Showing posts with label lyricist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lyricist. Show all posts

Sunday 18 August 2019

Gulzar - Humne DekhI Hai Un Aankhon Ki Mehakti Khushboo


Gulzar (Born on 18th August 1934) became popular as a lyricist in the unusually worded song from Khamoshi in 1969 "Humne dekhi hai un aankhon ki mehakti khushboo/Haath sey chhoo ke ise rishtoon ka koi naam na do". .Though he penned his first film song "Mora gora ang laiy ley mohe shaam rang daiye dey/chhup jaoongi raat he mein mohe pee ka sang daiye dey." from Bimal Roy's Bandini released in 1961.
Gulzar, who began as an apprentice with Bimal Roy, joined Hrishikesh Mukherjee after his death. He wrote for Kabuliwala, Sannaata, Do Dooni Chaar Biwi Aur Makan etc. With Mere Apne (1971), he turned director.The success of his Mere Apne encouraged Gulzar to experiment with novel subjects. Next in the line came films like Koshish, Parichay, Achanak, Kinara and Aandhi.
In Aandhi, Gulzar wove a story of estrangement between a couple (Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen) against the backdrop of politics. Gulzar is at his sublime best in the song "Tere bina zindagi se shiqwa to nahin."The lyrics 3 the agony and regret of the choices made.
However, Gulzar's most successful songs as a lyricist were to come out later, of his association with Rahul Dev Burman who he described later as an anchor in his life.Few of his songs with R D Burman are Beeti Na Bitai Raina, Parichay (1972), Tere Bina Zindagi Se, Aandhi (1975), Aaj Kal Paaon, Ghar (1978), Do Naina Aur Ek Kahani, Masoom (1983), Mera Kuch Samaan, Ijaazat (1988).
Song of Bandini 1963


Song of Khamoshii 1969


Song of Khamoshii 1969


Song of Anand 1971


Song of Aandhi1975


Song of Mausam 1976



Song of Kinara 1977


Song of Sadma 1983


Song of Masoom 1983


Song of Maachis 1996






Friday 24 May 2019

Majrooh Sultanpuri and the Burmans


Majrooh Sultanpuri, a poet who didn't aspire to be a lyricist, became the most sought after versifier of Bollywood. You will be surprised to know that he was a practising Hakim in Sultanpur UP but also interest in writing poetry.
He started attending mushairas, and at one such mushaira in 1941, Jigar Moradabadi, the greatest traditional Shayar of Ghazals of the 20th century introduced him to the urban audiences. In 1945, Majrooh accompanied Jigar Saab for a mushaira in Bombay, where producer-director A R Kardar approached him to write songs for his films. Majrooh was reluctant but Jigar Saab insisted he accepts the offer. Majrooh wrote a few songs for the film Shahjehan (1946). And those songs composed by Naushad were sung by the all-time classic actor-singer K L Saigal.


Majrooh worked with all the ace producer-directors, Mehboob Khan, Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, Dev Anand, Vijay Anand, Nasir Hussain, and leading composers as well, Naushad, O P Nayyar, Khayyam, S D Burman, R D Burman, Roshan and Madan Mohan.
His associations with SD Burman and RD Burman stand out, particularly his work with the latter in the frothy Nasir Hussain musicals like Teesri Manzil (1966), Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973) and Hum Kissi Se Kum Nahin (1977). With SD Burman, his work in films like Paying Guest (1957), Nau Do Gyarah(1957), Kala Pani (1958), Solva Saal (1958), Sujata (1959), Bambai ka Babu (1960)Jewel Thief (1967) and Abhiman is unforgettable! The list of hit songs he has written is huge as all these films had some extremely finely composed songs set to his writing. Few could match Majrooh Saab and SD Burman in frothy light chhed-chhad playful romantic songs like Chhod Do Anchal, Aankhon Mein Kya Ji, Achha Ji Main Hari Chalo Maan Jaao Na and Deewana Mastana Hua Dil.

