Jagjit Singh

jagjit singh

Jagjit Singh is one of the most famous Ghazal singers of the modern times. In an era where the current generation is headed towards rock and hip hop music, it is refreshing to see them cherish Jagjit Singhghazals as well. Born in Ganganagar located in Rajasthan on 8th February, 1941, the name Jagjit means the one who triumphs over the world. His father Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman was a Government official and his mother Sardarni Bachchan Kaur had a religious family background. He has four sisters and two brothers and is fondly addressed as "Jeet" by his family. Check out this biography of Jagjit Singh, which captures his intriguing life history.


Jagjit Singh studied at Khalsa High School located in Ganganagar. After completing his matriculation, he took up science. He graduated in Arts from DAV College located in Jalandhar and has a post graduate degree in history from Kurukshetra University, Haryana. His father wanted him to join the Indian Administrative Services. But when he saw his son achieving accolades in the world of music, he was more than happy. Jagjit learnt classical music under Pundit Chaganlal Sharma and achieved expertise in classical forms like Khayal, Thumri and Dhrupad.


He moved to Bombay in the year 1965 searching for better luck in the field of music. Any budding artist faces initial struggles and tribulations before finally making an indelible mark in the industry. He got assignments that were limited to performing at wedding functions and singing jingles for advertisements. Around 1970's, the world of ghazals was dominated by renowned names like Noor Jehan, Malika Pukhraj, Begum Akhtar, Talat Mahmood and Mehdi Hassan. Jagjit Singh made the efforts to come with his first album titled "The Unforgettables", which was a collection of semi-classical Indian music. The different melody and freshness in Jagjit's voice appealed to all and he was recognized by the industry. Though he was scorned by many critics, it did not deter him from carving a nice for himself. The album sold numerous copies and was a hit with listeners.


While Jagjit Singh was still doing jingles for advertisements during the initial years, he met another singer named Chitra. They got married after a two year long courtship in the year 1969. Together, they exemplified the first successful husband-wife singing team. They both produced numerous soulful and melodic Ghazals which were enjoyed by a wider audience. Some of the popular albums of the couple were Ecstasies, A Sound Affair and Passions.


During the early 90's, they released an album named Beyond Time, which was an experimentation with different sounds and music. It conveyed a feeling that was beyond space and time and logical explanation. Sadly, around this time, their only son Vivek met with an accident and died at the young age of twenty one. It was a huge jolt for the couple and also all their fans and well wishers all over the world. After the album "Someone Somewhere", Chitra quit singing. The songs are emotionally very powerful and moving since they connect with the personal loss of the couple.


However, Jagjit Singh continued to sing and his songs have only gained more popularity with each passing day. His later albums named Hope, In Search, Insight, Mirage, Visions, Kahkashan (Galaxy), Love Is Blind, Chirag (Lamp), etc. have made him the top Ghazal singer in the country and a favorite among fans. An album with Lata Mangeshkar named "Sajda" (Offering) was a hit and sold innumerable copies. It was a classic Ghazal album. Jagjit Singh did not limit himself to just Hindi songs and has also sung many Punjabi songs. His bubbly and vibrant Punjabi songs are very popular and are very pleasant to hear.


Jagjit Singh has also sung many songs for Hindi movies. Popular films include Arth, Saath Saath, Premgeet, Tum Bin, Sarfarosh, Dushman and Tarkeeb. Jagjit Singh has proved himself as a genius as he brings out the true meaning of Mirza Ghalib's poetry by singing them as melodious Ghazals. The album can be easily called as a masterpiece. His transition from the 90's till date has been absolutely marvelous as he has moved towards much more melodious and meaningful Ghazals. The quality of his voice has only become better. Besides movies, he has sung many devotional songs also that are very peaceful to hear. Jagjit Singh is any day the undisputed Ghazal artist in the modern times.

