Music Composer - Shankar Jaikishan

Shankar-Jaikishan were the greatest musical duo to have graced the world of Hindi cinema. So great was the impact of their creative genius that it had a lasting impact on the music of the Hindi films. Shankar-Jaikishan understood the taste of the masses, were able to cater to them, as well as moulded their tastes. No wonder then that during their tenure as music directors, they were exceedingly popular and 75 per cent of the films for which their scores were reounding hits - many have celebrated silver jubilees.

Shankar was born as Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi on October 15, 1922. His fathers name was Ram Singh Raghuvanshi, while Jaikishan was born as Jaikishan Dayabhai Paanchal on November 4, 1932 in Basanda, Gujrat. Neither Shankar nor Jaikishan were keen on education. Their schooling, as best, may be considered as scanty. Their love for music lured them away from any kind of systematic scholastic persuit.

Shankar's passion was the tabla. He learnt the fundamentals from Baba Nasir Khansahib. Through ceaseless practice and marathon riyaaz sessions, he mastered his skills and developed his own style. Jaikishan's interests were singing and playing harmonium. His first lessons in music were with Sangeet Visharad Wadilalji. He studied clasical music from Prem Shankar Nayak. On moving to Bombay, he studied under Vinayak Tambe. Shankar and Jaikishan, throughout their career, preferred their own favourite instruments: the tabla and the harmonium.

Shankar, initially joined a theatre group run by Satyanarayan and Hemawati. He then become a member of Prithvi Theatres, where he played the tabla and undertook minor roles in the company's plays. Jaikishan was on the lookout for a job related to music and Shankar introduced him to Prithvi thetres as a harmonium player. Susequently, they worked as assistants to the celebrated composer pair Husnlal-Bhagatram and imbibed much of their form and structure, which they successfully employed in a refined style. Shankar-Jaikishan both had a penchant for acting. Initially they happily undertook bit roles in Prithvi Theatres' plays, and, later they both played significant roles in the company's play Pathan. Shankar played a fisherman in R.K films Aag (1948), while Jaikishan acted in two films : Shri 420 (1955) and Begunaah (1957). The popular song 'Aei Pyaase Dil Bezubaan..' from the film Begunaah was picturised on him.

Raj Kapoor introduced Shankar-Jaikishan to the Film world with Barsaat (1949). Barsaat was also the first film for the lyricists Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. The team thus formed with Barsaat remained as a unit till the end. Together they gave a number of hits like: Barsat, 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 Jokar.

Shankar-Jaikishan mainly worked with Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. Apart from the personal preference and proximity related to friendship, this division of work was more in accordance with the composition patterns of the two composers. Shankar always loved composing serious thematic songs witha lot of emotional content that only Shailendra could do justice to, whereas Jaikishan was more into composing light hearted romatntic songs that came so naturally to Hasrat Jaipuri.

The superb chemistry between these four was not merely because they were great artists. It was more because they were all great friends and companions who who enjoyed each other's company to the fullest. So many songs came into being, based on their real life co-experiences. Like 'Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh' from Shri 420 was an on the spot creation by Shailendra who was teasing Jaikishan for looking back repeatedly at a passer by - a beautiful lady, of course! 'Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya' from the same film sparked off when these friends,going on a walk, happened to listen to a folk song sung by some building workers nearby.

Then came the black day of December 13, 1966 when lyricist Shailendra left the material world. And, later, with the sad demise of Hasrat Jaipuri the dream team disintegrated. The remaining three members could never really revive the magic of old and their combined work over the next few years was nothing to cheer about. On 12th September 1971, Jaikishan took his final bow from the stage and left the scene forever. Although Shankar still continued to compose under the Shankar-Jaikishan label for many more years, it wasn't even a patch on the vintage S-J stuff. On 26th April 1987, Shankar also bid us final adieu.

Though today, these four great artists are no more with us, their legacy - the superb songs they made together have become an integral part of every music lover's psyche.

