Prem Dhawan - A Multi-Talented Personality of Bollywood

 

Most of us remember him as a lyricist but he was a multi-talented personality. He started his film career as an assistant music director to Khurshid Anwar in Aaj Aur Kal(1947). He got his first film Ziddi(1948) as a lyricist with a hit song .'Chanda Re, Ja Re Ja Re' sung by Lata Mangeshkar and composed by Khemchand Prakash. Since then he wrote many memorable songs like "Seene Mein Sulagte Hain Armaan" from Tarana(1951) or "Zindagi Khawab Hai" from Jagte Raho(1956)'

Manoj Kumar had high regard for his talent, he offered him, Shaheed(1965) to give its music as well as write songs. He wrote the immortal song ' Rang De Basanti Chola'. Apart from his career as a lyricist and composer, acted in two films, Lajawab (1950) and Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959). He also worked as a choreographer for seven films Arzoo (1950) was the first film as a choreographer, his choreographed song 'Ude Jab Jab Zulfein Teri' and 'Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawano Ka' from Naya Daur (1957) are immortal.

He also appeared in the song 'Ari O Mohe Chhed Gaya Re from the 1949 film Singaar as a dancer with Cuckoo. He also choreographed the popular song ' Hariyala Sawan Dhol Bajata Aaya' from 'Do Bigha Zameen(1953)'

He was born on 13th June 1923, in Ambala in Hariyana District. His father was Jail superintendent and because of his job, Prem Dhawan got to travel a lot in undivided India with his family, where he got an opportunity to study various cultures and be a part of it. He completed his college education in Lahore where Sahir & Indrakumar Gujral were his best friends.

Prem Dhawan was an underrated music director and lyricist. He composed several films. His songs were full of typical Punjabi flavor. He could not shine as a successful composer, but his few films need a mention like, Shaeed (1965), Pavitra Papi (1970), Raat Ke Aandhere Mein (1987) etc.

He got the National Award for Best Lyrics for the Punjabi film Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar (1970). He died on 7 May 2001, at the age of 78, following a cardiac arrest.

Song of Ziddi 1948

Prem Dhawan as a Dancer

Song of Singaar1949

Song of Tarana 1951

Song of Hum Hindustani 1960

Song of Kaabuliwala 1961

Song of  Shaheed 1965

Song of  Ek Phool Do Mali (1969)

Song of Pavitra Paapi 1970

Song of Purab Aur Paschim (1970)

Rajendra Krishan- A Low Profile Lyricist and Script Writer

 

Over 200 films as a lyricist; and an incredible 100-plus as a dialogue writer, a huge track record of hits in each capacity in a span of 50 years, Rajendra Krishan was a low profile giant.Though he never formed a prolific team with any specific composer,he wrote hits with generations of composers, from Husnlal-Bhagatram, Shyam Sunder and Anil Biswas to C.Ramachandra and later Hemant Kumar, Madan Mohan, S.D.Burman, and R D Burman.

He wrote all types of songs from philosophical to peppy songs like 'Enna Menna Dekka'(Asha), Gore Gore Banke Chhore(Samadhii)'Aa Jaan-E-Jaan' (Intequam) . Check out a few perennial pearls from his treasury: 'Chup Chup Khade Ho' (Badi Behen) Yeh Hawa Yeh Raat Yeh Chandni(Sangdil), 'Yeh Zindagi Ussiki Hai' (Anarkali), 'Chal Udd Jaa Re Panchhi' (Bhabhi) and 'Yun Hasraton Ke Daag' (Adalat), Woh Bhooli Dastaan' (Sanjog), 'Man Dole Mera Tan Dole' (Nagin) or Mere Saamnewali Khidki Mein' (Padosan), 'Govinda Aala Re' (Bluffmaster), and the patriotic 'Jahaan Daal Daal Par' (Sikander-E-Azam).

He was born on  6 June 1919. In the mid-1940s, he shifted to Bombay (now Mumbai) to become a screenwriter in the Hindi film industry. His first screenplay was Janta (1947). His first film as a lyricist was Zanjeer (1947). He was first noted for the script and lyrics of the Motilal-Suraiya starrer Aaj Ki Rat (1948). He consolidated his position as a lyricist with the films Badi Bahen (1949) and Lahore (1949) and the song he wrote after the death of Mahatma Gandhi,Suno Suno Aye Duniyawalon, Bapu Ki Yeh Amar Kahani. The song was sung by Mohammed Rafi and composed by Husnlal Bhagatram, and was a great hit. 