Majrooh Sultanpuri and Dada Burman were both born October 1, 13 years apart. Dada was born in 1906 and Majrooh in 1919. Destined to come together and create magic for music lovers in Hindi cinema, they partnered in 20 films from 1957 to 1976, leaving behind unforgettable gems that continue to shine brighter as the years pass by.
Majrooh did 74 films with RD Burman and the duo gave great hits like Kitna pyara vada, Chadti jawani meri chaal mastani (Lata-Rafi) in Caarvan, Piya tu ab to aaja, Monica, O my darling (Asha-RD Burman); in Buddha Mil Gaya, Raat kali ek khawab mein aayi; in Yadon Ki Baraat (1974), Chura liya hai tumne (Asha-Rafi), and Lekar hum deewana dil, Aap ke kamre mein koi rehta hai (Asha-Kishore).
Song of Paying Guest 1957



Song of Nau Do Gyarah(1957)


Song of Kala Pani (1958)



Song of Solva Saal (1958),



Song of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi 1958



Song of Sujata (1959)


Song of Bambai ka Babu (1960)



Song of Teesri Manzil (1966),



Song of Jewel Thief (1967)



Song of Abhiman 1973



Song of Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973) 















Saturday 30 March 2019

ANAND BAKSHI - Kuch To Log Kahenge


He got his break writing songs in a Brij Mohan's film titled, "Bhalaa Aadmi", 1958, acted by Bhagwan Dada. He wrote 4 songs in this film. His first song in this film was "Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal" which was recorded on 9 Nov 1956. In his own voice.
He first found success in 1962, with Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath, which was produced by (LimeLight), Music Kalyanji & Anandji,In the same year he wrote a quawali for the film "Kaala Samundar" which became hit.the song was "Meri Tasveer Lekar Kya Karoge Tum".
1965 was a great year for him as a lyricist.His all the songs of the film "Himalaya ki God Mein' became very popular.Another film 'Jab Jab Phool Khile"was a musical hit.Next year the music of "Aye Din Bahar Ke" became popular,his association LP was to make magic in 1967 with the super hit film MILAN and the song "Sawan ka Mahina,Pavan Kare Shor' became the song of the year.By this time he became a lyrics writer of immense caliber. He went on to work as a lyricist of over 3500 songs and 638 films in his career.
Anand Bakshi’s was widely associated with music Composers such as Laxmikant PyarelalR D BurmanKalyanji AnandjiSD BurmanAnu MalikRajesh Roshan and Anand-Milind and his songs have been sung by all the top singers .
Wit R D Burman he did 99 movies together and gave memorable songs."Dum Maro Dum" in the movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna(1972).Amar Prem Apna desh,Jawani Diwani,Sita Aur Gita.Heera Panna.Namak Haraam,Aap Ki Kasam,Sholay,Mehbooba,Shaan.Love Storyand many more.
Here are some of the songs with R D Burman
Song of Katie Patang 1970


Song of The Train 1970


Song of Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971


Song of Amar Prem 1971


Song of Jawani Diwani 1972


Song of Namak Haraam 1973


Song of  Aap Ki Kasam 1974


Song of  Sholay 1975


Song of  Mehbooba 1976



Song of  Love Story1981






Saturday 9 March 2019

Qamar Jalalabadi - Who wrote “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” and “Aayiye Meherbaan”


Qamar Jalalabadi (9 March 1917 – 9 January 2003) was born as Om Prakash Bhandari in a Punjabi family in the Jalalabad town near Amritsar. Right from the age of seven he starting writing poetry in Urdu. 
He wrote more than 700 songs for nearly 160 films, from 1940 to 1980. Besides songs, he wrote either the script or dialogues of "Shaheed"(1948), “Munimji” (1955), “Phagun” (1958), “Ujala” (1959), “Maya” (1961) and “Taj Mahal” (1963). 
His other notable songs include “Ik Dil Ke Tukde Hazaar Hue” (Pyar Ki Jeet, 1948), “Ik Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya” (Phagun, 1958), “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” (Howrah Bridge, 1958), “Dum Dum Diga Diga” (Chhalia, 1960) and “Main To Ik Khwaab Hoon Is Khwaab Se Tu Pyaar Na Kar” (Himalay Ki God Mein,1965).
He worked with S D Burman in 1946 in the film “Eight Days” where the comic song “O Babu Babu Re” became quite popular. He went on to work with music director Sardar Malik on many films. One of their hits was “Sunti Nahi Duniya” (“Renuka”, 1947).
. In 1942, he wrote lyrics for his first film Zamindar which was a Pancholi Pictures production and the songs of this film were very well received, especially the song sung by Shamshad Begum "Duniya me garibonko aaraam nahi milta", which also had a line or two written by writer and poet Behzad Lucknawi.
As a lyricist, Qamar Jalalabadi was very versatile. On one hand, he wrote mesmeric duets like "sun meri saanwari mujhko kahin tum bhool na jana…" sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd. Rafi (film: Aansoo 1953) and on the other hand he penned comic relief songs like "khush hai zamana aaj pehli tarikh hai" endured with full throttle gusto by Kishore Kumar (film: Pehli Tarikh-1954). This song turned into a veritable anthem and was played on Radio Ceylon on the first of every month for decades, and it probably still is.His brush with comedy was seen next in Aansoo Aur Muskan with, " Guni jano, Bhakt jano…" sung by Kishore Kumar as an actor in the movie.
In his long career span he worked for several Film Companies like; Prabhat Film Company, Pancholi Pictures, Filmistan Ltd., Famous Pictures, Minerva Movietone, Prakash Pictures, Wadia Films Ltd., Filmkar Ltd., Sippy Films, N.C Sippy Films, Shri Shakti Films, Mitra Productions and many more. He composed the title track of the popular television serial Vikram aur Betaal.
He was an acclaimed Adabi Shayar and graced many Urdu recitals all over the nation. Apart from that, he was the founder and member of the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) and the Film Writers Association in India.
Song of Pyar ki Jeet (1948)


