Hasrat Jaipuri, Shankar Jaikishan and Rafi
By Souvik Chatterji
Mohd Rafi with Shammi Kapoor, Hasrat, Jaikishan
Renowned poet and lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri was born on 15th April, 1922 as Iqbal Hussain. In 1940, Hasrat Jaipuri came from Jaipur to Mumbai. Prithiviraj Kapoor heard him in a mushaira and recommended him to Raj Kapoor when he was making the film Barsaat.
The epic combination of Hasrat Jaipuri and Shankar Jaikishan started from Barsaat. The first 2 songs written by him became super hit namely “jiya beqarar hai” and “chor gaye balam”. The pen of Hasrat Jaipuri glorified RK Films and other bollywood films for the next 30 years.
Rafi, SJ and Hasrat Jaipuri was an equally brilliant combination like Shailendra, SJ and Rafi. Hasrat’s song sung by Rafi titled “teri teri pyari pyari surat ko” in Rajender Kumar’s film Sasural became super hit. In Shammi Kapoor’s Junglee almost all the songs sung by Rafi became immortal hits. In that list, Hasrat’s song “ehsaan tera hoga mujhpar” touched the souls of music lovers all across India. The song was sung by Rafi and Lata and both the versions were very melodious.
Hasrat’s lyrics for Rafi “tum mujhe yu bhula na paoge” became super hit in the late 60s. It was composed by SJ for Shammi Kapoor in the film Pagla Kahin Ka. Hasrat’s song “ajahu na aye balma” in the film Saanjh Aur Sawera was a sensational song. Rafi exhibited his classical andaz and tune of Shankar Jaikishan was excellent by every musical yardstick. Hasrat Jaipuri received the filmfare award for the best lyricist for Rafi’s song “baharon phool barsao” in Rajender Kumar’s film Suraj.
Mohd Rafi with Shammi Kapoor, Hasrat, Jaikishan
Rafi’s other songs written by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by SJ included “unke khayal aye to” in Raj Kumar’s Lal Pathar, “badan pe sitare lapete hue” in Shammi Kapoor’s Prince, “awaaz deke hume tum bulavo” in Shammi Kapoor’s Professor, “aji ruuth kar ab” in Rajender Kumar’s Aarzoo, “dekha hai teri aankho me pyar hi pyar beshumar” in Dharmender’s Pyar Hi Pyar, “dhire dhire chal chand gagan me” in Dev Anand’s Love Marriage, “rukh se zara naqab uthalo” in Jeetender’s Mere Huzoor, “teri zulfon ne judai to nahi maangi thi” in Dev Anand’s Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, “kaun hai jo sapno me aya” in Rajender Kumar’s Jhuk Gaya Aasman, etc.
Hasrat Jaipuri contributed in Raj Kapoor’s blockbusters like Awaara, Shree 420, Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai, Sangam, etc, Rajender Kumar’s blockbusters like Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Dil Ek Mandir, Humrahi, Sasural, Zindagi, etc, Shammi Kapoor’s hit films Janwar, Brahmchari, Raj Kumar, Andaz, etc., Joy Mukherjee’s Love In Tokyo, Biswajeet’s April Fool, Uttam Kumar’s Choti Si Mulakat, to name a few.
Raj Kapoor’s greatest hit film in his illustrious career remained Sangam. In the film Hasrat Jaipuri’s words “yeh mera prempatra par kar” sung by Rafi and picturised on Rajender Kumar had remained immortal. Hasrat Jaipuri wrote it for a girl named Radha. Raj Kapoor kept the name of Vaijayatimala Radha in the film Sangam. Rafi’s voice at the end of the film brought tears in the minds of the audience with the words “kitum naraaz na hona” when Raj Kapoor and Vaijayantimala immersed the ashes of Rajender Kumar in Prayag Sangam at the end of the film.
Hasrat Jaipuri died in 1999. One article is too small to highlight the works of the legends Hasrat Jaipuri, SJ and Rafi. In fact Hasrat Jaipuri worked with other composers of the golden age as well. But the songs written by Hasrat Jaipuri for Rafi which were composed by Shankar Jaikishan still stand out as the most romantic masterpieces in the history of bollywood cinema.
Mr. Souvik Chatterji, the author of this article
Dear Sir,
I am Shrihari Kulkarni from Pune. at present I am writing book on Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra. do you have any photographs written material on both of them, will you please mail me. which will help me in writing book. also I am putting the one stanzas of Jane Kaha Gaye vo din.