At his peak, he was called the King of Madras He became a favorite of the South Filmmakers who made remakes of south hit films in Hindi. He reworked these scripts and penned the Hindi dialogues with a pan-Indian appeal, and among such blockbusters were Nazrana, Rakhi (produced by South titan Sivaji Ganesan), Shaadi, Main Chup Rahungi, Waris, Gopi and of course the classic Pyar Kiye Jaa. 

Rajinder Krishan won Filmfare Award for best lyricist for the movie Khandan (1965) for the song "Tumhi mere mandir, tumhi meri pooja". Some of his popular songs are 'Bholi Surat Dil Ke Khote' and 'Shola Jo Bhadke' (Albela), 'Aplam Chaplam' (Azaad), Itna Na Mujhse Tu Pyar Badha' (Chhaya), and 'Aaj Ki Mulaqaat Bas Itni' (Bharosa) in the '60s and in the 70s  'Sukh Ke Sab Saathi' (Gopi), 'O Mere Raja' (Johny Mera Naam), 'Dal Roti Khaao' (Jwar Bhata), 'Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas' (Blackmail), 'Rafta Rafta' (Kahani Kismat Ki), 'Dekha Na Haaye Re Socha Na' (Bombay To Goa) and many more.

He also wrote songs in a few films of the 80s. The last film was Aag Ka Dariya released after his death in 1990. He died on 23 September 1987 in Mumbai. 

Song of Badi Bahen (1949)

Song of Albela (1951)

Song of Sangdil (1952)

Song of Anarkali (1953) 

Song of Nagin (1954)

Song of Azad 1955

Song of Bhai-Bhai (1956)

Song of Asha (1957)

Song of Jailor 1958

Song of Adalat (1958)

Song of Chhaya(1961)

Song of Bharosa(1963)

Song of Sharaabi (1964)

Song of Jahan Ara (1964)

Song of Khandan (1965)

Song of Padosan (1968)

Song of Blackmail (1973) 

Majrooh Sultanpuri- A Long Lyrical Journey from 1946 t0 2001

 

His first film as a lyricist was Shahjehab(1946) writing the immortal song 'Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya' sung by K L Saigal and the last filmOne 2 Ka 4 (2001). He was the only lyricist who wrote songs for heroes ranging from Saigal to Shahrukh Khan and leading ladies from Nargis to Madhuri Dixit. 

He worked with all the top music directors of his time –  Naushad, Anil Biswas, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, Roshan, 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. In his last film, he wrote for A R Rehman.

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.

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”.

.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.

He wrote many immortal songs, in this blog I have selected a few songs composed by various composers. In an interview to Film Division’s Jayanti Rasgotra in 1997, when asked to rate his three best songs, Majrooh listed them: Kahin bekhayal hokar yoon hi chhoo liya kisi ne (Teen Deviyaan, S D Burman, 1965), Raat kali ek khwaab mein aayee aur gale ka haar hui (Buddha mil gaya, 1971, R D Burman) and that immortal Rahein na rahein hum mahka karenge…(Mamta, Roshan, 1966, Lata Mangeshkar)

Song of Shah Jehan (1946) Composer Naushad

Song of Romeo Juliet 1947   Composer Husnalal Bhagatram

Song of Footpath 1953  Composer Khayyam

Song of Aar Paar 1954

Song of Paying Guest 1957 Composer S D Burman

Song of Maya 1961

Song from Aarti (1962)  Composer Roshan

Song of Ishara 1964

Song from Oonche Log 1965  Composer Chitragupt

Song of Dosti 1964  Composer Laxmikant Pyarelal

Song of Teesri Manzil 1967

Song of Dastak 1970 Composer Madan Mohan

Song of Bhumika 1977 Composer Vanraj Bhatia

Song of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak  1988 Composer Anand Miland

