Shankar–Jaikishan: Special article on the death anniversary of Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal

Try to imagine the life situation of two young men (Shankar–Jaikishan). One is from Hyderabad and the other is from Gujarat. Both of them are musicians who came to Mumbai to pursue a career as composers in Hindi films. He was sitting outside the office of a leading film producer and was waiting for a chance to be called by the film producer. Time was passing and he still had not been called inside. While they were waiting, both of them talked to each other and realized that they were both chasing the same dream. The name of the one who was senior among them was Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi and the name of the other man was Jaikishan Panchal. Shankar-Jaikishan They had been talking among themselves and the call from inside had not come yet. And an idea comes to the mind of senior person Shankar. He tells Jaikishan that it will take a lot of time for him to fulfill his individual dreams and asks Jaikishan why they don't form a team together and compose music. The idea lingers in Jaikishan's mind and they both leave the office with a resolve that they will make it as music directors one day.

During their tour together, both (Shankar–Jaikishan) get a chance to meet Prithviraj Kapoor who asks them to compose music for his Prithvi Theater plays. Both the partners influence Prithviraj. His son, Raj Kapoor plans to produce and direct his own film "Barsaat" and Raj Kapoor who has a flair for music and poetry meets two other young men Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri who are good poets... Raj, who is not afraid to take risks, forms his own team to take charge of the music of his films. And so, the team behind the music of "Barsaat" was Shankar-Jaikishan, Shailendra and Hasrat. Raj also introduces a young writer named Ramanand Sagar to "Barsaat".

And the result is that rainy season music became a craze not only in the country but in different parts of the world. And the team of Shekar-Jaikishan was a part of the glory of RK banner under which they scored the music of films like "Awara", "Shree 420", "Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai", "Sangam" and "Mera Naam Joker". Was. Shankar-Jaikishan's music set a new trend in Hindi film music and their music continued throughout their lives and Raj Kapoor calls them the "soundtrack" of his life and his films. And there is a hot discussion about how Shankar composed Raj Kapoor's song and how Jaikishan composed the tune. He also composed music for countless other films, which were successful primarily because of his music.

The first glimpse of the rift between the two friends was seen during the making of "Sangam" and this discord grew further before Raj Kapoor could start his magnum opus "Mera Naam Joker". One reason for the rift between Shankar and Jaikishan was Shankar's determination to encourage his discovery, Sharda being the one voice neither in favor of Jaikishan nor Raj Kapoor. The making of "Mera Naam Joker" almost saw a split between Shankar-Jaikishan, but it was the magic of Raj Kapoor that kept them afloat. But fate decided to play dirty and Jaikishan died that too when he was only in his forties. This was also a time when pillars of the RK banner like Shailendra and Mukesh had died and apart from Raj Kapoor, if there was one person who was badly affected by it and left alone, it was Shankar.

The biggest shock Shankar faced was when Raj Kapoor himself did not consider him for any of his other films in the same way that he had done over the years and this was followed by his last film "Ram Teri Ganga Maili", in which Raj Kapoor and Ravindra Jain But not Shankar, who was now completely without any work. Shankar continued composing music for some inconsequential films with Sharda as his star-singer, but the same audience that had once carried him on their shoulders had thrown him down mercilessly and the Shankar-Jaikishan team It was very difficult to get back the status that he had got when he was a part. It is said about Shankar that he had a nature that was not in accordance with the methods of the industry and he was also called arrogant. But he also had his better and human side. Renowned actor and industry leader Chandrashekhar created "Street Singer" and was playing the lead role along with direction. Shankar and Chandrashekhar were from the same city and village of Hyderabad. Chandrashekhar requested Shankar to give music for his film. Shankar immediately agreed, but on one condition, that he would give his name not as Shankar but as Suraj. However, Shankar introduced such music in Chandrashekhar's film which is still fresh in people's minds.

I used to see the great Shankar roaming around at Nariman Point where he had his home for many years and he was very sad when he was not recognized by anyone. There were many times when I saw him walking on the plaque near the LIC building built in honor of Shankar-Jaikishan and he was not even aware of the plaque which was the first honor done for film personalities. Last time I saw him was in a small hotel called "Shenaaz" opposite Mahim Church and where he was having lunch with some unknown people. This was the same Shankar for whom entire restaurants were reserved in those glorious days of yesteryear. And on April 25, he was found dead in his apartment near Mantralaya. A king-like funeral was organized for Jaikishan, but hardly twenty people came to Shankar's funeral. It is said that he was a very bitter man in the last days of his life.

Sometimes life seems like a false dream, why does it happen in life that there is often fear in living life, Shankar will remain alive because of his music, but what about those who have neither seen nor known life?