Kavi Shailendra

Shailendra considered his life as his real poetry. He used to derive inspiration from his walks along Juhu beach every morning. He wrote songs for almost all occasions of life, let alone ordinary situations. Those lyrics were vibrantly alive, in the sense they went far beyond the context of the film situation for which they were intended, and lived on long after the film itself had passed from memory. There is a Shailendra song for any emotion, any situation, from birth to death, such was his versatility. Shailendra was born in Rawalpindi on 30th August 1923 as Shankardas Kesrilal Shailendra. He was the eldest of the four sons of Parvati Devi and Sri Kesrilal. During his childhood days his family moved to Mathura for good but the accidental death of his mother after the shift caused a deep pain for Shailendra, which almost turned him an atheist. Shailendra started his career with the orthodox method of joining the government organization and lead his secure life. His job in Indian Railways brought him to the city of Bombay in 1947, when the Indian freedom struggle was at its best. The stereotype and technical aspect of his job was totally out of line with is artistic nature. He spent more of his duty hours writing poetry than toiling in the workshop. His Incharge always used to complain about his working habits and was the cause of general resentment. Raj Kapoor with whom Shailendra gave his best, heard him in a 'Kavi Sammelan' when he was reciting one of his poem. Raj Kapoor saw an emerging star for Indian history and expressed his desire to buy his poems. Shailendra, the young patriot blood refused to do so. But due to some domestic reasons and responsibilities, Shailendra approached Raj Kapoor and agreed to his terms. His first project was 'Barsaat'. Shailendra wrote his first song 'Barsat Mein Tum Se Mile Hum Sajan..' for Raj Kapoor. Eventually, Barsat was also the first film for the emerging music director duo Shankar-Jaikishan. The film proved very successful and after the success of Barsaat Raj Kapoor, Shankar-Jaikishan and Shailendra always worked together. No doubt, Shailendra gave his best with Shankar-Jaikishan, but he shared equally pleasant rapport with musical giants of those days, like Salil Chowdhary, S. N. Tripathi and S.D. Burman. He was an active member of Progressive Writers' association and one of the founder members of Indian Peoples' Theatre (IPTA). Shailendra won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist thrice. Out of the three two were won in consecutive years. The first came in 1958 for the song 'Ye Mera Deewanapan Hai..' from the film Yahudi, and the second in 1959 for 'Sab Kuch Seekha Ham Ne..' from Anari. In 1968 Shailendra won it again for the third time for 'Main Gaaoon Tum So Jao..', from the film Brahmachari. It is quite ironical that for the man who loved life so much, the spectra of death always haunted him. He was obsessed by death. There was no fear involved, but a kind of helplessness drew him towards it. His producing Teesri Kasam caused him several heart aches and it was also the ultimate cause of his death. Shailendra was admitted to the hospital on December 13, 1966. Shailendra died on the following day, which also happened to be Raj Kapoor's birthday. Lyricist Shailendra is most remembered for his outstanding achievements with Raj Kapoor and Shankar-Jaikishan in almost all the R.K. films. His death on December 14, 1966 saw one of the leading lights of the film industry extinguished.

