyrics of a few Hindi films.  His association with Bollywood spanned around two decades, beginning in 1944 and ended with his death in 1963.During the 1962 Indo-China war, Nepali lifted the spirits of Indian citizens and Indian soldiers via his Patriotic Poems and Songs and he went to the border in order to recite them. The patriotic songs and poems include Savan, Kalpana, Neelima, Naveen Kalpana Karo,etc.
In 1944 he was hired by Filmistan for 4 years at the salary of Rs 200 per month.The first film he wrote lyrics was Majdoor. He wrote nearly 400 songs in 60 films.He also gave music for few of his songs.He also made few films Nazrana(1949),Sansani(1951)and Khushbu(1955).

Nakul Singh Nepali, son of Gopal Singh Nepali, has filed a suit at the Bombay High Court against the makers of Slumdog Millionaire, saying that Danny Boyle they wrongly credited poet Surdas for writing the song Darshan Do Ghanashyam. According to the suit, Nepali says his father, a poet, wrote the song.He died on 17 th April 1963 after attending a Kavi Sammelan.

Some Of the Songs written by G S Nepali

Song from Safar 1946

Song from Gajre 1948

Song from Anokha Pyaar 1948

Song from Narsi Bhagat 1957

Hasrat Jaipuri- The Poet who Defined Romance in Bollywood

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

Song from Barsaat 1949

Song from Saiyan 1951

Song from Aah 1953

Song from Patita 1953

Song from Chori Chori 1956

Song from Parvarish 1958

Song from Love Marriage 1959

Song from Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai 1961

Song from Junglee1961

Song from Sasural 1961

Song from Asli Naqli 1961

Song from Professor 1962

Song from Hamrahi 1963

Song from Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Song from Rajkumar 1964

Song from Aarzoo 1965

Song from Suraj 1966

Song from Andaz 1971

KIDAR SHARMA- The Journey from Poster Painter To Film maker

Kedar Sharma the well known Film Maker was born on 12 th April 1910 in Narowal in what was then the Punjab region of India.He was interested in philosophy, poetry, painting and photography since his childhood. He ran away from home to pursue a career in cinema in Mumbai but was unsuccessful in gaining employment. He returned to Amritsar and attended the Hindu Sabha College where he founded a College Dramatic Society which would later give him his first break in film.
He is often most remembered for starting the acting careers of Bollywood greats Geeta Bali, Madhubala, Raj Kapoor, Mala Sinha, Bharat Bhushan and Tanuja.He was a multi talented man.He was a director, producer, screenwriter, and Lyricist of many Hindi films.He made many children films India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, offered Kidar the headship of the Children's Film Society. His 1956 children's film, Kidar's Jaldeep (The Lighthouse), won an award at the Venice Film Festival.
He made more than 50 films and even played a lead role in Neki Aur Badi (Goodness And Evil, 1949). His lyrics delved deep into India's cultural ethos and mixed earthy appeal with poignant romanticism.

Born into a middle-class family in Narowal (now in Pakistan), Kidar was inspired by the films of Debaki Bose, and started work as a painter in New Theatres, a Calcutta-based film company. Realizing his potential, Debaki Bose asked him to write the lyrics for Inquilab (After The Earthquake, 1935) and Vidyapati (1937). Kidar became established as a dialogue writer and lyricist by PC Barua's Devdas (1935), which became a classic.

Song from Devdas 1935

Song from Baawre Nain 1950

An outstanding poet, Sharma wrote some of the most memorable songs including Balam aayo baso more man mein, Dukh kay ab din beetat nahi, Khayalon Mein Kisike (Bawre Nain), Kabhi Tanhaiyon Mein Bhi (Hamari Yaad Aayegi) and Teri duniya mein dil lagta nahi. Kidar would continue to contribute as a lyricist and to write and direct films through the 1990s. Ironically, many Indian film critics and historians argued that he deserved the highest cinema award from the government of India but he died a day before he was to receive the Raj Kapoor Award, named in honour of the actor he helped make a success.He died on 29 April 1999.

Song from Hamari Yaad Aayegi 1961

Filmography[

• Inquilab (1935), Set Painter, actor
• Dhoop Chhaon (1935), actor, Assistant Manager
• Pujarin (1936), actor
• Karodpati a.k.a. Millionaire (1936), actor, lyrics
• Devdas (1936), Dialog and lyrics
• Vidyapati (1937), actor
• Anath Ashram (1937), writer
• Jawani Ki Reet (1939), Dialog
• Badi Didi (1939), writer, actor
• Tumhai Jeet (1939), lyricist (film directed by Ranjit Sen).^[9]
• Dil Hi Toh Hai (1939) Director, lyricist^[10][11]
• Zindagi (1940), Writer
• Aulad (1940), director
• Chitralekha (1941), director
• Armaan (1942), director
• Gauri (1942), director
• Mumtaz Mahal (1944), director
• Dhanna Bhagat (1945), director
• Chand Chakori (1945), director
• Duniya Ek Sarai (1946), director
• Neel Kamal (1947), writer, director, producer
• Sohag Raat (1948), director
• Neki Aur Badi (1949), director, actor
• Bawre Nain (1950), writer, director, producer
• Jogan (1950), director
• Gunah (1953), director
• Chora-Chori (1954), director
• Rangeen Raaten (1956), producer, director, lyricist
• Hamari Yaad Aayegi (1961), director, lyricist
• Fariyad (1964), director
• Chitralekha (1964), director, writer
• Kaajal (1965), writer

