Anjaan - The Lyricist, Well Known to the Music Lover

 

The  English meaning of Anjaan is unknown or anonymous. This was the pet name of the well-known lyricist of Bollywood who has given us many popular songs. Recall the song 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala'and 'Rote Hue Aate Hain Sab' and many more such songs were written by him. His real name was Lalji Pandey. He was born on  October 28, 1930, and was a native of Varanasi. 

He debuted in 1953 in the movie "Prisoner Of Golconda" with the songs "Lehar Yeh Dole Koyal Bole" and "Shaheedon Amar Hai Tumhari Kahani".He was first noticed for his work with the Raaj Kumar film Godaan, based on the Premchand classic, with music by Ravi Shankar. This film got him a few good assignments in the mid - 60’s with big composers like O. P. Nayyar ("Aap Ke Haseen Rukh") in Guru Dutt’s Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi 

He penned more than 1500 songs in 300 films, many of his songs were hit. He worked with many music directors but his collaboration with Kalyanji Anandji was successful. He was at his best in the Amitabh Bachchan films of Kalyanji Anandji, beginning with Do Anjaane ("Luk Chhip Luk Chhip Jao Na") in 1976. Followed Hera Pheri ("Barson Purana Yeh Yaarana"), Khoon Pasina ("Title Song" and "Bani Rahe Jodi Raja Rani Ki"), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar ("Rote Hue Aate Hain Sab", "O Saathi Re", "Pyar Zindagi Hai", "Dil To Hai Dil"), Don with his biggest hit of the career "Khaike Paan Banaras Wala", ("Ee Hai Bambai Nagariya", "Jiska Mujhe Tha Intezaar"), Lawaaris ("Jiska Koi Nahin", "Kab Ke Bichhde") and Jaadugar. 

In his early days, he had to struggle, he worked in small films, in the mid-1960s with big composers like O. P. Nayyar ("Aap Ke Haseen Rukh") in Guru Dutt's Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi and G. P. Sippy's Bandhan, which established him commercially with "Bina Badraa Ke Bijuriya Kaise Barse". This also saw the forging with fellow lyricist Indeevar and composers Kalyanji-Anandji. This was followed by songs in Kalyanji - Anandji's Kab? Kyon? Aur Kahan?. Shankar - Jaikishan's Umang, Rivaaj and Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari, Ravi's Vandana ("Aap Ki Inayat Aap Ke Karam"), R. D. Burman's Hungama ('Wah Ri Kismat', 'Suraj Se Jo Kiran Ka Naata' which was the first-ever song filmed on Zeenat Aman) and a few other films.

Being a native of Varanasi, he had great love and attachment to Ganga. There were a lot of songs written by him on Ganga such as "Maano To Main Ganga Maa Hoon Maano To Behta Paani" and "Ganga Mein Dooba" fromApneRang Hazar.
His health suffered a major setback in the early 90’s, though he delivered hits with Zindagi Ek Juaa, Dalaal, Ghayal, and the 1990 chartbuster "Gori Hain Kalaiyan" (Aaj Ka Arjun) and his last hit Shola Aur Shabnam (1992). His other films in the 90’s included Vishnu Devaa, Parakrami, Insaniyat, Police Aur Mujrim, First Love Letter, Aandhiyaan, Phool Bane Angaarey and others.A few months before his death on 13 September 1997, his only book of poems, Ganga Tath Ka Banjara (A Gypsy from the Shores of the Ganges) was released at the hands of Amitabh Bachchan. His son Sameer is also a very successful Lyricist.

Notable songs of Anjaan

Song of Godaan 1963

Song of Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi  1966

Song of Bandhan 1969

Song of Do Anjaane1976

Song of Hera Pheri 1976

Song of Priyatama 1977

Song of Don 1978

Song of Muqaddar Ka Sikandar 1978

Song of Yaarana 1981

Song of Lawaris 1981

Song of Sharabi 1984

SAHIR LUDHIANVI- Different from his Contemporaries

 

True to his name "Sahir" which means a magician, he proved to be a magician of words. He painted fascinating images in songs and ghazals, He made his debut as a lyricist with the film "Azadi Ki Raah Par" in 1948. but got fame in 1951 after the release of Baazi, Naujawan, and Saza 

 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.

