Shailendra's Death Anniversary: Sad end to a happy dream, Shailendra

Raj Kapoor was very happy that night in 1948. A lyricist had entered his company whom Raj Kapoor respected deeply. The lyricist's first song was recorded that day and Raj Kapoor was very happy.

By Bollyy 14 Dec 2023 in Latest News

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Raj Kapoor was very happy that night in 1948. A lyricist had entered his company whom Raj Kapoor respected deeply. The lyricist's first song was recorded that day and Raj Kapoor was very happy. The lyrics were 'barsat mein tum se mile ham Sajan humse mile tum barsat mein'. Such simple words showcase emotions.

Raj Kapoor was confident that this new lyricist would become a pillar of his films. Has Raj Kapoor's trust ever been false? This lyricist was Shailendra! Shailendra entered RK Studio with 'Barsaat' and then 'supported Raj Kapoor till the last breath of his life'. After all, what was so special about Shailendra?

Why did his songs become an intoxicant and capture the hearts and minds of the people?

This was the quality of Shailendra. Use of simple words. He was a lyricist of the people and wrote songs in their language. This was the reason why his songs went straight to the public's heart. On the other hand, Shailendra's songs provided momentum to the film and took the story forward. It did not happen that his songs seemed like a patchwork in the film. In every film of Raj Kapoor, there was a song by Shailendra that revealed the character of Raj Kapoor in the film. And after listening to those songs you guess that the hero of the film is a simple innocent young man! With these songs, the complete image of the hero is created in the mind of the audience!

The happy moment songs

Mera juta hai japani, Ye patalun ingalistaani, Sar pe laal topi rusi, Phir bhi dil hai hindustaani, (Film: Shree 420), sab kuch sikha hamne, na sikhi hoshiyari sach hai duniya walo ki ham hai anari (Film: Anari), mera naam raju gharana anaam bahti hai Ganga jahaan mera dham (Film: jis desh men Ganga bahti hai), awara hun, awara hun ya gardish men ya, aasman ka tara hun, (Film: Awara), Shailendra had a deep understanding of the psychology of the people. He knew very well when and what things would affect the hearts of the people. He had suffered many sorrows in the early years of his life. There was no human experience that remained untouched by him. He understood the happiness and sorrow of the people.

The song reflects the separation

How the separation from the girlfriend is reflected in this song: - Aaja re pardesi, main to khab se khari is par ankhiyo thak gayi panth nihar (Film: Maghumati).

When the beloved gets everything, then kaanton se khich kar ye aanchal tod ke Bandhan Bandhi payal aaj phir jeene ki Tamanna hai, aaj phir marne ka irada hai, (Film: Guide), then where can better words be found to express her happiness? Listen to What Happens to the Heart of a Disappointed Lover - tute hue khwabon ne hamko ye sikhaya hai dil ne dil ne jise paya tha, aankhon ne gawaya hai (Film: Madhumati) Shailendra believed in the communist trend. He had developed the habit of daydreaming. He used to write songs for films based on social reforms with special interest. He wrote many hit songs in the (Film: Patita). Shailendra used to get excited while writing the song which was going to be filmed on children. He saw the future of the country in children. What a deep meaning this song of boot polish carries within itself, little child, what is there in your fist? nanhe munhe bacche, teri mutthi men kya hai? mutthi mein hai takdeer hamari hamne kismat vash mein kiya hai.

Three-time Filmfare award

Shailendra wrote songs for Shankar-Jaikishan in most of the films, although every musician wanted to take him for his songs. He wrote songs for Salil Chaudhary in 'Madhumati' and ten songs of the film became hits. Shailendra received the Filmfare Award thrice for his songs, but he remained indifferent towards the awards. What if he got the award, what if he didn't get it, did he deserve all this fame, but the farewell given to him by the film industry, he didn’t deserve that.

The year 1960 is mentioned. Shailendra and Basu Bhattacharya were getting along very well in those days, both of them were addicted to dreaming. At that time Basu Bhattacharya had separated from Vimal Roy Production and was living in a small room. That hundred-square feet cottage became Shailendra's second home, he used to write most of his songs there.

Three-time Filmfare award

Two daydreamers one dream

Shailendra's brother was also a daydreamer. Both of them read the story ‘Teesri Kasam’ by Phanishwar Nath ‘Renu’. Both of them felt that if a film was made on 'Teesri Kasam', it would be a wonderful art film and the audience would also like it. Two crazy people were sitting together and making imaginary scenarios.

Shailendra asked- 'Basu da, how much money will it cost to make the film?

