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) 

Rajendra Krishan - A Great Lyricist

After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, Krishan wrote a song Suno Suno Aye Duniyawalon, Bapu Ki Yeh Amar Kahani. The song was sung by Mohammed Rafi He also wrote "Jahan daal daal par sone ki" for Sikandar-E-Azam.
He is  is known for his association with the composer C. Ramchandra. He worked with several other music directors including Shankar-Jaikishan, Ravi, Rajesh Roshan, Madan Mohan.
In the mid-1940s, Krishan 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 Raat (1948). His first success as a lyricist came with the films Badi Bahen (1949) and Lahore (1949).
The 1951 movie Albela was the film in which Rajinder Krishan paired with C Ramchandra to make some very memorable songs.
In 1953, he wrote 4 songs for Anarkali. Ananrkali was his second movie with C Ramchandra. 
He won Filmfare Award for best lyricist for the movie Khandan (1965) for the song "Tumhi mere mandir, tumhi meri pooja".
He died on 23 September 1987 in Mumbai.

Song of Albela 1951

Song of Anarkali 1953

Song of Nagin 1954

Song of Dekh Kabira Roya 1957

Song of Adalat 1958 

Song of Chhaya 1961

 Song of Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke (1963

Song of Bharosa1963

Song of Sharabi 1964

Song of Jahan Ara 1964

Song of Khandan 1965

Song of Blackmail 1973

Rajendra Krishan-The Lyricist who gave us many Immortal Songs

Those who love Bollywood songs are not unknown to the great Rajendra Krishan.He gave us many immortal songs like "Chup chup khade ho zaroor koi baat hai" (Badi-Behen), "Man doley mera tan doley" (Nagin), "Ai dil mujhe bata de,tu kis pe aa gaya hai" (Bhai-Bhai), "Main chali main chali dekho pyaar ki gali" ( Padosan)."Chal ud ja re panchhi ki ab yeh des hua begaana..." and penned such stirring lyrics as "Suno suno ai duniya waalon, bapu ki yeh amar kahani..."
He was born on June 6, 1919 to Parvati and Jagannath Duggal in Jalalpur Jattan of Gujarat district (now in Pakistan). 
When he was studying in the eighth class he was attracted towards poetry. In his early work life he had a clerk's job in the municipal office in Simla, where he toiled up to 1942.In the mid-1940s, Krishan shifted to Mumbai to become a screenwriter. 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). After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, Krishan wrote a song 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. He also tasted success as a lyricist with the films Badi Bahen (1949) and Lahore (1949).

with Raj Kumar 

When he was active the great 4 lyricists of Bollywood  Sahir Ludhianvi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shailendra, and Shakeel Badayuni were also there.He was an equal amongst giants like them.He gave lyrics to a wide variety of songs, ranging from Ghazals to Bhajans, Geets to Nazms with great flair. His songs are simple, inventive and full of meaning. He could write a swinging song like Mr John, o Baba Khan and in the same film Barish (’57) a philosophical song, Dane dane pe likha hai khanewale ka nam, lenewale karod, denewale ek Ram. The songs he wrote for Anarkali (’53), Yeh zindagi usiki hai and Jaag dard-e-ishq jaag have attained legendary status. His Nagin (’54) songs Man dole mera tan dole and Mera dil ye pukare aja are reverberating in our hearts even today. Apart from the three music directors mentioned above, he also wrote for other great composers like Sajjid Hussain (Saiyan ’51, Sangdil ’52), SD Burman (Bahar ’51, Sazaa ’51, Ek Nazar ’51), S Mohinder (Papi ’53), Chitragupt (Bhabhi ’57, Kangan ’59), Salil Choudhry (Chaya ’61), Laxmikant-Pyarelal (Intaqam ’69). He could pen love-ballads and comedy songs with equal ease and effect. In the first category come the standards like Ye hawa ye raat ye Chandni (Sandgil), Koun aya mere man ke dware payal ki jhankar liye (Dekh Kabira Roya ’57), Mera Qarar leja mujhe beqarar kar ja (Ashiana ’52) and Ai dil mujhe bata de (Bhai Bhai ’56). As the whole world knows C Ramchandra and Madan Mohan put a special ingredient into the songs they gave to Lata. One can not remain unmoved when listening to the following songs Rajendra Krishan wrote for her: Ham pyar me jalnewalon ko chain kahan aram kahan (Jailor ’58), Sapne me sajan se do bate ik yad rahi ik bhool gayen (Gateway Of India ’57), Dil se bhulado tum hamen (Patanga ’49)), Balma bada nadan re (Albela ’50), Ai chand pyar mera (Khazana ’51) and Wo bhuli dastan lo phir yad agayi (Sanjog ’61). 
Rajendra Krishan won Filmfare Award for best lyricist for the movie Khandan (1965) for the song "Tumhi mere mandir, tumhi meri pooja".
Rajendra Krishan knew Tamil language and wrote 18 scripts for AVM Studios films.He wrote dialogues for more than 50 hindi films like Bari Behen ,Nagin,Shaadi ,Bharosa,Khandan,Pyar Kiye Jaa ,Padosan,Bombay to Goa,Naya Din Nai Raat
Besides literature he had the hobby of Horse race.In fact he won a Jackpot in the 60s winning a huge amount which made him the richest Lyricist.He died on 23 September 1987 in Mumbai. After his death, HMV brought out an LP containing 12 of his songs.

Song from Badi Bahen (1949)

Song from Albela (1951)

Song from Anarkali (1953)

Song from Nagin (1954)

Song from Bhaabi 1957

Song from Adalat (1958) 

Song from Jailor 1958

Song from Chhaya ( 1961)

Song from Khandan (1965)

Song from Sikandar-E-Azam 1965

Song from Black Mail 1973