Song of Pehli Tareekh 1954


Song of Howrah Bridge (1958)


Song of Howrah Bridge (1958)


Song of Phagun (1958)


Song of Chhalia (1960)


Song of Johar Mehmood In Goa (1965)


Song of Himalay Ki God Mein (1965)


Song of Upkar (1967)


Song of Holi Ayee Re (1970)


Song of Aansoo Aur Muskan (1971)



Friday 8 March 2019

Sahir Ludhianvi- A Journey as lyricist through the golden era of Hindi film music


Sahir(born on March 8th, 1921) made his debut as a lyricist with the film "Azadi Ki Raah Par" in 1948. The film had four songs written by him. His first song was "badal rahii hai zindagii". However, it was the year 1951 that would bring him fame and recognition. Two films, released in 1951, had songs that sky-rocketed in popularity and are hummed even today. First was "Thandi Hawaayen Lehraa Ke Aayi" from Naujawan. The second was a landmark film, marking the directorial debut of Guru Dutt - Baazi. Both films, coincidentally, had music by S. D. Burman.
This was followed by the chartbuster Yeh raat yeh chandni phir kahan for Jaal. Sahir took film lyrics to the heights of genuine poetry. The songs of Dharamputra rewrote history as the genius of B.R. Chopra and the enthusiasm of Sahir coalesced to yield timeless numbers like Main jab bhee akeli hoti hoon, Bhool sakta hai bhala kaun yeh pyari aankhein, Mere dilbar mujhse khaffa na ho.
The popularity of songs of Naujawan, Baazi, Jaal and Dharamputra fine-tuned Sahir’s working relationship with Dev Anand, S.D. Burman, Guru Dutt and B.R. Chopra to form formidable combinations that dominated the film scene for several decades. Sahir’s mastery over the Urdu language, immaculate diction, intensity of feelings and emotions and enchanting style of expression made him a lyricist of a different kind — a class apart. In Guru Dutt’s Pyasa, his songs Yeh duniya agar mil bhee jaye to kya hai, Jinhen naaz hai Hind par woh kahan hain, Jane woh kaise log thhey jinke pyar ko pyar mila won him acclaim.
But so long as Sahir and Burman were together, theirs was a matchless combination. For both of them we call out in their joint contribution from film ‘Saza’ : ‘Tum na jaane kis jahan mein kho gae’.While 1957 saw the end of Sahir’s partnership with SD, it saw the beginning of his partnership with OP Nayyar in Naya Daur and Tumsa Nahi Dekha. 
Sahir did work with other composers including RaviRoshanKhayyam and Datta Naik. Datta Naik also credited as N. Datta, a Goan, admired Sahir's poetry and their collaboration produced the score for Milaap (1955), Chandrakanta (1956), Saadhna (1958), Dhool Ka Phool (1959). 
In 1958, Sahir wrote the lyrics for Ramesh Saigal's film Phir Subah Hogi, its music was given by Khayyam. The song Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegiwith its minimal background music remains popular. Khayyam collaborated with Sahir in many films including Kabhie Kabhie and Trishul.
From about 1950 until his death( 25 October 1980), Sahir collaborated with Baldev Raj Chopra (1914 - 2008), a film producer and director. Sahir's last work for Chopra was for Insaaf Ka TarazuYash Chopra, an independent director and producer, also engaged Sahir for his film Daag.
 In Yash Chopra’s Daag, he came down heavily on the feudalistic and chauvinistic attitudes of society in the song Jab bhee jee chahe nayee duniya basa lete hain log/ Ek chehre pe kayee chehrey laga lete hain log. In Zara Hind ke rehbron ko bulao yeh koochey ye galiyaan yeh manzar dikhao, he highlighted the condition of the downtrodden. In Rehne ko ghar nahin hai sara jahan hamara, he expressioned his disillusionment with Nehru’s socialism. To those who fanned the fires of hatred and communalism during Partition, he counselled sanity, saying Malik ne to insaan ko insaan banaya/ Hum ne use Hindu ya musalmaan banaya. Even his light-hearted numbers like Insaan ka nahin kahin naam-o-nishan.. Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan, were satirical.
Be it a patriotic number like Yeh desh hai veer jawano ka... or a bhajan like Alla tero naam Eshwar tero naamor a captivating qawwali like Na to karvaan ki talash hai na to hamsafar ki talash hai or a lullaby like Tere bachpan ko jawani ki dua deti hoon aur dua de ke parishaan si ho jati hoon — his songs were always suffused with a rare passion. 
For Kabhi Kabhie, Sahir wrote Kal aur aayengey naghmon ki khilti kaliyaan chunnewale/ Mujh se behtar kehnewale tum se behtar sunnewale.. Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon.. he did not foresee that his lyrics would win for him a place in the immortals of Indian cinema.
Sahir won a Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for Taj Mahal (1963). He won a second Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for his work on Kabhie Kabhie (1976). He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1971. On 8 March 2013, the ninety-second anniversary of Sahir's birth, a commemorative stamp was issued in his honour.
Song of Naujawaan 1951



