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Shailendra

Raj Kapoor's 'Pushkin'; poet of the common man · 1923–1966

Shailendra was born Shankardas Kesarilal in Rawalpindi on 30 August 1923. He was working as a welder with the railways in Bombay and writing protest poetry for the Indian People's Theatre Association when Raj Kapoor heard him read 'Jalta Hai Punjab' and offered to buy his poems. Shailendra, a man of the left, refused: he was wary of mainstream cinema. Then life intervened. About a year later his wife was in hospital for the delivery of their first child, Shaily, and he could not pay the bill. He went back to Raj Kapoor and, for 500 rupees, wrote two songs, 'Patli Kamar Hai' and 'Barsaat Mein'. That was the start of one of the great partnerships in Indian cinema.

Raj Kapoor called him 'Pushkin' and 'Kaviraj'. He wrote in plain, everyday Hindi that carried deep feeling, and 'Awaara Hoon', 'Mera Joota Hai Japani' and 'Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan' made him the poet of the common man. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist three times. Gulzar has often said he was the finest lyricist Hindi cinema has had.

Among the films on this site he wrote for Dilli Ka Thug (1958), Love Marriage (1959) and Parakh (1960), where it was his first time writing dialogue, and he and Salil Chowdhury helped talk Bimal Roy into adding songs. In 1966 he produced Teesri Kasam, from Phanishwar Nath Renu's story; it won the National Award for Best Feature Film, but its commercial failure ruined him. On his way to hospital he stopped at R.K. Studios and promised Raj Kapoor he would finish 'Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan'. He died the next day, 14 December 1966, aged 43, which was Raj Kapoor's birthday; Kapoor is said to have murmured, 'Tumhe aaj hi jaana tha' (You had to go today). His son Shaily Shailendra finished the song, so Mera Naam Joker (1970) carries a posthumous credit.

Songs

46 recordings in this catalogue.

Aah (1953)

Junglee (1961)

Love in Tokyo (1966)

Koi Matwala Aaya — words

Love Marriage (1959)

Mera Naam Joker (1970)

Kaate Na Kate Raina — words
Mere Alibaba — words
Ang Lag Ja Balma — words

Parakh (1960)

Films

Parakh

dialogue, lyricist, writer · 1960 · 3 parts · 6:56:24

Shailendra wrote the songs and the dialogue - a lyricist writing the spoken words as well, which is why the songs in it do not feel like interruptions. O Sajana, Barkha Bahar Aai is from it.

2:28:34

Other known for

Shree 420 (1955) on RLB-Tube
Aankhen Chaar Hote Hote (1959)
Aate Jaate Pehloo Mein (1958)
Awaara Hoon (1951)
Baat Badhti Gayi (1959)
Baharon Se Nazaron Ke (1959)
Brahmachari
Chand Sa Mukhda Kyun Sharmaya (1959)
Hum Tum Jise Kahta Hai (1959)
Jaanu Jaanu Ri, Kaahe Khanke Hai Tora Kangna (1959)
Khoya Khoya Chand (1960)
Mehanatkash Insan Jaag Utha (1959)
Na Main Dhan Chahoon (1960)
Rimjhim Ke Tarane Leke Aayi Barsaat (1960)
Soorat Aur Seerat (1962)
Teesri Kasam (1966)
Yeh Chanda Rus Ka (1959)

Related people

Family

Shaily Shailendra
Shaily Shailendra is the eldest son of the lyricist Shailendra. His birth, and the hospital bill that came with it, sent his father back to Raj Kapoor to sell two songs; decades later he completed his father's 'Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan' for Mera Naam Joker (1970).