Jis Dilke aayine me abo unkake khayal rahe gaye.
chhodkar vo chale gaye hum bhi akele rahe gaye
Jana kahan gaye woh din
If know the name of person/s with whom information/photos available. please let me know the email id,address, tel.no. I will contact them
regards and waiting for your reply
shrihari
Dear Sir,
The song “Jane Kahan Gaye Woh Din” written by Hasrat Jaipuri has two additional stanzas which were absent in the film version of the song.
Does anyone happen to know these stanzas???
Dear souvik ji
No disputes about the facts you have stated. In fact, I mentioned one of the major facts which started to act otherwise for the dominating pair of the 50’s.
Dear Abhishekji,
The history says otherwise.
The Team of Shankar Jaikishan was imcomplete without Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri.
Shailendra died in 1966, after the contribution in the film Teesri Kasam.
Jaikishan died in 1971, after Mera Naam Joker.
Mukesh died in mid-70s.
Shankar Jaikishan’s domination declined from early 70s.
SJ experimented with all the leading female singers of the period, including Suman Kalyanpur, Sudha Malhotra, Mubarak Begum, Sharda, Asha Bhosle and others.
Sharda was not the only female singer.
After death of Jaikishan, all the big productions went to either Laxmikant Pyarellal or RD Burman or Kalyanji Anandji.
SJ’s works from 1949 to 1971, stands out as works of India’s one of 5 best composers of all times.
So the downfall did not undermine their immortal works.
Souvik Chatterji.
Shankar jai-kishan was a hit pair. The problem started when they wanted to project sarada ji on par with lata mangeshkar and they tried to side line lata, which was not so easy. That was the issue, for which the music duo had to pay price.
Dear Abhinishji,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments. Along with SJ’s innovative orchestration and Rafi’s modulation for the respective actors, the lyrics of Shailendraji and Hasrat Jaipuriji were equally charming.
The assistants Dattaram and Sebastian were equally brilliant.
Whatever were composed and created by the combination all were gold. The works should be preserved.
Souvik Chatterji.
Souvik
You certainly seem to have a gr8 knowledge on SJ’s Music…SJ were one those few composers who weren’t beholden to 1 actor, instead they were the Music for practically 3 Mainstream Actor’s ie Raj, Rajendra, Shammi…
Apart from these 3, SJ had given music to no. of movies which didnt feature any of these actor’s like Basant Bahar for Bharat Bhushan, Love Marriage for Dev Anand, Evening in Paris for Joy Mukherjee, also for Biswajeet and many other character artists too who got Rafi gems like Manmohan krishna in Badi der Bhai…
For me, its difficult to analyse, as to SJ’s music suited which actor more, but still My vote will be for kapoor brothers equally….
SJ’s Music Especially in 50’s in my opinion were unbeatable….
Rajender Kumar films.
Sasural – 1961
Aas Ka Panchi – 1961
Humrahi – 1963
Dil Ek Mandir – 1963
Sangam – 1964
Ayee Milan Ki Bela – 1964
Aarzoo – 1965
Suraj – 1966
Aman – 1967
Jhuk Gaya Aasman – 1968
Dharti – 1970
Shammi Kapoor films.
Boy Friend – 1960
Singapore – 1960
Junglee – 1961
Professor – 1962
Raj Kumar – 1964
Janwar – 1965
An Evening in Paris – 1967
Brahmchari – 1968
Prince – 1969
Tumse Accha Kaun Hai – 1969
Jawan Muhabbat – 1969
Pagla Kahin ka – 1969
Andaz – 1971
Souvik Chatterji.
Dear All,
I am sorry I could reply to many of the Rafians as my father Late Chitta Ranjan Chatterji passed away on 4th May.
I had to spend time fulfilling the hindu rites.
Some one asked me the year of the films.
Raj Kapoor films.
Barsaat – 1949.
Awaara – 1951
Aah – 1953
Shree 420 – 1955
Chori Chori – 1956
Anari – 1959
Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai – 1960
Kanhaiya – 1959
Mai Nashe Me Hoon – 1959
Sangam – 1964
Ek Dil Sau Afsane – 1963
Teesri Kasam – 1966
Diwana – 1967
Around the World – 1967
Sapno Ka Saudagar – 1968
Mera Naam Joker – 1971
Those films are referred where Shankar Jaikishan composed the music
Souvik Chatterji.
Shailendra contributed more in the songs of Shankar.
Where as Hasrat Jaipuri contributed more in the songs of Jaikishan.
Very significantly the type of music composed in RajKapoor films were different than Rajender Kumar films and were different than Shammi Kapoor films.
Inspite of the style of music, both Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri could write adequate lyrics which were required in all those films.
Rafi was the first choice of singer of SJ.
So majority of their creations hovered around Rafi.
Still all of them had remained immortal.
