Shankardas Kesarilal (30 August 1921 – 14 December 1966), popularly known by his pen name Shailendra,He was born in Rawalpindi, and brought up in Mathura. He came in contact with Indra Bahadur Khare at the Kishori Raman School. Both started composing poems, sitting on the rock located on the bank of a pond near to Mathura Railway Station
In 1947 he moved to Bombay and started his career as an apprentice with Indian Railways in Matunga workshop.His writing continued during that period also.
Shailendra with his wife and children
His father hailed from Bihar. This U.P. – Bihar cultural influence was to show later in his folk-style film songs. The origins of Chadh gayo paapi bichhua, Sajanwa bairi ho gaye hamar and Ab ke baras bhej bhaiya ko babul thus can be traced to this family back-ground.
He used to recite his poem in Kavi Sammelans,in one such Sammelan Raj Kapoor heard his poem Jalta hai Punjab, he was so influenced by this poem,he thought of taking this poem in his upcoming movie AAH(1948).He approached Shailendra to buy this poem which Shailendra refused because that time selling their poems was not good morally.However Raj Kpoor gave him an open offer to write for him.
As you know the life of a writer is always tough,Shailendra was also living that life.During those days Shailendra's wife got pregnant he needed money that time Shailendra himself approached Raj Kapoor in need of money. At this time, Raj Kapoor was filming Barsaat (1949), and two of the film songs had not yet been written. For ₹ 500, Shailendra wrote these two songs: Patli kamar hai and Barsaat mein. Thus the filmy career of Shailendra started.The song "Barsaat mei hum se mile"started a new trend of title songs.This was started by Shailendra,after that he wrote the title song Awara Hoon for Awara which became a huge hit,
Shailendra,Mukesh Jaikishan and Raj Kapoor
One fine incident was told by Shailendra himself that those days the Music Directors used to recommend the Lyricst to the Producers,Shankar Jaikishan with whom he worked in Barsat and Awara had promised him that they will recommend his name to producers.which they did nit do or forgot,Shailendra was not getting work so one day he sent a note with these lines to Shankar Jaikishan Chhoti Si Yeh Duniya, Pehchaane Raaste Hain. Kahin To Miloge, toh Poochhenge Haal ("The world is small, the roads are known. We'll meet sometime, and ask 'How do you do?'"). Shankar-Jaikishan realised what the message meant and having said sorry, turned the lines into a popular song. The song was featured in the film Rangoli (1962), for which the producer Rajendra Singh Bedi wanted to sign up Majrooh Sultanpuri as the lyricist. However, Shankar-Jaikishen insisted on Shailendra and the producer had to oblige.After that Shankar-Jaikishen took Shailendra in all non-RK films too like Hariyali aur Rasta, Patita (Hai sab se madhur vo geet jise hum dard ke sur mein gas ate hain), Daag (Ai mere dil kahin aur chal), Badshah, Kathputli, Ashiq, Love Marriage. College Girl, Jab Pyar Kisi se Hota hai, Begunah, New Delhi and of course ‘Yahudi’ in which the Mukesh number, ‘Ye mera diwanapan hai’ got for him the Filmfare award for the first time.
Raj Kapoor was always full of praise for his friend and lyricist Shailendra — whom the legendary filmmaker fondly called ‘Pushkin’ and ‘Kabiraj’ — and often barged into the latter’s home at night.
Shailendra became popular because he used to write in simple words.He wrote in the common man’s language. He was economical in his use of words, yet his writing was very meaningful. Take for instance, Teesri Kasam’s Sajan re jhooth mat bolo. he penned lullabies, bhajans, love songs and even item numbers with equal ease and panache,he was gifted with supernatural quality of writing any stuff of any genre.
Apart from Shankar-Jaikishan, Shailendra also shared a rapport with composers such as Salil Chowdhary (Madhumati), Sachin Dev Burman (Guide, Bandini, Kala Bazar), andRavi Shankar (Anuradha). Apart from Raj Kapoor, he shared a rapport with filmmakers such as Bimal Roy (Do Bigha Zameen, Madhumati, Bandini) and Dev Anand (Guide andKala Bazar).
He was one of the founding member of IPTA and also active member of Progressive Writer's Association.He won many Awards,he got 3 Fimfare Awards , the first in 1958 for "Yeh Mera Diwanapan"from Yahudi,second in 1959 for "Sab Kuchh Seekha Hamne" from Anari,the third was for "Mein Gaaon Tum So Jao" in 1968 for Brahmchaari.
Yeh Mera Diwanapan
Mein Gaaon Tum So Jao
In 1961 Shailendra invested heavily in the production of the movie Teesri Kasam (1966), directed by Basu Bhattacharya and starring Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film. However, the film was a commercial failure.The falling health resulting from tensions associated with film production and anxiety due to financial loss, coupled with alcohol abuse, ultimately led to his death,he died on 14th December 1966.
My TRIBUTE To SHAILENDRA
My TOP 10 Lyrically Favourite Songs
Song from Awara
Song from Daag 1952
Song from Patita 1953
Songsfrom Anarkali 1953 Aa Ja Ab To AaJaa
Song from Kala Bazar
Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh
Song from Bandini
Song from Guide
Song from Sangam
Song from Teesri Kasam
