Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi (15th October 1922 to 26th Apr 1987)
Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal (4th Nov 1929 to 12th Sep 1971)
When I started this blog in Dec 2021, I started writing about artists in no particular order or any theme etc. As and when I started writing about many artists, and when I looked at their year of birth, I realized many of the legends were born around 100 years ago. For Mohammad Rafi, I could remember and posted some articles commemorating his birth centenary year in 2024.
However I have not been able to do the same for many other artists. For example , Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi of the Shankar-Jaikishan duo ( SJ) had his birth centenary year in 2022 and it mostly went off without much publicity.
Most of the media , except very few of his ardent fans , must have forgotten this. Even I am guilty of this lapse. However in November 2024 I did post my blogs in two parts on the great Golden Duo music composers, and mentioned about Shankar’s centenary . In those two parts , I had covered their immortal songs composed till the year 1967. The year 2029 shall be the birth centenary of Jaikishan and so now we are somewhere in the middle of the birth centenaries of this great pair of music composers. I think it is apt to continue my series on the magical duo SJ and their great compositions later than the year 1967 , till the year I had covered in my Part 2.
In many books on the golden era of Hindi film music and in the Internet we find many articles, blogs in which SJ ‘s music in the later years , i.e mid 60’s , 70’s are described as relatively mediocre!. I personally believe in enjoying the music of all the great artists of the golden era of film music ( either Hindi or Tamil) and so do not like comparisons. But I would like to mention that most of these authors forget one very important fact. For many legendary music composers, their debut and few subsequent films were not so impressive and they had a late start . Those who keep harping about SJ’s so-called decline in music towards their end never talk about what a spectacular debut they had with Barsaat in 1949 that totally changed the Hindi film music template. Not only that , they could sustain that momentum for two decades continuously , with some of their films having all the songs as super hits. This is an achievement unparalleled , but most ignore this when they talk only about the deterioration in their music !. And it becomes more interesting to note that typically most of these films had 6-8 songs , or even more and rendering 100% hits in many films is no mean achievement. As noted lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar once said in a program, SJ made Hindi film music into a novel that was till their arrival a short story!
Most artists reach a creative peak and then there is a slump. But in the blogosphere and in books, SJ are singled out with remarks on their low point, some surprising and undeserving Filmfare awards , promoting a mediocre singer etc.
May be the extreme success of SJ triggered so much of envy and bitterness against them. Further they completely dismiss the music of Shankar that he independently composed after the sudden demise of Jaikishan in 1971 . Although if one compares these songs of Shankar with the ones he created along with Jaikishan at their peak, they may be not be perceived to be good, but one can find many good songs even during this period. In my selection , covered in Part 3 & 4 there will be many such songs and readers/listeners can make out for themselves what beautiful compositions Shankar composed independently also.
As such , Shankar was an introvert and after the death of Jaikishan, he had become even more reticent. Most of the producers, including Raj Kapoor, who totally depended on SJ’s music for his films , ditched Shankar and as a result he composed very few films that were mostly low budget and poorly made films. Hence even if some of the songs in those films were good , the film being a flop, its music also flopped. Fate had something even more cruel for Shankar. When he passed away on the 26th April 1987, his family had not informed the film fraternity/media and so his funeral was attended by handful of close relatives, neighbors, and friends. The film world came to know about his death only on the next day! For a man who painted on a grand canvas , it was a sad , lonely final journey.
Normally I do not spend much time defending some artist or comparing one with another , but in case of SJ , after seeing so many adverse comments on them I had to deviate from my usual style.
Forget all these issues or controversies and let us immerse ourselves in their glorious music . For me they will always rank among the topmost music directors and somehow, like Rafi’s songs that have a great impact on me , I always felt SJ’s music has great passion, rhythm, energy, and a grandeur that is till now unmatched.
Statistically , SJ composed for approximately 180 films and of these two-thirds were before 1971, ie demise of Jaikishan. Rest one-third were composed between 1971 to 1987, mainly by Shankar. Not only post- 1971 , but even prior to that many songs were composed by Shankar. It is well-known that they used to compose independently all along but had never revealed who composed which song . Generally it is said that Shankar preferred to work with Shailendra and Jaikishan with Hasrat Jaipuri. That could give some clue and also the fact that most of the songs that either had a strong classical base or were based primarily dance numbers were composed by Shankar. The title songs of RK films were also composed by Shankar.
I realized once I listed their songs after 1967, that I may have to cover this blog in part 3 & 4. So the introduction will remain in Part 3 and I will cover the songs from 1967 to 1970 in Part 3 and 1971 till 1991 in Part 4.
Songs are in chronological order, with song , film, year, singer(s) and lyricist mentioned in that order.
- Panchi Re O Panchi/ Hare Kanch Ki Choodiyan/1967/ Mohammad Rafi & Asha Bhosle/Shailendra
The prelude is trademark SJ , with those 50+ violins , the slightly fast paced waltz rhythm and that electronic organ/keyboard that features so prominently -all make this a delightful song. Rafi and Asha render this with their characteristic flair.
2. Aawara Ae Mere Dil/ Raat Aur Din /1967/ Lata Mangeshkar/ Shailendra
Raat Aur Din was a bonanza for SJ lovers-almost all the songs are superb. This was also the last film in which Nargis acted. I have selected three songs or rather I should say four as Aawara Ae Mere Dil has two versions-fast and a slower one. The reason why I consider SJ as great composers is apparent in this song. The basic tune is same in both the versions , but note the variation they have made in the orchestration . I have provided the links to both the versions( the uploaders have wrongly labelled the fast on as slow and vice versa!!)
The dance by Laxmi Chhaya in the fast version is simply out-of-the-world and in spite of the audio quality not being that good I have still posted the one that has her dance.
Once again the use of accordion, guitar, flute , trumpet , violins and not to forget the chorus in the slower version -all vintage SJ.
Fast version:
Slow version:
3. Dil Ki Girah Khol Do/ Raat Aur Din /1967/ Manna Dey & Lata Mangeshkar/ Shailendra
An eternal duet by Manna Dey and Lata-even after listening to this song a thousand times , one can never get bored of it. Like many SJ fans, I can identify an SJ song just by listening to few seconds of its prelude. They “ affix their signature” before their songs! Of course credit also goes to Sebastian D’Souza and Dattaram, SJ’s constant companions looking after the orchestration and percussion. And what to say about Shailendra-the great poet who was a rock solid support for SJ along with Hasrat.
4. Raat Aur Din/ Raat Aur Din /1967/Mukesh/ Hasrat Jaipuri
This is a tandem song, sung by both Mukesh and Lata. Both are excellent-I just selected Mukesh’s version at random. His voice always had a special touch whenever he sang for SJ! Contrary to one more myth , where people even used to credit Raj Kapoor for all the great songs , SJ composed excellent songs outside the RK banner proving the fact that all these myths somehow keep circulating!
5. Mein Gaaon Tum So Jao/ Brahmachari/1968/ Mohammad Rafi/ Shailendra
Remember songs like this one are from the late 60’s , whereas one more myth spread around was that SJ’s music lost its melody in later years! Sorry I keep emphasizing these points , but it is to highlight what sober songs they composed even in late 60’s. Note the subtle way in which SJ , keeping in mind this is a lullaby, create a soft-as-silk tone for the song but at the same time the orchestration still sounds so grand. This magic was created only by these golden duo.
6. Aajkal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche/ Brahmachari/1968/ Mohammad Rafi & Suman Kalyanpur /Hasrat Jaipuri
Is there anything one has to write about this song?It is popular across the country even in those regions where Hindi is not the main language! Once again that absolutely mesmerizing prelude with guitar, violins and accordion is worth a ton of gold. Adding even more charm is that saxophone in interludes.
7. Sacha Hai Gar Pyaar / Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan/1968/ Mohammad Rafi/ Shailendra
Although the song Kaun Hai Jo Sapnon Mein aaya ( no doubt inspired from Elvis Prisley-but SJ elevated the song to a higher level despite being an inspired song) is more popular, I have listed a rarer song that is brilliant and sounds so melodious and grand; especially the interludes and antaras are simply superb. Rafi executes this in his inimitable style.
8. Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe/ Kanyadaan/1968/Mohammad Rafi/ Neeraj
I agree I might have repeated this song , now for the third time in my blogs but don’t you agree this is worth repeating even more? Popular among even today’s generation and I believe it will remain popular for centuries.
9. Janak Janak Tori Baaje Payaliya/ Mere Huzoor/ 1968/Manna Dey/Hasrat Jaipuri
When it comes to pure classical numbers , SJ relied mostly on Manna Dey and this remains one of the most memorable Darbari Kanada based song in Hindi films. Film music breaks away from the strict rules of classical music and that is why SJ knew the pulse of a common listener and could integrate superb orchestration in a classical based song. That , in my humble opinion , was one factor that made their music so popular.