Souvik Chatterji.
One of the nice songs is tujhe jeevan ki dor se baandh liya hai – rafi and lata – by shankar jai kishan
yeh mera prem patra is one of my favourites – from the shankar jai kishan style
it was unfortunate that when both got separated their beautiful music compositions also vanished
I remember rafi too singing zindagi ek safar hai suhana song – but I think yodelling was not part of rafi’s rendition, kishore’s song found place in films. Both were fine renditions. Shankar jai kishan’s change of music style could be noticed in the film andaz as compared to the duo earlier days.
apart from the legendary shakeel badayuni, india has not had a better lyricist than hasrat jaipuri……his association with SJ and rafisab brought about the finest in indian music.who can forget “yeh mera prem patra”—-“.agar rooh bhatkega, tu meri intizaar me….’ and”……………naraz na hone”—poetic brillince unparralled. so, the glory era of indian music, the “truimvirate” consisting of rafi, SJ and HJ, is no more…………..unfortunately, today, the only great lyricists are javed, gulzaar and sameer-and they too are no longer on the scene.”ethnic” indian cinema is now a memory-today we have noisy music, and the lyrics are equally bad………….
Mr. Bhagchandani,
The special instrument that you are referring to is most probably some type of organ. That instrument was definitely sj’s signature instrument. R. D. Burman, who was initially under sj’s spell and inherited most of their super-talented musicians, has used this instrument too. For example, listen to Rafi’s “wadiyan mera daman” from abhilasha, and you will witness sj’s signature.
Souvik is a great fan of shankar-jaikishan. I’m posting a song from a live concert in Surinam in the 60s, in line with this article honouring the shammi, sj and rafi combo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-6j6UYk3jM
Please listen to the interlude music carefully and you’ll find that rd incorporated this tune in one of his compositions.
Rafi saaaheb and all his Musical associates were “born” during the same era. that is the essence of ‘success’ of golden era musical.
that era has gone and a new generation has sprung up , but , many of these love golden era songs.
s and j, hasrat, shailendra and hasrat, l & P and anand Bakshi, Husanlal bhagatram and Rajendra kishan, Majrooh saaheb and many many many composers ……. will never go off screen.
they will remain in the public domain of evergreen music – always. well written article on the pillar (s) of hindi bollywood music – souvik ji…
yeh dil – zaroooor maaange more…
India has produced very great song writers. I’m proud of all of them. Hasrat Jaipuri was without any doubt one of these great poets. May God Bless him. He will be remembered till end of times.
M.A. Piroe
Holland
It is always a great combination with whomever Rafi saab sang, it is the voice of RAFI saab witch brought fame and name to so many lyricists and music directors.Of course i give lot of credit to Hasrat ji and SJ.I have been listening to all these songs from my childhood days.
souvik ji
thank you for this very informative article.
one thought always crosses my mind- who was a better lyricist- shailendra or hasrat????
of course right from my childhood i had got used to listening to these names on Vividh Bharati and every time the announcer took the names of Hasrat jaipuri and shankar jaikishan it almost sounded so musical that there was no need for a song or even music. the two sets of names were enough !!!
Souvik ji,
Last couple of articles written by you indicate that you are as much a fan of Shankar Jaikishan as that of Rafi saab. Great write-up nevertheless.
Shankar Jaikishan had been the one of most versatile music duo of the their times. Wide gamut of songs they gave us range from Talat’s era (Ae mere dil kahin aur chal…, Andhe jahaan ke andhe raaste…, Hai sabse madhur wo geet jise… etc. etc.) to wonderful Mukesh-Raj Kapoor combination to umpteen number of Rafi gems. Then they also gave us many great Manna Dey songs. They were the trend setters in many respects. Their music kept evolved through the times. If one sees the total landscape of their compositions from fifties and late sixties or seventies what is most striking is the amount of experimentation they did. Listen to the song ‘Main gaaoon tum so jaoo…’ the instrument used before the second antara is something that one can call Shankar Jaikishan special. I have not heard this instrument being used by any other music director. And to be honest I do not even know the name of the instrument. I request music lovers to enlighten me about this instrument after listening to the song (before second para- from 2.20 to 2.35) in the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTZMKIRPBNw
(The song is so sweet that I am sure most of the listeners will not stop listening to it even after 2.35 moment.)
J.K. Bhagchandani
all the songs of hasrat composed by sj and sung by rafi were hit and popular..the article would have been more satisfying, had it included a list of songs with year, name of film, picturised on and filmfare award status of the same. rajendra kumar was undoubtedly a star who was an indispensable part of the group..
excellent. kindly keep sharing, i wud be obliged. best regards