Sr.	FILM TITLE	YEAR OF RELEASE	Sr.	FILM TITLE	YEAR OF RELEASE
1	Barsaat	1949	87	Brahmchari	1968
2	Aawara	1951	88	Duniya	1968
3	Baadal	1951	89	Jhuk Gaya Aasman	1968
4	Kaali Ghata	1951	90	Kahin Aur Chal	1968
5	Nageena	1951	91	Kanyadaan	1968
6	Daagh	1952	92	Mere Huzoor	1968
7	Parbat	1952	93	Sapnon Ka Saudagar	1968
8	Poonam	1952	94	Shikar	1969
9	Aah	1953	95	Bhai Bahen	1969
10	Aas	1953	96	Chanda Aur Bijlee	1969
11	Aurat	1953	97	Jahan Pyar Mile	1969
12	Naya Ghar	1953	98	Prince	1969
13	Patita	1953	99	Pyar Hi Pyar	1969
14	Shikast	1953	100	Sachchai	1969
15	Baadshah	1954	101	Shatranj	1969
16	Boot Polish	1954	102	Tumse Achha Kaun Hai	1969
17	Mayur Pankh	1954	103	Yakeen	1969
18	Pooja	1954	104	Bhai Bhai	1970
19	Seema	1955	105	Dhartee	1970
20	Shre 420	1955	106	Mera Naam Jokar	1970
21	Basant Bahar	1956	107	Pagla Kahin Ka	1970
22	Chori Chori	1956	108	Pehchan	1970
23	Halaku	1956	109	Tum HaseenMain Jawan	1970
24	Qismat Ka Khel	1956	110	Umang	1970
25	New Delhi	1956	111	Albela	1971
26	Patrani	1956	112	Andaaz	1971
27	Raj Hath	1956	113	Balidaan	1971
28	Begunaah	1957	114	Duniya Kya Jaane	1971
29	Kathputli	1957	115	Ek Nari Ek Brahmchari	1971
30	Baaghi Sipahi	1958	116	Ek paheli	1971
31	Yahudi	1958	117	Elaan	1971
32	Anari	1959	118	Jaane Anjaane	1971
33	Chhoti Bahen	1959	119	Jawan Mohabbat	1971
34	Kanhaiya	1959	120	Jwala	1971
35	Love Marriage	1959	121	Kal Aaj Aur Kal	1971
36	Main Nashe Mein Hoon	1959	122	Lal Patthar	1971
37	Shararat	1959	123	Main Sundar Hoon	1971
38	Ujala	1959	124	Naadan	1971
39	College Girl	1960	125	Parde Ke Peechhe	1971
40	Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai	1960	126	Patanga	1971
41	Ek Phool Chaar Kaante	1960	127	Preetam	1971
42	Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai	1960	128	Seema	1971
43	Singapore	1960	129	Aan Baan	1972
44	Aas Ka Panchhi	1963	130	Aankh Micholi	1972
45	Boy Friend	1961	131	Aankhon Aankhon Mein	1972
46	Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai	1961	132	Bandagi	1972
47	Junglee	1961	133	Beimaan	1972
48	Karorepati	1961	134	Dil Daulat Duniya	1972
49	Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja	1961	135	Jungle Mein Mangal	1972
50	Sasural	1961	136	Rivaaz	1972
51	Aashiq	1962	137	Yaar Mera	1972
52	Asli Naqli	1962	138	Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar	1973
53	Dil Tera Diwana	1962	139	Chori Chori	1973
54	Hariyali Aur Rasta	1962	140	Daaman Aur Aag	1973
55	Professor	1962	141	Door Naheen Manzil	1973
56	Rangoli	1962	142	Naina	1973
57	Dil Ek Mandir	1963	143	Pyar Ka Rishta	1973
58	Ek Dil Sau Afsane	1963	144	Archana	1974
59	Humrahi	1963	145	Chhote Sarkar	1974
60	Aayi Milan Ki Bela	1964	146	Insaniyar	1974
61	Apne Huye Paraye	1964	147	International Crook	1974
62	April Fool	1964	148	Resham Ki Dori	1974
63	Beti Bete	1964	149	Tarzan Mera Saathi	1974
64	Rajkumar	1964	150	Vachan	1974
65	Saajh Aur Savera	1964	151	Do Jhooth	1975
66	Sangam	1964	152	Love In Bombay	1975
67	Zindagi	1965	153	Neelima	1975
68	Aarzoo	1965	154	Saazish	1975
69	Gumnaam	1965	155	Sanyaasi	1975
70	Jaanwar	1966	156	Dhoop Chhaon	1977
71	Aamrapali	1966	157	Duniyadari	1977
72	Budtameez	1966	158	Mera vachan Geeta Ki Kasam	1977
73	Gaban	1966	159	Aatmaraam	1979
74	Love in Tokyo	1966	160	The Gold Medal	1979
75	Pyar Mohabbat	1966	161	Bombay Talkies	197?
76	Suraj	1966	162	Nageena	197?
77	Teesri Kasam	1965	163	Garam Khoon	1980
78	Aman	1967	164	Mehfil	1981
79	An Evening in Paris	1967	165	Naari	1981
80	Around The World	1967	166	Chorni	1982
81	Chhoti Si Mulaqaat	1967	167	Eent Ka Jawab Patthar	1982
82	Diwana	1967	168	Aakhiri Sangram	1984
83	Gunahon Ka Devta	1967	169	Paapi Pet Ka Sawal Hai	1984
84	hare Kaanch Ki Chooriyan	1967	170	Inteqam Ki Aag	1986
85	Laat Sahab	1967	171	Krishna Krishna	1986
86	Raat Aur Din	1967	172	-	-

SHANKAR - JAIKISHAN

Filmography