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.

 He touched upon issues like poverty, inequality, gender gap, environment, the threat of a war that has not gone away. Some of the challenges are even bigger today than in his time. If he would have been alive today, he would be writing on the self-appointed custodian of religion, the self-serving politician, the exploitative capitalist, and the war-mongering super-powers.

Recall the songs of Pyaasa or Phir Subah Hogi The song Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi with its minimal background music remains popular.

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.

Here are some of his immortal songs

Song of Naujawaan 1951

Song of Sazaa 1951

Song of Baazi 1951

Song of Devdas 1955

Song of Pyaasa 1957

Song of Sone Ki Chidiya 1958

Song of Naya Daur 1957

Song of Phir Subah Hogi 1958

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Song of Taj Mahal 1963

Song of  Chitralekha 1964

Song of  Waqt 1965

Song of  Kabhi Kabhi 1976

D N MADHOK- Lyricist First Generation

 

D N Madhok (22 October 1902 – 9 July 1982) was a prominent lyricist of Bollywood in the 1930s to 1960s. He started his career with the 1932 film Radhey Sham. Apart from writing lyrics, he wrote screenplays and directed films. He directed almost 17 films.

Filmmaker and songwriter Gulzar considers two lyricists as tops in the old days. Shailendra in the 50's and D N Madhok in the 40's.The immortal song "Diya Jalao" sung by K. L. Saigal was written by him, He was instrumental in introducing the famous composer Naushad to Bollywood He appointed Naushad as an assistant music director in his directorial venture, a Punjabi film Mirza Sahiban (1939). The first film which Naushad composed as an independent music director was Prem Nagar' (1940). This time also it was Madhok who penned the lyrics for the songs of that film.

He joined Ranjit Movietone in 1939. His career as a lyricist took off with several major successes. He wrote lyrics for popular songs in the 1940s and 1950s for films such as Nadi Kinare (1939), Musafir (1940), Pagal (1940), Ummeed (1941), Bansari (1943), Nurse (1943), Bela (1947), Bhakt Surdas (1942), and Tansen (1943). 

He worked with almost every prominent music director of the 40s and 50s such as Gyan Dutt, Khemchand Prakash, S. N. Tripathi, Bulo C Rani, Khurshid Anwar, Pandit
Amarnath, Sardul Kwatra, Anil Biswas, R. C. Boral, Robin Chatterjee, C. Ramchandra, Sajjad Hussain, Ghulam Haider, Vinod, Gobind Ram, Husnlal Bhagatram, A. R. Qureshi, Roshan, Sardar Malik, Ghulam Mohammad, and Hansraj Behl.

He wrote over 800 songs in his career, some of his notable songs are-

Diya Japao Jagmag Jagmag(Tansen)

Ghata Ghan Ghor Ghor...(Tansen)

Too Kaun Si Badli Mein Mere Chand Hai...(Khandaan)

Aaye Bhi Wo Gaye Bhi Wo...(Namaste)

Milke Bichhad Gayi Ankhiyaan...(Rattan)

Ankhiyaan Milake Jiya Bharmake...(Rattan)

O Jaanewale Baalmawa Laut Ke Aa...(Rattan)

Panchhi Baanwara...(Bhakt Surdas)

Madhukar Shaam Hamare Chor...(Bhakt Surdas)

Pehle Jo Mohabbat Se Inkaar Kiya Hota...(Pardesi)

Toot Gaye Sab Sapne Mere...(Parwana)

Jab Tum Hi Naheen Apne...(Parwana)

Jeene Ka Dhang Sikhaye Ja...(Parwana)

Shikwa Tera Main Gaoon...(Anmol Ratan)

Maine Dekhi Jag Ki Reet...(Sunehre Din)

Song of Mirza Sahiban (1939).

