Remembering Shakeel: Mehboob Khan and Shakeel Badayuni's Tale

Both Shakeel Badayuni and Mehboob Khan were unmatched artists in their respective fields. And both of them, together with music emperor Naushad, have given countless memorable films.  'Andaz', 'Aan', 'Amar', and 'Mother India' are especially notable.

Today's memories are related to him only.

Mehboob Khan was not educated in the true sense but despite this, he was unmatched in his art. No one could beat him in that. He did not compromise to get what he wanted.

In those days Mehboob Khan was making 'Anmol Ghadi'. A song - 'Jawaan Hai Mohabbat Hansi Hai Jamana' was being recorded for him. Mehboob Khan raised objections to some parts of the music. Naushad felt very bad but Naushad is a man of a very calm nature, hence it is not in his nature to get angry at the slightest objection. Therefore, he remained silent at that time and removed objectionable parts here and there from the music.

The time came for that song to be picturized. Coincidentally Naushad was also present on the set. Naushad thought of some mischief and after taking permission from Mehboob Khan, he looked at the shot from the camera and suggested some changes. Mehboob Khan got angry and said.

'What do you know about the shot? You play your tabla-peti, Naushad bowed and saluted politely and said - 'This is what I wanted to hear from you. Because if it is your job to direct the film, it is my job to direct the music. Mehboob Khan immediately felt Naushad's injury and said - 'you have taken revenge right? We are also Pathans, we will take such revenge that we will remember throughout our lives.

Mehboob Khan took such revenge due to which Naushad remembers him even today. After that Mehboob Khan never interfered in Naushad's music, instruments, or songs or his words, in the selection of voices, although today every person interferes in music, whether he knows it or not. And for this reason, even humorously composed songs remain remembered for a few months or a few days. Whereas the sweetness of old songs continues to melt the ears. They look equally fresh today.

Like Mehboob Khan, Shakeel Badayuni was also a unique artist of his kind. He gave meaning to the songs but also filled them with sweetness and pain. Before him, people used to just add rhymes to film songs. There was no depth in them. Shakeel Badayuni was a poet of Ghazal. Despite this, he composed some such painful songs in Hindi that both the singer and the listener were forced to cry. The interesting thing is that he has written all such songs under the musical direction of Naushad.
aavan kah gaye ajhun na aae 
lee na moree khabariya 
tohe bhool gaye sanwariya

There was one such song from 'Baiju Bawra' which Lata Mangeshkar started crying while singing.
Similarly, while singing another song of Shakeel for Mehboob Khan's 'Mother India', not only Shamshad Begum but other girls singing in the chorus also started crying. That song was-

Pi ghar aaj pyari dulhaniya chali. 
royein maata-pita unki duniya chali.

When Naushad asked Shamshad Begum the reason for crying, Shamshad said. 'At this moment I felt as if I was bidding farewell to my daughter.' The strangest incident took place in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Where 'Baiju Bawra' was being shown to the first President of India, Late Rajendra Prasad. Shakeel Badayuni had written a bhajan for him. "man tarase hari darshan ko aaj"

The situation was that Swami Haridas could not have the darshan of Shri Krishna due to illness. Baiju then teases this song. He wakes up from his sick bed and his feet, heavy with pain, automatically move to the rhythm of the song. And when he looks at the Krishna idol, do you know what happens? As soon as Haridas Swami bowed to the idol on the screen, President Rajendra Prasad stood up and bowed. As if you are seeing Shri Krishna. And then the entire staff stood together with him.
In this world, two hearts live and only two hearts die. And those who die do not die because they remain alive in memories.
Mehboob Khan and Shakeel Badayuni are no more in this world but will always be alive in the hearts of people. As long as Mehboob's films are alive and the music of the films is alive, Shakeel will always be alive in music and the hearts of music lovers.

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