Shankar Jaikishan

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Jaikishan  Dayabhai Panchal was born on 4 November 1929 in Vansda, Gujarat. His mother was an avid music enthusiast and had a command over Hindustani classical music. Thus Jaikishan acquired his early training in music from his mother. Being passionate about music, Jaikishan wandered to Pune and hired training in Music from Ustaad Prem Shankar Nayak and then shifted to Mumbai to make a career in films. Here became a disciple of Vinayak Tambe in Mumbai. Later he joined Prithvi theatre.

1940

The beginning of Shankar- Jaikishan  

Shankar would often hunt film producers' office to seek work as an independent music director. Once he was waiting outside Guajarati film director Chandravadan Bhatt's office when he saw a handsome youth of his age. The two soon became friends. The other youth was Jaikishan . During chatting Jaikishan informed  that he is a competent Harmonium player and looking for a job. Fortunately, there was a vacancy for a Harmonium player at Prithvi Theatre. Hence Shaker recommended Jaikishan  to Prithviraj Kapoor, who was impressed by Jaikishan 's art and immediately offered him a job.

Shankar Jaikishan were poplar as 'Ram-Lakshman' at Prithvi Theatre

At Prithvi Theatre both Shankar Jaikishan worked very hard. Their dedication towards music was commendable. They contributed significantly in making many of the Prithvi Theatre's plays Like Pathan, Deewaar, etc. entertaining with their melodious plays. They became famous as 'Ram-Lakshman'.  Prithviraj Kapoor's son Raj Kapoor, who worked at Prithvi Theatre, was also a great fan of musical duo Shankar Jaikishan hence when Raj Kapoor launched his debut film Aag (1948) he signed Prithvi Theatre's chief music director Ram Ganguly but also signed Shankar Jaikishan as his assistant.

Raj Kapoor formed the Shankar Jaikishan  Jodi

Though the music of Aag was popular but the film was a disaster at the box-office and had shattered Raj Kapoor's ambitious career as actor cum filmmaker! He was in a dilemma. Deep down into heavy debt due to the failure of Aag, Raj Kapoor decided to make another film with good content and exceptional music. Thus he formed a team of strugglers like Music Director Duo Shankar Jaikishan , lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra and Lata Mangeshkar. Family friend Premnath, Nargis and Raj Kapoor acted in the film. The story was written by Prithvi Theatre's permanent writer Ramanand Sagar. Thus Barsaat (1949) was made on a shoestring budget and the film became a blockbuster!!

The highlight of the film was it super hit songs by Shankar Jaikishan. The film had 11 songs and each a milestone like Hawa Mein Udta Jaye…. Jiya Beqarar Hai….. Barsaat Mein Humse Mile….. Mujhe Kisi Se Pyaar Ho Gayaa……. Bichhde Hue Pardesi…

1950

Shankar Jaikishan  out beat Music stalwart Naushad in their first film!

The huge success of Barsaat was so tremendous that Shankar Jaikishan  in their debut film gave a tough fight to the Musical stalwart Naushad, whose film Andaaz starring Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Nargis had released in the same year but the sale of records of Barsaat out beat Andaaz! In short, Shankar Jaikishan  rose like a meteoric and overtook Bollywood by their populist music.

The Shankar Jaikishan  and Raj Kapoor Jodi last for 22 years!

The association of Raj Kapoor and Shankar Jaikishan  created a box-office bonanza with a chain of hit films like Aah, Aawara, Shri 420, Chori-Chori, Boot Polish, Anari, Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hai, Main Nashe Me Hoon, Aashiq, Deewana, Ek Dil Sau Afsaane, Sangam, Teesri Kasam and Mera Naam Joker. The duo worked non-stop together for 22 years from 1949 (Barsaat) to 1971 (Kal Aaj Aur Kal). Raj Kapoor shifted to Laxmikant–Pyarelal after the untimely death of Jaikishan  in 1971.