Song of ‘Prem Nagar’ (1940).

Song of Tansen 1943

Song of Rattan’ (1944).

Song of Rattan’ (1944).

Song of Bhakta Surdas (1944) 

Song of Singaar (1949).

Song of .Sunehre Din  ( 1949) 

Song of Rasiya 1950

Song of Dard e Dil 1950

Song of Goonj 1952

Song of Bilwamangal (1954) 

Hasrat Jaipuri- A Bus Conductor to a Great Lyricist

 

He was born as Iqbal Husain on April 15, 1922.in Jaipur Rajasthan. He got the education of Urdu and Persian from his grandfather Fida Husain. He started writing poems at a young age His mother was not in favor of his Shayari.  He came to Bombay at the age of 18 to earn Bread & Butter, he started working as a bus conductor, earning a monthly salary of eleven rupees. He worked as a conductor for 8 years In an interview, he told that he never asked for a ticket from beautiful girls. Beautiful girls were his inspiration for writing romantic words. His love for writing Urdu poetry remained intact, he used to participate in Mushairas, 

in one of such Mushairas, the late Prithviraj Kapoor heard his poetry and recommended him to his son Raj Kapoor who was planning a musical love story with two new composers, Shanker - Jaikishan. Raj Kapoor heard his poems he invited him to write songs for his film Barsaat, his first recorded song was, 'Jiya Beqaraar Hai' for the film. His second song (and first duet) was 'Chhod Gaye Baalam' for the same film. Both songs became popular. In this film, he wrote 7 songs,

Awara (1951) was his second film.he wrote 4 songs in this film, one of the immortal song is 'Hum Tujhse Mohabbat Karke Sanam'. In the same year, his 3rd film Badal got released in the same year. Shankar Jaikishan was the music director of this film also. He wrote 3 songs for this film. In 1951 his 9 films were released, he was now writing songs for other music directors also.

Hasrat Jaipuri wrote lyrics for all Raj Kapoor films till 1971. After the death of Jaikishan and failure of Mera Naam Joker and Kal Aaj Aur Kal, Raj Kapoor turned to other lyricists and music directors.
He wrote 1100 + songs in more than 300 films, the last song he wrote was for Saazish with Jatin-Lalit and at the time of his death, he was working on a few small films and a book of Shayari. To his credit, there are more than 2000 recorded songs. He also wrote the screenplay for the movie Hulchul (1951). His last film as a lyricist was Hatya: The Murder (2004
He won many awards and mementos for his Songs and Urdu Poetry. He was also awarded a Doctorate from the World University Round Table and Josh Malihabadi Award, from Urdu Conference. He wrote several books of poetry, in Hindi and Urdu. He once said, "Hindi and Urdu are like two great and inseparable sisters. He died on 17th September 1999.

Hasrat Jaipuri Earlier Songs

Song of Barsat 1949

Song of Awara 1951

Song of Badal 1951

Song of Kaali Ghata 1951

Song of Nagina  1951

Song of Daag  1952

Song of Parbat 1952

Song of  Poonam 1952

Song of Mayurpankh 1953 

Song of Naya Sansar 1953

The Power & Magic of Shailendra's Lyrics

 

Shailendra's (30 August 1921 – 14 December 1966), forte was his ability to write songs that were easy to sing but had a hook that led you to a deeper meaning. The finesse with which he could switch from the philosophical to the trivial is extraordinary. Initially, he was inclined towards Left, some of his film songs had a socialist theme 

Take 'Dil Ka Haal Sunay Dil Waala' for instance. It talks about class struggle, exploitation, and nepotism. In another song, Suraj Zara Aa Paas Aa, Aaj Sapno Ki Roti Pakayenge Hum, he talks about hunger—not bitterly but in a jovial manner.  His soulful song, Musafir Jaaye Ga Kahan, is one such philosophical gem from Guide (1965).

He created the famous slogan —  “Har zor-zulm kee takkar mein, hartal hamara nara ha", this is still used by protesters even today. He used io recite poems in Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan. One of his poems 'Jalta Hai Punjab' attracted the filmmaker Raj Kapoor to have this in his debut directorial film Aag. 

He was one of the pillars of the great songs of the Golden Era of Bollywood. Although other contemporaries like Majrooh, Sahir, Kaifi, Shakeel, Jan Nisar Akhtar were regarded as poets who drifted from literature to film songs, Shailendra was generally thought primarily as a lyricist. His sheer diversity of thought is quite unique. 

His songs reflect his keen observation of life, culture, relations and emotions and his hope for a fair and just world Let's look into some of his songs.

There was an anecdote told by his son in an interview that Raj Kapoor took Shailendra to introduce him to K A Abbas who was his main scriptwriter for the narration of the script. , Abbas ignored him. After two-and-a-half hours of narration, Raj Kapoor asked, “Kuchh samajh mein aaya Kaviraaj?” Shailendra replied, “Gardish main tha, par aasman ka taara tha. Awaara tha.” A shocked Abbas finally noticed the stranger in his room for he had summarised his two hours of effort in one line. The three together with Shankar Jaikishen made a formidable team in the years to come.

The first song he wrote for Barsat(1949) was- 'Patalii kamar hai, tirachhii najar hai patalii kamar hai, tirachhii najar haikhile phuul-sii terii javaaniiko_ii bataa_e kahaa.N kasar hai' the other song was 'taak-dhinaa-dhin dhinaa-dhin taak-dhinaa-dhin barasaat me.n taak-dhinaa-dhin barasaat me.n hamase mile tum sajan, tumase mile ham barasaat mein'. This song was super hit and created a trend of Title sons in Hindi songs.

 Some of his songs were romantic (‘Yeh raat bheegi bheegi’, ‘Tere mere sapne’), some metaphysical (‘Wahan kaun hai tera’, ‘Zindagi khwab hai’, ‘Sajan re jhoot mat bolo’, ‘Jao re Jogi’) others of longing (‘Aja re Padesi’, ‘Oh jaanewalae ho sake’, ‘O basanti pawan pagal’) anguish (‘Kya se kya ho gaya’, ‘Dost dost na raha’, ‘Sajanwa bairi ho gaye’), abandon (‘Mud mud ke na dekh’, ‘Suhana Safar’, ‘Aaj phir jeene ki’), or even nonsensical (‘Tin kanastar’, ‘Chuhe mama’).

.He was a complete lyricist in all genres of lyricism: serious, funny, spiritual, romantic, sad, happy, and angry. Gulzar called him the greatest lyricist in Hindi films. He shaped his songs to suit the characters and through his lyrics added other dimensions to the story."

Har zo zulm ki takkar mein hartal hamara nara hai
Tumne mangen thukrai hain, tumne toda hai har wada
Chhini hamse sasti roti, tum chhatni par aamada ho
Toh apni bhi tayyari hai, toh humne bhi lalkara hai
Har zo zulm ki takkar mein hartal hamara nara hai

Song of Awara 1951

Song of Daag 1952

Song of Do Bigha Zamin 1953

Song of Shree 420 (1955)

Song of Chori Chori 1956

Song of Madhumati 1958

Song of Anari 1959

Song of Kala Bazar 1960

Song of Bandini 1963

Song of Sangam1964

Song of Guide1965

Song of Teesri Kasam 1966

Last song of Shailendra 

Song of Door Ka Rahi 1971

Song of Madhumati 1958

The Cinema & Songs of Gulzar

 

In an interview, Gulzar Saheb said that songwriting is my profession while writing poetry is my statement of life. Since his childhood, he was writing poems, He was also writing when he worked as a mechanic in a car garage in Bombay. It was during his interactions in the PWA Sunday meetings that lyricist Shailendra and Bimal Roy encouraged him to join films. Initially, he joined Bimal Ray as his assistant and later got a chance to write a song in Bandini (1963)under the composer S D Burman, the song that brought him to notice was 'Mera Gora Rung Le Le' from Bandini.

