31/08/2020
On the birth anniversary of Shailendra, the iconic Dalit-Marxist lyricist, here are his 12 selected songs where his poetic art reaches the highest order. Shailendra's compositions are marked by his proletarian diction, socialist realism, and evocation of tragic beauty of life. Also popular for his romantic & comic lyrics, Shailendra's best lyrics are philosophically charged.
In "Aawara Hoon", Shailendra has beautifully interweaved the quintessential vagabond with a Proletariat who has no propertarian relations with the world.
"Mera joota hai Japani" presents the realities of the Industrial world. The Marxist dialetics are obvious in the confluence of national identity and international connections. With an echo of Russian Revolution, Shailendra hopes for the coming victory of the Indian working-class.
"Ramaiya Vastavaiya" is an elegiac expression of the alienated individual who finds himself in a corrupt society which has reduced human relations to property and commodities.
Shailendra's lyrics are often vividly charming and picturesque. "Ye raat bheegi bheegi", "Ye raaten ye mausam", & "Suhana safar aur ye mausam haseen" are such songs that let us visualise the lyrical narrative.
While tragic art of Shailendra achieves its aesthetic heights in "Wahan kaun hai tera musafir", "Ajib dastaan hai ye" & "Aye mere dil kahin aur chal", we have the celebration of life and humanity in "Kisi ki muskurahaton pe" & "Dil ka haal sune dilwala".
"Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai" stands out as an ecstatic outburst of a woman who aspires to break free from the constraint of the society. Exploiting the Keatsian negative capability, Shailendra lets the pure ego of a woman to finds its own existence and cherish its aspirations and fears alike.
Spotify link: [ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5kJA9ICeEq07Hhmm0lkeWH?si=JemaJQORQF6IuIoWIuFFKQ ]