Song of Sazaa 1951



Song of Baazi 1951


Song of Jaal 1951



Song of Devdas 1955



Song of Munimji  1955



Song of Pyaasa 1957



Song of Naya Daur 1957



Song of Sone Ki Chidiya 1958



Song of Sadhanaa 1958



Song of Dhool Ka Phool 1959


Song of Barsaat Ki Raat 1960



Song of Hum Dono1961



Song of Taj Mahal 1963


Song of Gumraah 1963



Song of Kabhi Kabhi 1976






Thursday 17 January 2019

Javed Akhtar - A journey from a Ghost Writer to Super Star Writer


Javed Akhtar was born on 17th Jan 1945, His father was a  famous poet and Lyricist but he had to struggle in his early days in Bombay. He came to Bombay On October 4,1964  Within six days of his arrival he had to leave his father's home. He had 27 paise in his pockets. He had no certainty of either food or shelter.
 He managed to write dialogue for a minor film for Rs100. Sometimes he gets some work as an assistant or otherwise but often even this work eludes him.
He used to write a few scenes for the producers as Ghost Writer, The credit went to the ScreenPlay writer of that film.For this, he was paid a meagre amount of Rs 100.
For a year he had been living in Kamaal Studio (present-day Natraj Studios). He slept wherever he fancy-sometimes in some verandah, sometimes in some corridor, sometimes under some tree. He also slept for few days at the Mahakali Caves (these ancient Buddhist Caves in crowded East Andheri near Kamalistan Studio were a part of a desolate landscape in those days where hemp smoking mendicants layabout).
For a few days he lived with a friend who was a gambler, he taught him the tricks of gambling. For a few days, the cards provided the means of survival. After some days a famous and successful writer called and offered him a job at Rs 600 per month. The work was to ghostwrite for him. There was a struggle of 5 years for him. At last in November 1969 he got some work which in film parlance is called a "break"..
 He got a job as an independent scriptwriter on Yakeen which flopped. Akhtar then joined with his friend Salim Khan to develop the story for Adhikar.After that both wrote for G P Sippy for Andaz, the film was hit and after that Rajesh Khanna asked them to write the screenplay of Haathi Mere Saathi.
Their first big success was the script for Andaz, followed by Adhikar (1971), Haathi Mere Saathi and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972). They also had hits with Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Zanjeer (1973), Haath Ki Safai (1974), Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975), Chacha Bhatija (1977), Don (1978), Trishul (1978), Dostana (1980), Kranti (1981), Zamana (1985) and Mr. India (1987). They have worked together in 24 films including two Kannada films – Premada Kanike and Raja Nanna Raja. Of the 24 films they wrote, 20 were hits.
Javed is an Urdu poet before writing songs for films he was writing poetry.It was Yash Chopra who insisted him to write songs for his film Silsila(1981). After that he gave us many memorable songs He won 5 National Awards for his songs and also 5 Filmfare Awards for lyrics. In 2013, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, India's second highest literary honour, for his poetry collection Lava.
He was also nominated a Rajya Sabha MP.from Nov 2009 to Nov 2015.
He married to Honey Irani, with whom he had two children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, both film directors and actors. The father-and-son duo has worked together in films such as Dil Chahta HaiLakshyaRock On!! and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara with Zoya. He divorced Irani and later married Shabana Azmi, the daughter of eminent Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi.
Some of his Popular Songs