Shankar Jaikishan  became the First Music Directors to win global stardom

The musical scores of Awara, particularly its title song Awara hoon…… became a global sensation. It was such a huge hit around the world that it was dubbed in Russia, Turkish, Persian and Arabic!! Similarly the songs of Shree 420, particularly, Mera Juta Hai Japani…… won international fame. Shankar Jaikishan 's magic spread across the globe and the duo became the First Music Director of India to attain Global Stardom.

Shankar Jaikishan became favorite of Top Superstars

Shankar Jaikishan became a name to reckon in the 50's. Besides, Raj Kapoor, he became a favorite of top film stars like Dilip Kumar, who signed him for his film …. Daag. The songs Ae mere Dil kahin aur chal … is still a craze. Dilip Kumar and Shankar Jaikishan  gave many hit films like Yahudi ( Yeh  Mera Diwanapan Hai Ya Muhobbat…); Chaand Ek Bewa Ki Chudi Koi Nahin Mera Iss Duniya Mein.. (Shikast) etc. Even Dev Anand preferred Shankar Jaikishan . The two have many hit songs like Andhe Jahan Ke Andhe Raaste Jaayein To Jaayein Kahan.. (Patita), Dheere Dheere Chal Chaand Gagan Mein.. (Love Marriage), Jiya Ho Jiya Ho Jiya Kuch Bol Do…  (Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Ha) Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Se.. (Asli Naqli) etc.

1960

Shankar Jaikishan ’s melodious Music made Shammi Kapoor a Star!

Shankar- Jaikishan and Shammi Kapoor came together with Ujala. In this film, the duo experimented Manna Dey's voice on Shammi Kapoor for the song ‘Jhoomta mausam mast mahina'

Later, the duo used Mohd Rafi for the masti filled song ‘Yahoo…Chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe…. (Junglee). Rafi added the essential expression in musical form and Yahoo soon became a chartbuster! Thus started the Shankar- Jaikishan  –Shammi Kapoor magic. Songs like Awaz Deke Humein Tum Bulao…(Professor), Tumne Kisi Ki Jaan Ko.. (Rajkumar), Lal chhadi, Meri mohabbat jawaan rahegi…( Janwar), Aasman Se Aaya Farishta… (An evening in Paris), Badan Pe Sitare Lapete Huye.. (Prince), ‘Tum mujhe yoon bhula na paaoge' (Pagla Kahin Ka) and ‘Jab mohabbat jawaan hoti hai' from (Jawan Mohabbat), Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche.. (Brahmachari), etc.

Shankar Jaikishan made Rajendra Kumar Jubilee Kumar with their hit music

Besides Shammi Kapoor, Shankar- Jaikishan made an incredible Jodi with another actor Rajendra Kumar and made him ‘Jubilee Kumar’ with their hit music. The Shankar- Jaikishan  and Rajendra Kumar magic started with the musical hit film Ayee Milan Ki Bela. All the songs like the title track Aha aye Milan ki bela…Tum khamseen ho….To bura maan gaye….. Osanam tere ho gaye hum…. Then followed Aarzoo. Once again all songs were hit like Chalke teri aankhose…, Ae nargisi mastana…. Aji ruth kar ab…... Songs like Yaad na jaye… (Dil Ek Mandir), Baharon phool barsao… (Suraj), Teri Pyari Pyari Soorat Ko…. (Sasural), Yeh Mera Prem Patra… (Sangam), Pahle Mile The Sapnon Mein… (Zindagi), "Kaun Hai Jo Sapnon Mein Aaya…. (Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan), etc.