 Gulzar’s first venture as a filmmaker was Mere Apne (1971), It was produced by N C Sippy and directed by him. The film stars Meena Kumari, Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha in lead roles, In fact, it was the first film of Vinod Khanna as a hero. Before ventured into the direction he wrote dialogues for Biwi Aur Makan(1966), Aashirwad(1968), Khamoshi, and Anand(1969) all directed by Hrishikesh Mukharjee. He also wrote the story, dialogue and screenplay of Guddi, once again directed by Hrishikesh Mukharjee.

His second venture as director was Parichay in 1972.It stars Jeetendra, Jaya Bhaduri; while Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Khanna, has given special appearances and the music was composed by Rahul Dev Burman. The film was reported to be based on the Bengali novel Rangeen Uttarain by Raj Kumar Maitra and partially inspired by the 1965 movie The Sound of Music.

His third film was Koshish released in Dec 1972. It was inspired by the 1961 Japanese film Happiness of Us Alone. The film was highly acclaimed. he got a National Award for its screenplay and nominated the Filmfare Best Director Award. 

The next film he directed was Achanak in 1973, written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, and starring Vinod Khanna. Gulzar received a Filmfare nomination as Best Director for this film. Even though Gulzar is an accomplished lyricist, this film did not have any songs in it.The entire film production was completed in 28 days

In 1975, three films under his directions were released. the first released was Aandhi in Feb 1975. The film was an Indian political drama film starring Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen and directed by Gulzar. At the time it was alleged that the film was based on the life of the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her relationship with her estranged husband, The film got the Filmfare Award of Best Film and Best Actor award to Sanjeev Kumar.

Khushboo was the next film released in March 1975.it was produced by Prasan Kapoor under the Tirupati Pictures banner, presented by Jeetendra and directed by Gulzar. It stars Jeetendra, Hema Malini, and music composed by R. D. Burman.  It was praised as a beautiful film with good acting by Sharmila Tagore, Hema Malini, Asrani and Jeetendra

Mausam was the third film of that year released on 29th Dec 1975. The film starring Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore, and directed by Gulzar. It is loosely based on the novel, The Judas Tree, by A.J. Cronin. Sharmila Tagore for her acting received The Silver Lotus Award at the 23rd National Film Festival and the movie was honored by presenting an award for 2nd Best Feature Film. The film received two of eight nominations at the 24th Filmfare Awards. The film also won many other accolades as well.

In 1977 he entered into production also, two films Kitaab and Kinara both produced and directed by him were released, Meera was the third film under his direction released in 1977, all the films couldn't receive well in Box office. Though Meera received critical acclaim.

Angoor was the film released in 1982, in between two insignificant films released under his direction in 1980. Angoor was based on Shakespeare's play The Comedy of Errors. The film starring Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Verma in dual roles, and directed by Gulzar. The film was appreciated by all. Deven Verma got the Filmfare Best Comedian Award.

Machis(1996) was an important film of Gulzar, after the death of R D Burman he made the film with Vishal Bhardwaj as music director for the first time. The film was produced by R. V. Pandit.  It stars Chandrachur Singh, Om Puri, Tabu and Jimmy Sheirgill in the lead roles. The film portrays the circumstances surrounding the rise of the Sikh insurgency in Punjab Maachis was a critical and commercial success. Gulzar's direction and the music of Vishal Bhardwaj were strong points. 

Song of Kabuliwala 1961

Song of Bandini 1963

Song of Aashirwad 1968

Song of Khamoshi 1969

Song of Anand 1971

Song of Anubhav 1971

Song of Parichay1972

Song of Aandhi 1975

Song of Mausam 1975

Song of Masoom (1983)

Song of Ijazat (1987)

Song of Bunty aur Babli  2005

Song of Omkara 2006

Song of Slumdog Millionaire (2008)