How experienced Basu da must have been, guess from his answer that the work would be done for two and a half lakh rupees. Which top hero and heroine have we chosen? Cameraman will be Subrata Mitra. The only cost is the cost of the raw reel and the set will be installed cheaply and naturally. We don't have to show any pomp and show.'

This was not the account of a businessman, but of a writer. Hearing the plan, Shailendra jumped up and said, 'I have one lakh rupees, the remaining amount will also be arranged, and with one lakh our work will start.' 'It will start' Basu agreed and in his excitement, Basu hugged Shailendra. Both of them had completely forgotten that one lakh rupees can be cleared in three days of shooting.

Raj Kapoor felt threatened with the film's idea

When Raj Kapoor came to know that Shailendra was going to make a film, he was shocked. He also felt a little scared what kind of rebellion is there in RK Studio? But when Raj Kapoor heard the story of the film, he must have laughed a lot in his heart. Would have preferred to throw such a story into the Arabian Sea. Raj Kapoor was convinced that there was no threat to the RK banner from Shailendra's film, so he offered to work in Shailendra's film for free. Accepting this proposal was a big mistake of Shailendra, the price of which he could not repay throughout his life.

Shailendra came running to Basu with Raj Kapoor's proposal. Basu was not able to fit Raj Kapoor for the role of a simple rural youth, but he had it in his heart that films could be made in Raj Kapoor's name. Basu gave the role of Hiraman to Raj Kapoor. Now the search started for a suitable Heerabai for Raj Kapoor. If the hero is top then the heroine should also be top. Heroine Waheeda Rehman was taken.

Low- budget film became High-budget film

The dream that Basu and Shailendra had seen as a 'low-budget film' started like a big film. If there were small stars in the film, it would have been ready immediately, but where did Raj Kapoor have the date? He was busy creating ‘Sangam’ by collecting the overflow of ‘Jis Desh mein Ganga baht hai'. Whenever Shailendra approached Raj Kapoor for a date, Raj Kapoor's reply was - 'I am a family man. I will come whenever you say. Just let the 'Sangam' be completed.

Not so free

It was because of this ‘man of the house’ that ‘Teesri Kasam’ remained stalled. When 'Sangam' was completed, preparations started for its release. It was a big man's film. When 'Sangam' was released, the story of 'Mera Naam Joker' started getting finalized. Shailendra was suffering huge losses due to this procrastination. Every part of him was trapped in debt. But who opens his mouth in front of the ‘man of the house’? Then a great artist like Raj Kapoor was working in films for free.

Raj Kapoor didn’t help

Somehow, the 'Teesri Kasam' was completed. Now the question of the film performance arose. Everyone knows how much influence Raj Kapoor has on the distributors. He did not give Shailendra any benefit of this influence. When the distributors saw 'Teesri Kasam' they said - 'What kind of film is that? Where are the fights in the movie? Hiraman takes an oath that he will not make any lady sit in his bullock cart and who will see it after the film is over? In the end, shows Hiraman's fight with the landlord's people. Hiraman gets injured in the fight, and Heerabai gives him blood… add four scenes like this, and the film will work.

Shailendra was stunned to hear this. He accepted the film being shelved but he was not ready to 'kill' the story of Phanishwar 'Renu' in any way. ‘Teesri Kasam’ was in the box and Raj Kapoor was collecting the overflow of ‘Sangam’. If he wanted, he could have freed Shailendra from the debt. If he wanted, he could have got 'Teesri Kasam' performed.

Shailendra was punished for being a daydreamer

If he had done this then how would Shailendra have been punished for making the film? Somehow Shailendra got the film released without taking any guarantee money from the distributors. Due to the lack of promotion, the film flopped and Shailendra was heartbroken.

Hasrat Jaipuri has been Shailendra's partner, both of them used to write songs for Shankar-Jaikishan. Hasrat was irritated by the fact that Shailendra's songs become hits and my songs remain suppressed. He also discussed Shailendra in those days. Started doing it.

An innocent died at the hands of cruel people

Shailendra was surprised. The same people who till yesterday claimed to be his friends, were today sprinkling salt on his wounds and stabbing him in the back. His tender poetic mind could not bear all this and on 14th December, Shailendra left this world. See the cruel humor of the law, 14th December is Raj Kapoor's birthday.

Later, 'Teesri Kasam' was given the President's Gold Medal that year. Now the distributor and the audience appreciated 'Teesri Kasam' more.

At this time, the producer of 'Teesri Kasam' was sitting in a distant heaven thinking that if I could get even a fraction of this honor while I was alive, then why would I leave the earth?

Tags : Shailendra's Death Anniversary