10. Ruk Se Zara Naqaab/ Mere Huzoor/ 1968/Mohammad Rafi/ Hasrat Jaipuri
Romantic songs , generally were Jaikishan’s forte and this is one more gem from the romantic trio: Jiakishan-Hasrat -Rafi who have given us some of the most romantic songs in Hindi films. Do we see any reduction in melody even in 1968??
11. Parde Mein Rehne Do/ Shikar/1968/ Asha Bhosle/ Hasrat Jaipuri
It is said the producer-director were little hesitant to have this song as it was considered a bit bold for those times. But SJ always knew the pulse and stood firm and this song went on to become a super hit so much that the film Shikar is forgotten , but this song remains popular till today. Fetched Asha and award also!
12. Tumhe Mein Agar Apna Saathi/ Shatranj/1969/ Mohammad Rafi & Asha Bhosle /S.H. Bihari
After the sad demise of Shailendra , Shankar relied on many other lyricists and he always experimented with other singers and lyricists. Whereas Jaikishan firmly went with Rafi and Lata for most of his songs. We see S H Bihari ( normally paired with OP Nayyar for many fabulous songs) writing for SJ. Shankar’s theory was mostly to compose the tune first and then get the lyrics done , so that fresh tunes can come up as he felt if he has to compose to an already written lyric, that could restrict creativity. However there were many other composers who believed exactly the other way. Nothing is better or worse-it is because of this we get to hear so many great songs! Note how the piano follows through out the song. Vintage SJ!
13. Badan Pe Sitare Lapete Hue/ Prince/1969/Mohammad Rafi/ Hasrat Jaipuri
The freshness and youthfulness in a SJ tune is eternal. In today’s lingo this song still rocks , whenever it is played. If we observe the preludes and interludes of a SJ composition is worth to write about as a separate blog! Wait—this song as a fabulous postlude also with that trademark SJ’s electronic organ/keyboard.
14. Kal Ka Pahiya Ghoome Bhaiyya/ Chanda Aur Bijli/1970/ Mana Dey/Neeraj
Few months back when I wrote about the great poet-lyricist Neeraj , I had included this song. I have no hesitation to repeat this here. This is so under-rated that many do include it even in the top songs of Manna Dey. Once again I wish to emphasize how even in 1970 , there was no loss of melody in SJ’s compositions.
15. Aaya Na Humko Pyaar Jatana/Pehchan/1970/ Mukesh & Suman Kalyanpur /Indeevar
Piano, violins and shehnai-what a strange combination ! Mukesh and Suman Kalyanpur were a rare combination in duets and this song has one more rare association-Indeevar writing for SJ.
16. Tum Mujhe Yoon / Pagla Kahin Ka/1970/ Mohammad Rafi/ Hasrat Jaipuri
This song became sort of an anthem for Rafi , so prophetically written for him. The interludes have a mix of saxophone , piano and sitar , with the flute answering to every line of Rafi in the antaras.
17. Jane Kahan Gaye Who Din/Mera Naam Joker/1970/ Mukesh/Hasrat Jaipuri
The film flopped despite Raj Kapoor putting all his finance and energy into it. Irrationally people dismiss the music of Mera Naam Joker also just because the film flopped. For me , personally this was one the topmost album of SJ with many songs becoming immortal. Many songs were not included in the film and one of them by Rafi “ Sadque Heer Tujhpe” is one of the best “ heer” ever composed for films. However I have selected two Mukesh songs that can be said to be among his career best songs.
18. Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan/ Mera Naam Joker/1970/ Mukesh/Shailendra
Shailendra unfortunately passed away during the making of Mera Naam Joker in 1966 itself and his son Shaily Shailendra completed this song after Shailendra had written only the mukhda.
With this , I conclude Part 3, mainly for the sake of ease of reading and will continue with further songs of SJ in Part 4. We will look at those songs predominantly composed by Shankar alone, after the demise of Jaikishan in Part 4. That will include glimpses from a non-film album “ Raag Jaaz Style ” that had fusion of Indian classical presented in Jazz style through instrumental music and also a superb title instrumental music SJ composed for a Films Division of India ‘s documentary on mount Everest.
Acknowledgement & Disclaimer
I sincerely thank the publishers of following Internet sources for the information that I could gather for this article:
- You Tube
- Wikipedia
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been mentioned and embedded here only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights.
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