Some of the other major musical hits of Shankar- Jaikishan  in the '60s included Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Hariyali Aur Rasta, April Fool, Beti Bete; Gumnaam,  Love In Tokyo; Teesri Kasam;  Mere Huzoor, Tumse Achha Kaun Hai

 Shankar Jaikishan tight-lipped music critics

Shankar Jaikishan Jodi was mocked by music critics for being populists and lacked sense of Indian classical music like Naushad and S.D. Burman.  However, Shankar Jaikishan tight-lipped the music critics b scoring an mind lowing Hindustani classical music in their film Basant Bahar (1956). In this film, Shankar Jaikishan scored Hindustani classical music at par with Naushad's tunes in Baiju Bawra. The film had all songs based on Ragas like Badi Der Bhai….. Duniya Na Bhaye…  Shankar Jaikishan continued their tryst with Hindustani classical music whenever they got the opportunity for Neel Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein… and Tadap Yeh Din Raat Ki… both hit songs from Amarpali (1966). Other hit songs are Jhanak-jhanak tori baje payaliya…….(Mere Huzoor), Chham chham baje re payaliya….(Jane-anjane), Radhike tune bansari churayi… (Beti Bete), Manmohana bade jhoothe'….(Seema'), Koi matwala aya mere dware…..(Love in Tokyo), Ajahu na ayae baalma, sawan beeta jaye…..(Sanjh aur Savera) etc. 

Shankar- Jaikishan won 9 Filmfare Best Music Awards

The '60s was truly the Golden Era for Shankar- Jaikishan . They gave hit after hit films and won as many as 11 Filmfare Nomination and 9 Filmfare Best Music Awards. The awards won by them are for Chori Chori (1957),  Anari(1960); Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1961); Professor (1963); Suraj  (1967) and Brahmachari (1969), Pehchaan (1971); Mera Naam Joker (1972) and  Be-Imaan (1973). Some of the Filmfare nominations for which they did not win the awards include Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1962); Dil Ek Mandir (1964); Sangam (1965); Arzoo (1966) etc.

Shankar Jaikishan held a top position in the prestigious Binaca Geetmala

Shankar Jaikishan  held a top position in the prestigious Binaca Geetmala six times for the songs Mera Joota Hai Japani…(Shri 420 - 1955); Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko…. (Sasural -1961); Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par…. (Junglee  - 1962); Mere Man ki Ganga aur tere man ki Jamuna ka…(Sangam - 1964); Baharon phool barsao mera mehboob aaya hai… (Suraj -1966); Zindagi ek safar hai suhana… (Andaz  -1971)

1970

The tragic separation of Shankar Jaiksihan

In the mid-60s Shankar Jaikishan Jodi was shattered by separation. The reason behind the two friends moving apart was the arrival of a new singer Sharda, the lady singer from South who won instant stardom with her hit song Titli Udi... (Suraj). Though the song was hit but Jaikishan was furious as her voice had a typical South Indian accent and music buffs ridiculed her voice. Nevertheless, Shankar, who had fallen in love with Sharda gave no heed to people complaint and continued using Sharda and this created a rift between the two friends in the mid-60s.

Jaikishan died due to agony of separation

The Shankar Jaikishan split had a great psychological impact on Jaikishan and he got addicted to alcohol. The agony of separation took a toll on Jaikishan and his condition deteriorated which was impacted in the poor score in the 70's film. Jaikishan died in 1971 due to cirrhosis of the liver.

Shankar Jaikishan music saw a downfall; gave 17 flops in a single year!!

Though Shankar Jaikishan were doing films independently but worked under the united label of Shankar Jaikishan . However, after Jaikishan’s death there was huge downfall in the music. In a single year in 1972, Shankar Jaiksihan gave 17 flop films!!! The music of just 3 films was hit viz. Andaaz, Lal Pather and Be-Imaan. Later Shankar continued giving music under the united label of Jaikishan . Jaikishan but failed to give impressive music. Except Manoj Kumar's Sanyasi (1976) none of his films were hit. Some of his flops were Aatmaram, Do-Jhooth, Garam Khoon, Papi Pet Ka Sawal Hai, Chorni, Eint ka Jawab Pathar, etc.

Shankar died a disappointing death

Shankar died a disappointing death on April 26, 1987, as many top filmmakers promised him work but abandoned him. Even his favorite friend Raj Kapoor promised him for his film Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) but backed out and offered to Laxmikant–Pyarelal. In depression, Shankar bid adieu from the world.