Page 58 - seniors today november 2020
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Majrooh Sultanpuri, and Subhash Ghai
worked with Anand Bakshi. Later, Shankar-
Ehsaan-Loy worked regularly with Javed
Akhtar. Of course, there were also those like
Sahir Ludhianvi and Rajendra Krishan who
tended to work with a wide cross-section of
filmmakers and composers.
There are numerous instances of lyricists
who did a fair amount of work and wrote
Phoolon ke rang se was one of the hits written by Neeraj, good songs. These included Asad Bhopali,
who however did a limited number of films Amit Khanna, Prem Dhawan and Pandit
Some lyricists also tended to get typecast. Narendra Sharma, primarily known for the
Because of his mastery over the ghazal Satyam Shivam Sundaram title track and
medium, Fazli got songs that revolved around ‘Yashomati Maiyya’ from the same film. The
that style. With a few exceptions like ‘Ankhon examples taken above are mostly up to the
Hi Ankhon Mein’ from CID, Jan Nisar Akhtar end of the 1980s, barring a few exceptions
got socially relevant or ghazal-based songs. from later.
Even the extremely respected Kaifi Azmi Unlike Yogesh, Neeraj or Bawra, who had
wrote more songs based on ghazals and semi- a fair number of hits, there were many who
classical music. Like Jan Nisar Akhtar earlier, had only one or two big successes. A classic
Rahat Indori later became known for reciting example would be GS Nepali, who wrote
poetry at mushairas. The number of films he ‘Darshan Do Ghanshyam’ from Narsi Bhagat
did wasn’t large, though he was known as one and Shamim Jaipuri, who wrote ‘Akele Hain
of India’s leading poets. Chale Aao’ in Raaz. Director Prakash Mehra
Some lyricists also became associated wrote a few songs himself, and his super-
with specific songs – like Kavi Pradeep hits included ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’ (Muqaddar
was with Lata Mangeshkar’s patriotic non- Ka Sikandar), ‘Pag Ghungroo’ (Namak
film masterpiece ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo’, Halaal) and ‘Aap Ka Kya Hoga Janaab-e-aali’
composed by C Ramchandra. Likewise, when (Laawaris).
one talks of Shahryaar, Umrao Jaan instantly MG Hashmat wrote only a handful of songs,
comes to mind, with only the bigger fans but they’re hummed even today. We are
mentioning the Gaman hits ‘Seene Mein talking of ‘Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz’ from
Jalan’, ‘Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi’ and ‘Ajeeb Kora Kagaz and ‘Do Panchhi Do Tinke’ from
Saneha’. Tapasya. Sadly, many of these lyricists with
There was also the team factor, as some only a few hits are barely remembered. But
directors preferred to work with specific that’s the unfortunate fact about the way
writers. The top lyricists were often backed things are. Compared to the singers and
by specific people, as a result of which the music directors, the work of lyricists is less
chances of others were reduced. Raj Kapoor applauded by the masses. But the truth is
often divided his songs between Shailendra that they form a crucial part of each song. If
and Hasrat Jaipuri, and music director we still sing the old hits today, it’s as much
Naushad often chose Shakeel Badayuni. because of the words as it’s because of the
Filmmaker Nasir Hussain teamed up with tune or the original singer.
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