Song of Silsila 1981


Song of Sagar 1985


Song of 1942: A Love Story 1994



Song of Tezaab 1988


Song of Refugee 2000


Song of Lagaan 2001


Song of Veer Zaara 2004



Monday 14 January 2019

Kaifi Azmi - A Multifaceted Personality


Kaifi Azmi was a poet, an activist, and a member of the Progressive Writers’ Movement. He was a screenwriter, dialogue writer and also acted the ailing patriarch in Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s Naseem (1995). So it’s difficult to contain the multifaceted man under one label. 
He had the unique distinction of penning Chetan Anand’s Heer Ranjha(1970) entirely in verse. 
He was the Doyen of Urdu Poetry. Together with Pirzada QasimJon Elia and others, he participated in the most memorable mushairas of the twentieth century.
He was born on 14th Jan 1919 in Azamgarh UP. At age eleven, Azmi wrote his first ghazal Itna To Zindagi Mein Kisi Ki Khalal Pade and somehow managed to get himself invited to a mushaira and over there, he recited a ghazal, rather a couplet of the ghazal which was very much appreciated. He abandoned his studies of Persian and Urdu during the Quit India agitations in 1942 and shortly thereafter became a full-time Marxist when he accepted membership of the Communist Party of India in 1943. During this period, the leading progressive writers of Lucknow noticed him. They were very impressed by his leadership qualities.  His association with the Progressive Writers' Movement and Communist Party made him embark on the path of socially conscious poetry. In his poetry, he highlights the exploitation of the subaltern masses and through them, he conveys a message of the creation of a just social order by dismantling the existing one. Yet, his poetry cannot be called plain propaganda. It has its own merits; the intensity of emotions, in particular, and the spirit of sympathy and compassion towards the disadvantaged section of society are the hallmark of his poetry. His poems are also notable for their rich imagery and in this respect, his contribution to Urdu poetry can hardly be overstated.[4] Azmi's first collection of poems, Jhankar was published in 1943. His important works including anthologies of poetry, were Aakhir-e-ShabSarmayaAwaara SajdeKaifiyaatNai Gulistan, an anthology of articles he wrote for Urdu BlitzMeri Awaaz Suno, a selection of his film lyrics, and the script of Heer Ranjha in Devanagari
At the age of twenty-four, he started activities in the textile mill areas of Kanpur. He spread his area of work, He was asked to shift his base to Bombay, work amongst the workers and start party work with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm and at the same time would attend mushairas in different parts of India. In Bombay, he joined Ali Sardar Jafri in writing for the party's paper, Qaumi Jung. 
He wrote his first lyrics for the film Buzdil, directed by Shaheed Latif and music by SD Burman, released in 1951. His early work as a writer was mainly for Nanubhai Vakil's films like Yahudi Ki Beti (1956), Parvin (1957), Miss Punjab Mail (1958) and Id Ka Chand (1958). 
His greatest feat as a writer was Chetan Anand's Heer Raanjha (1970) wherein the entire dialogue of the film was in verse. It was a tremendous achievement and one of the greatest feats of Hindi film writing. Azmi also won great critical accolades for the script, dialogues and lyrics of M.S. Sathyu's Garam Hawa (1973), based on a story by Ismat Chughtai. Azmi also wrote the dialogues for Shyam Benegal's Manthan (1976) and Sathyu's Kanneshwara Rama (1977). As a lyricist and songwriter, though he wrote for numerous films, he will always be remembered for Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) and Chetan Anand's Haqeeqat (1964)
Some notables films for which he wrote lyrics include Kohra (1964), Anupama (1966), Uski Kahani (1966), Saat Hindustani (1969), Shola Aur ShabnamParwana (1971), Bawarchi (1972), Pakeezah (1972), Hanste Zakhm (1973), Arth (1982) and Razia Sultan (1983). For Naunihal (1967), he wrote the song "Meri Aawaz Suno Pyar ka Raaz Suno" (Hear my voice, hear the secret of love) sung by Mohammad Rafi. The song is picturised over the funeral procession of Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru.
He died on 10 May 2002 at around the age of eighty three. He was survived by his wife, daughter and son. His autobiography is included in a collection of his works, Aaj Ke Prashid Shayar: Kaifi Azmi.

He was the recipient of Padma Shri,

Sahitya Akademi Award


Song of Kaagaz Ke Phool 1959

Song of Shola Aur Shabnam 1961



Song of Shola Aur Shabnam 1961


Song of Haqeeqat 1964


Song of Anupama 1966


Song of Naunihal 1967


Song of Heer Ranjha 1970