Song of Khamoshi The Musical  1996 Composer Jatin Lalit

Song of Kya Kehna 2000 Composer Rajesh Roshan

Song of Pukar 2000 Composer A R Rehman

The Songs written by Hasrat Jaipuri for Other Music Directors

 

We all know that Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra were the lyric writers for Shankar Jaikishan but both of them wrote for other Music directors also and gave us many immortal songs. He made his debut from the 1949 film Barsat, this was also Shankar Jaikishan's debut film. The success of the film and its songs made him and Shailendra the permanent Lyricist for Raj Kapoor films and Shankar Jaikishan

Immediately after Barsat, he wrote a song under the composition of Bulo C Rani for the 1950 film Wafa. The song 'Armaan Bhara Dil Toot Gaya' a duet by Lata & Mukesh, was a hit. He also wrote a song for the composer Sajjad Hussain for the 1951 film Halchal. He wrote a song for Anarkali 1953 under the composition of C Ramchandra. He worked with SD Burman in just 3 films ...Tere Ghar ke saamne had super hit songs Similarly in 1963 film Ziddi. With Kalyanji Anandji he wrote for' Ji Chahta Hai' and Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani. With O P Nayyar in Howrah Bridge

Here are a few of the great songs of Hasrat Jaipuri composed by Music Directors other than Shankar Jaikishan

Song of Anarkali (1953)

Song of Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1955)

Song of Tere Ghar ke Saamne 1963

Song of  Ziddi 1964

Song of   ji chahta hai 1964

Song of Bhoot Bungla (1965)

Song of  Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani 1970

Song of Munimji (1972)

SAHIR LUDHIANVI- . In his songs he consistently raised uncomfortable questions

 

Sahir Ludhianvi, a great lyricist of Bollywood was different from his contemporary lyricists.   He did not praise Khuda (God), Husn (beauty), or Jaam (wine). Instead, he wrote bitter yet sensitive lyrics about the declining values of society; the senselessness of war and politics; and the domination of consumerism over love. His love songs, tinged with sorrow, expressed his realization that there were other, starker concepts more important than love.

In his songs he consistently raised uncomfortable questions and expressed bitter truths. Only he could write the songs "Jinhe naaz hai Hind par vo kahaan hain” against the political leadership of the day or the poem  ‘Avaaz-e-Adam’  in which ‘hum bhi dekhenge’ remains a memorable phrase. This led to his migration from Pakistan.

dabegī kab talak āvāz-e-ādam ham bhī dekheñge

rukeñge kab talak jazbāt-e-barham ham bhī dekheñge

chalo yūñhī sahī ye jaur-e-paiham ham bhī dekheñge

dar-e-zindāñ se dekheñ yā urūj-e-dār se dekheñ

tumheñ rusvā sar-e-bāzār-e-ālam ham bhī dekheñge

zarā dam lo ma.āl-e-shaukat-e-jam ham bhī dekheñge

ye zo.am-e-quvvat-e-faulād-o-āhan dekh lo tum bhī

ba-faiz-e-jazba-e-īmān-e-mohkam ham bhī dekheñge

jabīn-e-kaj-kulāhī ḳhaak par ḳham ham bhī dekheñge

mukāfāt-e-amal tārīḳh-e-insāñ kī rivāyat hai

karoge kab talak nāvak farāham ham bhī dekheñge

kahāñ tak hai tumhāre zulm meñ dam ham bhī dekheñge

ye hañgām-e-vidā-e-shab hai ai zulmat ke farzando

sahar ke dosh par gulnār parcham ham bhī dekheñge

tumheñ bhī dekhnā hogā ye aalam ham bhī dekheñge

Close to his heart was the farmer crushed by debt, the soldier has gone to fight someone else's war, the woman forced to sell her body, the youth frustrated by unemployment, and the family living on the street for instance.

Sahir was a communist sympathizer, but he never became a member of the Communist Party of India or an agenda-pushing poet. He always expressed his true feelings. Sahir did something which no film lyricist did before. He transitioned his literary poetry from his book Talkhiyaan (1945) into film songs.

Sahir was hardly 58 and at his creative best when he suffered a massive heart attack. This bard from Ludhiana bid adieu to this world on October 25, 1980

Song of Pyasaa 1957

Song of Sone Ki Chidiya 1958

Song of Phir Subah Hogi 1958