शैलेन्द्र

Shailendra (30 August 1923 – 14 December 1966) was Hindi cinema's simplest and deepest lyricist — the poet who wrote philosophy in the common man's tongue. Born Shankardas Kesarilal in Rawalpindi (the family was originally from Bihar), he grew up in Mathura and worked as a mechanic in the Indian Railways' Matunga workshop in Bombay. His fiery poems rang from the platforms of the Progressive Writers' Association and IPTA — and at a 1947 poets' meet, hearing 'Jalta Hai Punjab', Raj Kapoor invited him to write for Aag. The proud Shailendra refused the film world. But in 1949, with his wife ill and money short, he went to Raj Kapoor himself; the two songs he wrote for Barsaat ('Barsaat Mein Humse Mile Tum', 'Patli Kamar Hai') began a bond that became history.

The Raj Kapoor–Shankar-Jaikishan–Shailendra–Hasrat quartet composed the soundtrack of free India's dreams: 'Awara Hoon' (which echoed from Moscow to Istanbul), 'Mera Joota Hai Japani', 'Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua', 'Sab Kuch Seekha Humne', 'Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nisar', 'Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan'. Outside RK his pen shone just as bright — Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Guide's 'Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai', Anari, Madhumati, Bandini ('Mat Ro Mata'). He won three Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist — for Yahudi (1959, 'Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai', among the first lyricist Filmfares ever given), Anari (1960) and Brahmachari (1969, posthumously).

In 1966 he produced Teesri Kasam, from Phanishwar Nath Renu's story, with Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman. The film proved immortal — it won the President's Gold Medal for Best Feature Film — but its commercial failure and the debts it brought broke the poet. He died on 14 December 1966 — Raj Kapoor's birthday — aged just 43. Gulzar said it best: Shailendra was the greatest 'kavi' the films ever had — a simplicity it takes a lifetime to reach.