• Children's Film Society of India Contributions

  • Jaldeep (Light House) (1956), writer, director
  • Ganga Ki Lahren (1957), writer, director
  • Bachchon Se Bate (Talking To Children) (1957), writer, director
  • Haria (1958), writer
  • Gulab Ka Phool (The Rose Among Flowers) (1958), writer, director
  • 26 January (India's Republic Day) (1959), writer, director
  • Ekta (In Unison) (1959), writer, director
  • Guru Bhakti (Devotion) (1959), writer
  • Panchtantra Ki Ek Kahani (A Story From The Panchantra) (1959), writer
  • Yatra (Journey) (1959), writer
  • Dilli Ki Kahani (The Story of Delhi City) (1960), writer
  • Chetak (1960), writer, director
  • Meera Ka Chitra (Portrait of Meera) (1960), writer, director
  • Nyaya ( Justice) (1960), Camera
  • Mahateerth (Great Pilgrimage) (1961), writer, director
  • Khuda Hafiz (Goodbye) (1983), writer, director, lyricist
  • 
    

Anand Bakshi-The Lyricist who understood the pulse of Cinema lovers

Anand Bakshi was one of the most prominent and successful lyricists of Bollywood.He was not as great poet as Nirala, Sumitranandan Pant or Sahir.He plucked words from the common man's dictionary.His words were simple.He believed that simplicity is the key to reach to.the common man. He would dive into philosophy in the ‘antara’ only after he was sure he had connected with the audience in the ‘mukhra’.

 Anand Bakshi (Bakhshi Anand Prakash Vaid) was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, on 21 July 1930.He came to Bombay to make a name for himself in writing and singing, but ended up becoming more successful in writing lyrics. He got his break writing songs in a Brij Mohan's film titled Bhalaa Aadmi (1958), acted by Bhagwan Dada. He wrote four songs in this film. His first song in this film was "Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal" .

After writing for a few movies from 1956 onwards, he first found success in 1962 with Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath, which was produced by (LimeLight), Music Kalyanji & Anandji, Music Pub-HMV/Saregama. Bakshi later made another mark for himself writing a quawwali for the 1962 film Kala Samundar, the song was "Meri Tasveer Lekar Kya Karoge Tm". He got his real big breakthroughs in 1965 with Himalay Ki God Mein, and a huge breakthrough again in 1965 with the super-hit film Jab Jab Phool Khile, starring Shashi Kapoor; and yet again in 1967 with the super-hit movie Milan(starring Sunil Dutt). These six hit films within a decade of his entry into films cemented his status as a lyrics writer of immense caliber.

He wrote more than 3500 songs in Hindi and Punjabi films.He worked with almost all the Music Directors of his time He wrote for more than 500 films out of which he worked with Laxmikant Pyarelal in 300 films and R D Burman in 100 films. However it was only with the blockbuster Milan (1967) that he was recognized as a lyricist par excellence, with tunes from the film being hummed all over the country.

His career kept at an all-time high until 30 March 2002, when he passed away in Bombay. He had been quite ill for a few months and had been undergoing treatment for cardiac-related problems. His death was a tragic loss to Bollywood Cinema,

He holds a record of 41 nominations for Best Lyricist in Filmfare Awards but won only three.He holds the record of getting nominated for consecutively 13 years from 1970 till 1982, resulting in 23 nominations 

Some of the Most Memorable Songs of Anand Bakshi

Song from Hariyali Aur Raasta  1962

Song from Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

Song from Milan 1967

Song from Aradhana  1969

Song from Kati Patang  1971

Song from Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971

Song from Amar Prem 1972

Song from Bobby 1973

Song from Sholay 1975

Song from Mehbooba 1976

Song from Karz 1980

Song from Ek Duuje Ke Liye 1981

Song from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge 1995

Song from Pardes 1997

Song from Gadar: Ek Prem Katha 2001

Sahir Ludhianvi – The People’s Poet,

Sahir Ludhianvi who was born on March 8th, 1921 got fame and recognition in 1951 with the release of two films Naujawan and Baazi. The song  "Thandi hawaayen lehraa ke aayen" from Naujawan made him instantly popular among people.He  had a long and successful career as a lyricist and worked with most music directors in the 50s and 60s including Roshan, Madan Mohan, Khaiyyam, Ravi, S. D. Burman  and N. Dutta. 
In this blog I have selected few of my most favorite songs of Sahir

Song from Naujawan 1951

Song from Baazi 1951

Song from Pyaasa 1957

Song from Hum Dono 1961

Song from Taxi Driver 1954

Song from Devdas 1955

Song from Sone Ki Chidiya 1958

Song from Phir Subah Hogi 1958

Song from Funtoosh 1956

Song from House No 44 (1955)

Song from Taj Mahal 1963

Song from Sadhna 1959

Song from Didi 1959

Song from Jaal 1952

Song from Shagun 1964

Song from Kabhie Kabhie 1976