Worked with

Agha Jani Kashmiri
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Agha Jani Kashmiri wrote the dialogue, from Chori Chori (1956) to Love in Tokyo (1966).
Asha Bhosle
6 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Asha Bhosle sang in them. Among them Mera Naam Joker (1970), Jewel Thief (1967) and Rajkumar (1964).
Ashok Kumar
Both credited on 2 of the same films in this catalogue: Bandini (1963), Jewel Thief (1967).
Bimal Roy
3 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Bimal Roy directed them. Among them Madhumati (1958), Bandini (1963) and Parakh (1960).
Dev Anand
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Dev Anand produced, from Kala Bazar (1960) to Jewel Thief (1967).
Dharmendra
Both credited on 2 of the same films in this catalogue: Bandini (1963), Mera Naam Joker (1970).
Geeta Dutt
Both credited on 2 of the same films in this catalogue: Amanat (1955), Kala Bazar (1960).
Gulzar
Shailendra brought Gulzar to Bimal Roy, which is how he got this film.
Hasrat Jaipuri
Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri both wrote the lyrics, from Aah (1953) to Mera Naam Joker (1970).
Helen
4 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Helen acted in them. Among them Jewel Thief (1967), Junglee (1961) and Anari (1959).
Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Hrishikesh Mukherjee directed, from Musafir (1957) to Anari (1959).
Iftekhar
Both credited on 2 of the same films in this catalogue: Apne Huye Paraye (1964), Guide (1965).
Inder Raj Anand
Both credited on 3 of the same films in this catalogue: Aah (1953), Anari (1959), Chhoti Bahen (1959).
Jaikishan
Both credited on 3 of the same films in this catalogue: Apne Huye Paraye (1964), Love in Tokyo (1966), Rajkumar (1964).
Jaywant Pathare
Both credited on 2 of the same films in this catalogue: Aah (1953), Anari (1959).
Kamal Bose
3 films together in this catalogue: Kamal Bose photographed them and Shailendra wrote the words for them. Among them Bandini (1963), Musafir (1957) and Parakh (1960).
Kishore Kumar
4 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Kishore Kumar sang in them. Among them Jewel Thief (1967), Guide (1965) and Musafir (1957).
Lalita Pawar
3 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Lalita Pawar acted in them. Among them Junglee (1961), Anari (1959) and Apne Huye Paraye (1964).
Lata Mangeshkar
11 films together in this catalogue: Lata Mangeshkar sang in them and Shailendra wrote the words for them. Among them Jewel Thief (1967), Guide (1965) and Love in Tokyo (1966).
Leela Chitnis
3 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Leela Chitnis acted in them. Among them Guide (1965), Awaara (1951) and Parakh (1960).
Manna Dey
8 films together in this catalogue: Manna Dey sang in them and Shailendra wrote the words for them. Among them Mera Naam Joker (1970), Guide (1965) and Love in Tokyo (1966).
Manoj Kumar
3 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Manoj Kumar acted in them. Among them Mera Naam Joker (1970), Apne Huye Paraye (1964) and Gumnaam (1965).
Mehmood Ali
Both credited on 4 of the same films in this catalogue: Chhote Nawab (1961), Chhoti Bahen (1959), Gumnaam (1965), Love in Tokyo (1966).
Mohammed Rafi
6 films together in this catalogue: Mohammed Rafi sang in them and Shailendra wrote the words for them. Among them Mera Naam Joker (1970), Jewel Thief (1967) and Love in Tokyo (1966).
M.R. Achrekar
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and M.R. Achrekar designed, from Aah (1953) to Mera Naam Joker (1970).
M.R. Achrekar
Both credited on 4 of the same films in this catalogue: Aah (1953), Anari (1959), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Rajkumar (1964).
Mukesh
5 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Mukesh sang in them. Among them Mera Naam Joker (1970), Madhumati (1958) and Anari (1959).
Nanda
Both credited on 3 of the same films in this catalogue: Chhoti Bahen (1959), Gumnaam (1965), Kala Bazar (1960).
Nargis
3 films together in this catalogue: Nargis acted in them and Shailendra wrote the words for them. Among them Awaara (1951), Chori Chori (1956) and Aah (1953).
Nazir Hussain
Both credited on 2 of the same films in this catalogue: Amanat (1955), Parakh (1960).
Nutan
3 films together in this catalogue: Nutan acted in them and Shailendra wrote the words for them. Among them Anari (1959), Bandini (1963) and Dilli Ka Thug (1958).
Pran
6 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Pran acted in them. Among them Love in Tokyo (1966), Madhumati (1958) and Rajkumar (1964).
Raj Kapoor
4 films together in this catalogue: Shailendra wrote the words for them and Raj Kapoor acted in them. Among them Mera Naam Joker (1970), Awaara (1951) and Chori Chori (1956).
Sachin Dev Burman
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Sachin Dev Burman wrote the music, from Kala Bazar (1960) to Jewel Thief (1967).
Salil Chowdhury
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Salil Chowdhury wrote the music, from Musafir (1957) to Parakh (1960).
Shankar
Both credited on 2 of the same films in this catalogue: Love in Tokyo (1966), Rajkumar (1964).
Shankar Jaikishan
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Shankar Jaikishan wrote the music, from Apne Huye Paraye (1964) to Mera Naam Joker (1970).
Shankarsingh Raghuwanshi
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Shankarsingh Raghuwanshi wrote the music, from Chori Chori (1956) to Mera Naam Joker (1970).
Sudhendu Roy
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Sudhendu Roy designed, from Musafir (1957) to Parakh (1960).
Vijay Anand
Shailendra wrote the lyrics and Vijay Anand directed, from Kala Bazar (1960) to Jewel Thief (1967).

Related films

Worked with

Ab Ke Baras Bhej Bhaiya Ko Babul — not in this catalogue yet
Lyricist of this song.
Awaara Hoon — not in this catalogue yet
Lyricist of this song.
Dum Bhar Jo Udhar Munh Phere — not in this catalogue yet
Lyricist of this song.
Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi — not in this catalogue yet
Lyricist of this song.
Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan — not in this catalogue yet
Lyricist of this song.
Mere Saajan Hai Us Paar — not in this catalogue yet
Lyricist of this song.
O Jaanewale Ho Sake To Laut Ke Aana — not in this catalogue yet
Lyricist of this song.
O Sajna Barkha Bahar Aayi — not in this catalogue yet
Lyricist of this song.
Parakh (1960)
Shailendra wrote the songs and the dialogue - a lyricist writing the spoken words as well, which is why the songs in it do not feel like interruptions. O Sajana, Barkha Bahar Aai is from it.

Songs

Films

Musafir (1957)

Love in Tokyo (1966)

Rajkumar (1964)

Awaara (1951)

Chori Chori (1956)

Aah (1953)

Amanat (1955)

Anari (1959)

Apne Huye Paraye (1964)

Bandini (1963)

Chhote Nawab (1961)

Chhoti Bahen (1959)

Dilli Ka Thug (1958)

Guide (1965)

Jewel Thief (1967)

Junglee (1961)

Kala Bazar (1960)

Love Marriage (1959)

Mera Naam Joker (1970)

Other known for