Kavi Pradeep was born in 1915 at Wadnagar, Madhya Pradesh, as Ramchandra Dwivedi. He graduated from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. In his early days he got interested in singing and in poetry, especially, Nirala's poetry influenced him to a great extent. In fact, perhaps it was Nirala himself who changed the poet's name to Pradeep. Strangely, in later years, the poet himself couldn't recall who changed his name!
In his early 20's he became emotionally charged with the nationalistic sentiments beginning to take some shape at that time. In 1938 he was introduced to
Himanshu Rai of
Bombay Talkies and was hired for the studio soon. His first film at
Bombay Talkies was Kangan (1939)., and he wrote songs that were composed by the lady composer
Saraswati Devi. For Kangan he wrote 'Radha Radha Pyari Radha...'. Thats how his start came about, followed by a long innings. He went on to write some 1000-plus songs, and lent his voice to many of them, as well.
Pradeep chose his thoughts carefully, once given the scene for a song. He then went about to 'sclupt' the words from his thoughts. He used to write his songs in typical Hindi poetry. He always tried to avoid the mix up of Hindi-Urdu words in the same song. Hindi was his first love and thats what he is famous for. Not just that, many of his songs were either patriotic or religious. This genre he did very efficiently.
He wrote some very popular patriotic songs like: 'Aao Bachchon Tumhen Dikhaayen Jhanki Hindustan ki...', 'Door Hato aye Duniya Waalon Hindustan Hamara Hai...', ' Aye Mere watan ke logon Zara Aankh Mein Bhar Lo Paani...', ' Chal Chal Re Naujawan...', ' Hum Laaye Hain Toofan Se Kashti Nikaal Ke Is Desh Ko Rakhna Mere Bachchon Sambhal Ke...' etc. He alos wrote some of the very popular bhajans, like, 'Tere Phoolon Se Bhi Pyaar Tere Kaanton Se Bhi Pyaar...', 'Jai Jai Raam Raghurai...' etc. Apart from such songs he also wrote some of the beautiful songs like " Oopar Gagan Vishal Neeche Gehra Paatal...', ' Dekh Tere Sansaar Ki Haalat Kya Ho Gayi Bhagwaan...', ' Chal Akela Chal Akela...', ' O Dildaar Bolo Ek Baar...' etc.
Kavi Pradeep was given the
Dadasaheb Phalke award for the year 1977. The award was announced in July 1998. Pradeep was delighted, but did not live for too long after that. He died on December 11 of the same year. He was 1983.
Contributed by Mr. Manek Premchand
Author: Yesterday's Melodies Today's Memories