Geetkar Indeevar

Indeevar

Indeevar: Indian lyricist, poet
Real Name: Shyamalal Bahu Rai
Date of Birth: 1924
Birthplace: Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
Date of Death: February 27, 1999Born as Shyamalal Bahu Rai, Indeevar was one of the lead lyricists of Indian Hindi film industry in 1960s. He worked as lyricist for over more than four decades. He has penned over thousand songs in over 300 films in his career. Indeevar was born and grown up in Barua Sagar in Jhansi District. He later moved on to Bombay (Mumbai) to pursue career as lyricist. He got his first break with the film Double Face in 1946.
He was one of the talented lyricists who wrote songs like Zindagi Ka Safar Hai Yeh Kaisa Safar (Safar), Pal Bhar Ke Liye Koi Hame Pyaar Kar Le (Johny Mera Naam), Dushman Na Kare (Akhir Kyon), Chandan Sa Badan (Sarswati Chandra), Dil Aisa Kisine Mera Toda (Amanush) and many more like this. But Indeevar didn't get many opportunities to showcase his talent. The reason for what is considered as his compromise on quality on work just to be in the business. To keep himself busy, he accepted about every assignment which came to his way compromising to the quality of work and the kind of film.
A real big break came to his way with the film Malhaar in 1951. He gave a hit number 'Bade Armaano Se Rakkha Hai Baalam Teri Kasam' with this film. Music for it was composed by the late Roshan. The song was one of his hits, which still sounds fresh today. But even this didn't led him to success.
However he got a big break with Babubhai Mistry's film Parasmani in 1963. The film was also turned out as equally important for the musical duos Laxmikant and Pyarelal. Later he found a good rapport with other filmmakers and music directors, who together gave many hit numbers. Indeevar found a great chemistry with actor, filmmaker Manoj Kumar, with whom he gave many hit songs. For film Upkar (1967), Manoj Kumar roped Indeevar to write songs for it. For the film Indeevar along with musical duo Kalyanji Anandji gave some unforgettable soulful and patriotic songs including the song 'Kasme Wade Pyaar Wafa'. He also wrote the songs 'Dulhan Chali O Pehen Chali' and 'Koi Jab Tumhara Hriday Tod De' for Manoj Kumar's film Purab Aur Paschim (1970).
Also along with Kalyanji-Anandji, he gave the hit numbers like 'Chandan Sa Badan Chanchal Chitvan', 'Main Toh Bhul Chali Baabul Ka Des' and 'Chhod Dey Saari Dooniya Kisi Ke Liye'. Also with Vijay Anand's Johny Mera Naam (1970) they gave hit scores with songs like 'Pal Bhar Ke Liye Koi Hame Pyaar Kar Le', 'Nafrat Karne Walon Ke' and 'O O Mere Raja'. His other best lyrics includes 'Meri Pyaari Beheniya Banegi Dulhaniya' from Manmohan Desai's Sachcha Jhootha, 'Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhen' and 'Jo Tumko Ho Pasand ' from Amit Sen's Safar, and 'Hum Tumhe Chaahte Hain Aise' from Qurbani.
He also made some sensational hits along with composer Bappi Lahiri. Bappi introduced the disco theme in Indian films. With the entry of Bappi Da, film songs get influenced by the disco theme having no importance to lyric and almost senseless lyric. Indeevar gave backstage to his lyrical talent and wrote some mindless lyrics for Bappi Da, but the songs went on to become hits. His hit songs along with Bappi Lahiri includes 'Naino Me Sapna' from Himmatwala, 'Tohfa Tohfa Laaya Laaya' from (Tohfa) and many such.
The lyricist who worked for almost more than four decades died on February 27 in 1999. Some of his last projects includes his lyrics for actor/director Rajesh Roshan's films Karan Arjun in 1995 and Koyla in 1997.
Indeevar - Popular Songs

• Zindagi Ka Safar Hai Yeh Kaisa Safar - Safar
• Kasme Vaade Pyaar Wafa - Upkar
• Pal Bhar Ke Liye Koi Hame Pyaar Kar Le - Johny Mera Naam
• Chandan Sa Badan Chanchal Chitvan - Sarswati Chandra
• Dil Aisa Kisine Mera Toda - Amanush
• Dushman Na Kare Dost Ne Wo - Akhir Kyon
• Ek Tu Jo Mila Saari Duniya Mili - Himalay Ki God Mein
• Har Kisi Ko Nahi Milata - Jaanbaaz
• Meri Pyaari Beheniya Banegi Dulhaniya - Sachcha Jhoota
• Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhein - Safar
• Hum Tumhe Chaahte Hai Aise - Qurbani

Indeevar - Filmfare Awards

• 1975 - for song Dil Aisa Kisine Mera Toda - from film Amanush

Philosophy

There is more need to live with our own face in this world..


...................................................G. A.