03/08/2025
Whether you're a musician, a music lover, or simply someone who appreciates the power of a melody...this post is for you.
The 3rd of August is the birth anniversary of two stalwarts of the Hindi film industry: Shakeel Badayuni and Jaidev.
Tomorrow,the 4th of August is the birthday of Kishore Kumar,one of the greatest, most influential and dynamic singers in the history of modern Indian music.
Music has a profound and unique way of transporting us through time, triggering emotions and memories long buried in the past. ...memories that I hold dear and will long remember .
The Radio was a childhood friend,with two broadcasting stations dominating the airwaves, Radio Ceylon's Binaca geetmala and All India Radio's Vivid Bharati.
In the 60s/70s/80s, radio celebrities like Gopal Sharma, Ameen Sayani, Vimal Kashyap, Vijayalaxmi etc ruled the airwaves.People crazily sent letters for 'Aap ki farmaish' from un- heard of places like ‘झुमरी तलैया’ (which ofcourse does exist)!
I am sure many of you listened to some of the popular programmes of Vividh Bharati like 'Sangeet Sarita', 'Bhule Bisre Geet', Hawa Mahal, 'Jaimala', and 'Chhaya Geet'. These artists from the golden era of Hindi cinema created timeless melodies that continue to be cherished today.
Shakeel Badayuni:
Poet, lyricist and song writer Shakeel Badayuni from Badaun, UP, met music composer, Naushad Ali in Bombay who retained him for the film 'Dard' which proved to be very successful. Uma Devi (Tun Tun)'s "Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon" from the film sealed the partnership between two geniuses.Shakeel Badayuni won the Award for Best Lyricist three years in a row: in 1960 for "Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho Ya Aftab Ho", in 1961, for "Husn Wale Tera Jawab Nahin" and in 1962 for "Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil." He also wrote many popular ghazals sung by Begum Akhtar like the iconic 'Mere Hum Nawas' . The Indian Government honoured him with the title "Geet Kar-e-Azam".
Jaidev:
Jaidev ,was the first music director to bag National Awards three times for Reshma Aur Shera, Gaman and Ankahee.Pandit Ali Akbar Khan took Jaidev as his music assistant, in 1951, when he composed music for Navketan Films's "Aandhiyan" and 'Hum Safar'. Jaidev shot into the limelight with the movie 'Hum Dono', that had these gems: "Allah Tero Naam", "Abhi Na Jao Chhodkar", "Main Zindagi Ka Saath".He set the music to Harivansh Rai Bachchan's classic work "Madhushala" sung by singer Manna Dey.
Kishore Kumar :
The man from Khandwa,Kishore Kumar, started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies, where his brother,actor Ashok Kumar worked.Music director S. D. Burman is credited with spotting Kumar's talent for singing.
In 1950,during the making of 'Mashaal',SD Burman visited Ashok Kumar's house, where he heard Kishore Kumar sing imitating K. L. Saigal's style.
He advised him to develop a style of his own, instead of copying Saigal.Kumar eventually developed his own style of singing especially his yodelling, which he had heard on the records of Tex Morton and Jimmie Rodgers.
S D Burman recorded Kumar's voice for Dev Anand's Munimji, Taxi Driver, House No. 44, Funtoosh, Nau Do Gyarah, Paying Guest, Guide, Jewel Thief, Prem Pujari, Tere Mere sapne and Chalti ka naam gaadi. Kishore Kumar was a leading singer throughout 1970s and 1980s until his death in 1987. RD Burman recorded several hit songs with Kumar in the 1970s : "O Maajhi Re" ,"Yeh Shaam Mastaani" and "Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai".
Apart from the Burmans, Kumar worked with other famous music directors too like Khayam,Salil Choudary,Kalyanji-Anandji and Laxmikant Pyarelal.
The true beauty of music is that it connects people.
"Music is a safe kind of high" said Jimi Hendrix.
Let's keep tripping to the brilliant music of these three music maestros and stalwarts of Hindi cinema!
