Shailendra- Lyricist | Statesmen

“Chhoti si yeh duniya pehchaane raaste hain,    Kahin to miloge phir poochhenge haal”

This couplet woke up Shankar Jaikishan from their sleep and reminded them about the promise they made to a budding lyricist. The depth in the sarcasm pricked them hard and the raw emotion laid the foundation of one of the most memorable musician-lyricist team with Shailendra being the latter.

Songs like Ramaiya Vastavaiya, Piya Tose Naina Laage Re, Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nisaar, Dost Dost Na Raha etc. are still hot favorites among those who love Antakshari and smile at the thought of Aakashvani. These memorable songs were written by Shailendra whose pairing with Shankar Jaikishan and Raj Kapoor shelved out many memorable hit numbers in ‘50s and ‘60s.

A communist at heart, Shailendra initially turned down Raj Kapoor’s lucrative offer to write poems for his film because IPTA opposed Mainstream cinema those days. However, later due to financial crisis he wrote a few songs for Kapoor. Kapoor was generous and thus, they became great friends. Kapoor himself believed in socialism. Iconic song ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’ was a sincere tribute to communism of Russia and its socialist adaptation by Congress in India. The protagonist keeps imperialist & industrialist Japan under his feet. He doesn’t pay much respect to English by keeping them under belt (‘Patloon Englishtani’). However salutes Russia (‘Sar Pe Laal Topi Roosi’) and is proud of being an Indian (‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’).

Shailendra invested on a movie- Teesri Kasam based on Renu’s ‘Uff Maare Gaye Gulphaam’. The movie is considered to be a classic however it proved to be a poison-coated diamond for him. Shailendra was a poet and had no bone to be a producer. But he wanted to do it. Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman were roped in. Basu Bhattacharya, the director, was a short tempered person. One day, he left the project like that. It was editing phase. Raj Kapoor himself volunteered and completed the editing. Movie was beyond time, over budget and Shailendra was under hefty debts. To help him out, Raj Kapoor waived off his bill and asked for only one rupee. But by then damage was already done.

1966, Teesri Kasam saw its release. 1966, Shailendra left… forever.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh