By Subramanian Natesan
Recently one member has stated that he is from Tamilnadu.Many members at present are from Tamilnadu as they were attracted by the mesmerizing music of ever great Shanker jaikishen.As already mentioned by me in this group I am a die-hard fan of the duo and in the interest I have collected photos,news items reg the duo appeared in various film journals and consolidated all of them as four volumes of albums with various titles.
As prelude for all those volumes I have prepared a text under the title My acquaintance with Shanker jaikishan (spiritual).In it I have explained fully as to how I was attracted by their music etc.I have proposed to post all the volumes of albums prepared by me.The photo of my original writing as well as it’s chat gpt version of text for easy reading are posted..I hope you may appreciate my efforts.This was compiled during 2003.
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MY ACQUAINTANCE WITH SHANKER-JAIKISHEN (SPIRITUAL)
I was hardly nine years old when Shankar-Jaikishan made their spectacular debut in the world of Hindi film Music. I was born and reared in the Southern-most part of the country where Hindi was a rarest. Only in local language Tamil was prevalent in that region and was also most expert Hindi films to make ground in the area. But, Tiruchirapalli, my home town had a fair amount of muslim population who had an ear for Hindi language and dance for Hindi film Music. In order to satisfy that set of population one theatre named ‘Garden’ was exclusively screening Hindi films. Besides this one, two more theatres located in the muslim populated area were also showing Hindi films though not regularly.
Even from my childhood, I had an ear for music. Used to hear the Tamil film songs that were popular, infectious and used to enjoy the same. My Sister had training in Carnatic Music and since I was interested in all sorts of music. I used to sing those songs also along with my Sister.
Besides Tamil film songs, Hindi film music also attracted me. The songs initially I heard those days were from films like Duniya, Khidki, Mela, Anmol Ghadi, Asha Parekh, Jahan, Falsa, Shamila or the film songs I sung’id were tunes by Naushad, C. Ramachandra and Husnlal-Bhagatram, the first duo in Hindi film music.
During 1949, I happened to hear the songs of ‘Barsaat’, Instantly they appealed to me. Then, I was not aware of the various composers of the Hindi film music and was not much concerned in that respect also. I was fortunate to view their subsequent film ‘Nagina which also attracted me because of its scintillating music. ‘Awara’ – this 3rd film was a big hit even in South India and the songs were on everybody’s lips those days. Naturally, I was mesmerised by their music. It seems I had an inherent love for them.
Again I had a chance to witness their fifth film ‘Kali ghata which was musically a haunting film. During those days the Tamil film music directors dared to imitate the Hindi film songs and used in their films. Thus the tunes of some of the songs from films like ‘Daag’, ‘Duniya’, Mayur pankh were directly copied by Tamil music directors which incidentally caught my attention and without owing that the originals were tunes by those who will be my most favourite musicians in future. I was drawn towards their music.
In 1953, RK.. film ‘Aah’ was dubbed in Tamil under the name ‘Avan’ (HE) and all the songs sung by A.M. Raja and Jikki in Tamil gained immeasurable popularity. The Tamil section of Radio Ceylon broadcast those songs and the songs were top hit of the year. I consider that the songs of ‘Aah’ are still the 2nd best of Shankar-Jaikishan the first being ‘Poonam.
During 1955, I heard the songs from their film ‘Shree 420’ and most of the songs were almost memorised by me.
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Even then I was not aware that the immortal tunes were from Shankar-Jaikishan. It was because of the Hindi film songs, I took interest in Hindi films and Hindi language and I started learning Hindi through my education then came the year 1956,in which ‘Chhori chori was released, whose songs made me crazy and then only I learnt that the creators of such melodious music was a team named Shankar-Jaikishan. Instantly I became their ardent fan and since then my ears refused to hear the music to other music directors.
Later I learnt that Shankar jaikishan were selected as the best music director for the year by the magazine Filmfare for 1956 and it was their 1st Filmfare award. I started to take interest in their films and was eagerly awaiting the release of their music.
In the year 1957, their film ‘Begunah’ was released and on learning that Jaikishan was lip moving for a song sequence in that film, I witnessed the picture. The song ‘Ai pyase dil bezubaan sung by Mukesh was picturised on Jaikishan and admiring his handsomeness I felt that Jai had more handsome look even more handsome and had more acting talent than the hero of the film Kishore Kumar! Then every film of S-J became my favourite and I started to collect pictures of the duo from the film journals.
Even then I had an idea of preparing an album on Shankar-Jaikishan, using cuttings of photographs from film journals. Early during 1960, I became self reliant and was in a position to purchase film journals from which I started collecting their photographs.
I was a regular subscriber to the film weekly ‘Screen’ which was an offshoot of Indian Express. Started to purchase Filmfare of the time to awards presenting function and Stardust etc occasionally and the pictures and news items regarding the duo will be collected and stored.
Those days were not for cassettes or CDs and only Gramophone discs were available. Radio was the most popular item in broadcasting film songs. Radio Ceylon Commercial service in Hindi was the most popular item in that respect and the broadcast starts everyday at 6.00 AM and went on till 11.00 PM. I used to hear the Hindi songs till I started for my office and will be hearing after I return from work till the broadcast closes. All India Radio and Vividh Bharathi of All India Radio and broadcasting Ceylon broadcast also used to play Hindi songs in their programmes. I used to tune these stations one by one until one SJ songs is played.
Thus almost all the songs of S-J were in my memory and are they still in my memory. Though they became well known since their very first film, there was a lull for a short period during 1957 and 1958 due to the popularity of O.P. Nayyar. After 1959 they became the masters
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…and reached the pinnacle of their career and stayed there till 1971 in which year Jaikishan died a premature death. I was always with them mentally. I laughed with them when they laughed and enjoyed with them when they were awarded the Filmfare awards.I celebrated when Jaikishan got married during 1963 and when he be got three children .I was overwhelmed with joy and when they were awarded with Padmashree by the Govt of India.and I enjoyed when their 100th film was released. I was on a approached them, but they had brushed them. I was enthralled whenever and wherever they were bestowed with honour.
My sole intention of my lifetime was, never fulfilled my greatest ambition was to meet Shankar and Jaikishan in person and talk to them. But that was never to be.. Again an unquenched desire to attend one of the many Shankar-Jaikishan nites at least to have a glimpse of them and hear their songs in person did not also fructify. I wrote so many letters to them and was hoping to have an audience with them hoping that they respond to such an ardent fan and that too from the south but they never replied perhaps due to their pre occupation in their profession.
I satisfied myself by viewing the photographs of the duo on various occasions. In fact some of the Shankar-Jaikishan nites were screened in theatres along with some other feature films and I never missed those opportunities.
Jaikishan had been to Chennai in Tamil Nadu for participating in one of the functions of the film ‘Sangam’. Even then I could not get the opportunity to have a glimpse of them. Really I felt sad that I was so unfortunate that I could not get an opportunity even to have a glimpse of my favourites.
Then came the year 1971. The song ‘Zindagi Ek Safar hai Suhana’ of film ‘Andaz’ was on everybody’s lips and heold your breath -ten then Shankar-Jaikishan films were released during the year which by itself was a record breaking record. But during that year itself, Jaikishan breathed his last on 12th September leaving everybody in gloom. My entire interest was lost. With his death the duo image was shattered and Shankar though lived for 16 years more, could not sustain the impact created by both of them and fell from favour.
Though he created some beautiful music for about 40 films afterJai’s death, music of which was much liked by me only few films like ‘Sanyasi’, ‘Seema’, ‘Do Jhoot’, ‘Lal Patthar’ and ‘Saazish. dcceeded musicwise Shankar also went Jai’s way on April 27 in the year 1987 at the age of 67.
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Shankar-Jaikishan created music for about 170 films and I have got cassettes and CDs for about 100 films, still I am collecting other film cassettes and I am hearing the Shankar-Jaikishan music through my CD player everyday. My life’s ambition will be fulfilled only after collecting all the music of Shankar-Jaikishan.
I have compiled my photograph collection of S-J and created a Shankar-Jaikishan album which consists of 4 parts and whenever I feel depressed I will go through the album and hear the music of S-J. This album gives solace to my depressed mood and this will be with me until my physical disappearance from this world.
Long live S-J’s name!
THE ALBUM prepared by me consists of 4 parts.
RECORD SIDE 1A & 1B
Titled Sangam (combination of melody and rhythm)
Talks of their main profession viz. Creation of music.
2A & 2B
- Titled BARSAAT (SHOWER OF HONOURS)
Talks about the recognition they got both from public and from critics. - BASANT BAHAR (SPRING OF LIFE)
The joyous days of the duo.
- KISMET KA KHEL (Destiny / Fate)
Talks about the happenings after their death.
By going through these volumes one can understand the entire history of Shankar-Jaikishan, their popularity, their capacity and their efficiency. This is my humble dedication to the evergreen maestros Shankar-Jaikishan
SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN 