Shankar Jaikishan (SJ) were the one of the most successful composers of Hindi Cinema. Their pairing ensured a long list of evergreen compositions. These continue to be cherished by music fans. Their repertoire covered many themes as per the requirement of the song including romantic, sad, longing, naughty, dance numbers, classical and even qawwali. And incredibly they were able to deliver one hit after the other. They created magic teaming up with lyricists Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri and utilizing the top singers of that era. A formidable team indeed!
26 April is the remembrance day of Shankar (Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi). This post covers some of the party numbers composed by this talented duo. The songs depict varied emotions like happy, sad, disappointment and fun. All are highly enjoyable and prove the versatility of the composers.
1) Song: Ek Bewafa Se Pyaar Kiya
Film: Awara (1951)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Lata Mangeshkar
SJ had a long collaboration with Raj Kapoor starting from Barsaat. This song is from Awara. Its Nargis’s 21st birtday celebration. She is happy but a dramatic scene involving Prithviraj Kapoor, herself and Raj Kapoor unknowingly reveals the truth about Raj’s character. She is still coming to terms with the revelation, when the performer (Honey O’Brien?) starts singing and dancing. Why someone would such a song at a birthday party is another matter, but it brings out Nargis’s state of mind effectively. SJ deliver a catchy tune which is enhanced by the lyrics, singing and the heroine’s expressions.
Ek bewafa se pyaar kiya, usse nazar ko chaar kiya,
Hai re humne yeh kya kiya hai kya kiya…
Bholi surat waala nikla lootera,
Raat chhupaaye dil mein munh pe savera,
Oye humne dil nisaar kiya, usko beqaraar kiya,
Hai re humne yeh kya, hai kya kiya
2) Song: Sunte The Naam
Film: Aah (1953)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Lata Mangeshkar
Aah came after Awara and was not that successful but its music was at par. SJ gave Lata Mangeshkar some of the best songs of her career. These were across multiple genres showcasing the adaptability of her incomparable voice.
In the movie scene, Nargis’s elder sister (played by Vijayalaxmi) is requested to sing at a party. She makes excuses but her mood changes when she sees a dashing young man (Raj Kapoor). On knowing his identity, she bursts into song.
Sunte the naam hum jin ka bahaar se,
Dekha to dola jiyaa jhoom-jhoom ke..
Chhupate rahe jo meri nazar se, dil bole mera tum hee to ho,
Ho, dil bole mera tum hee to ho,
Aankhon se rang mere dil ki umang pe, daalaa to dola jiyaa jhoom-jhoom ke…
3) Song: Sab Kuch Seekha Humne
Film: Anari (1959)
Credits: Shailendra | Shankar Jaikishan | Mukesh
Moving to a sombre number. Anari was the story of a rich girl (Nutan) and a poor and simple man (Raj Kapoor, who else?). He thinks she is a poor girl and falls in love with her. The truth gets revealed at her birthday party. Her uncle requests him to sing a song. He sings about himself. How he got fooled, he is really an “anari.” Mukesh was Raj Kapoor’s voice and SJ contributed some great songs throughout for this partnership. It also shows their ability to blend a song suited to the character’s personality and the singer’s expertise. Simple but impactful.
Sab kuch seekha hum ne, na seekhi hoshiyaari,
Sach hai duniya walon, ke hum hain anadi..
Duniya ne kitna samjhaya, kaun hai apna kaun paraya,
Phir bhi dil ki chot chhupa kar, hum ne aap ka dil behlaya,
Khud hi mar mitne ki yeh zid hai hamari,
Sach hai duniya walon, ke hum hain anadi..
4) Song: Tumhe Aur Kya Doon Main
Film: Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Lata Mangeshkar
A double birthday celebration! Its Rajendra Kumar and Dharmendra’s birthday on the same day. The party is arranged and the guests arrive. The heroine Saira Banu presents the song wishing them a long life. Set by SJ in their favorite raag Bhairavi, the singing is so effective and Saira Banu looks enchanting on screen.
Tumhe aur kya doon main dil ke siway, tumko hamari umar lag jaaye..
5) Song: Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega
Film: Sangam (1964)
Credits: Shailendra |Shankar Jaikishan | Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar and Mahendra Kapoor
Sangam was a love triangle directed by Raj Kapoor. Rajendra Kumar has returned to India after becoming a lawyer and the grand party is for celebrating his success. Vyjanthimala is looking forward to meet him and confess her love. But Raj Kapoor is also in the picture (he loves Vyjanthimala). Handy with his accordion, he becomes the party entertainer and sings this song. He is joined by the other leads who voice their intentions. A brilliant composition, well sung and enacted. And the ace director’s touch is evident in the song’s presentation.
Har dil jo pyaar karega woh gaana gaayega,
Deewaana saikadon men pehchaana jaayega, deewana..
Aap hamaare dil ko chura ke aankh churaaye jaate hain,
Ye ik-tarafaa rasam-e-wafaa ham, phir bhi nibhaaye jaate hain,
Chaahat ka dastoor hai lekin, aap ko hi maaloom nahin,
O o o, jis mehfil men shama ho, parwaana jaayega,
Deewaana sainkadon men pahachaana jaayega, deewana..
6) Song: Aji Rooth Kar Ab
Film: Arzoo (1965)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Lata Mangeshkar
This is another typical party scene. Sadhana is requested to sing but she is horrified at the suggestion. Her uncle gets upset with her and so does the hero (Rajendra Kumar). She responds to him through the song and pacifies him. Of course, there is an undercurrent of romance in the lyrics. The song is known for its impossibly high notes and was challenging to sing.
Aji rooth kar ab kahan jaiyega,
Jahan jaiyega hamein paiyega…
Khayalon mein bhi tum na aao to jaane,
Aji lakh pardon mein chhup jaiyega,
Nazar aaiyega, nazar aaiyega…
7) Song: Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye Humdum
Film: Love in Tokyo (1966)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Lata Mangeshkar
This is like a pre-climax song of the movie. Everything has been sorted, the only thing that remains is the union of the hero (Joy Mukherjee) and heroine (Asha Parekh). She sings to him acknowledging his presence in her life. He accompanies her on the piano. Everything is happy and romantic but the mood changes with Pran’s arrival. This change is reflected in the musical composition effectively as it brings out the varied expressions of joy, shock and anger of the character(s).
Mujhe tum mil gaye humdum,
Sahara ho toh aisa ho,
Jidhar dekhu udhar tum ho,
Nazaara ho toh aisa ho….
8) Song: Chhoti Si Mulaqat
Film: Chhoti Si Mulaqat (1967)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle
Birthdays seem to be a common theme for many songs in this list. This time it is Vyjanthimala’s celebration. She is eagerly waiting for the hero’s (Uttam Kumar’s) arrival. He arrives, then there is a so called funny scene and both start singing the catchy composition with some weird lyrics. A true party song which brings out the energy and romantic involvement of the lead pair.
Chhoti si mulaqat pyar ban gayi,
Pyaar banke gale ka haar ban gayi,
Ya ya yippi yippi ya ya ya,
Ya ya yippi yippi ya ya ya,
9) Song: Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche
Film: Brahmachari (1968)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri | Shankar Jaikishan | Mohammed Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur
This is one of those situational songs. Conveniently, Shammi Kapoor arrives at Pran’s party. He is a singer and is requested to sing and dance with Mumtaz. And him being Shammi Kapoor, he sings a flirty number. Another evergreen song from SJ.
Aajkal tere mere pyar ke charche har zubaan par,
Achha – sab ko maloom hai aur sabko khabar ho gayi,
Toh kya…
10) Song: Meri Zindagi Mein Aate To Kuch Aur Baat Hoti
Film: Kanyadaan (1968)
Credits: Hasrat Jaipuri| Shankar Jaikishan| Mohammed Rafi
And to the end a list, a sad song. Shashi Kapoor (a poet) arrives at the marriage anniversary party of his friend. He is requested or rather forced to sing his composition. He does so reluctantly, addressed to the heroine (Asha Parekh). A typical SJ composition, rendered by Mohammed Rafi in his effortless manner. SJ had started to become a bit repetitive at this stage of their career and faced stiff competition from new composers like Laxmikant Pyarelal.
Unki zulfein unke chehre se hata sakta nahin,
Dil ki betaabi kisi soorat chhupa sakta nahin,
Kitni dilkash hain mohabbat ki jawan majbooriyan,
Saamne manzil hai aur paanv badha sakta nahin,
Meri zindagi mein aate to kuch aur baat hoti,
Toh kuch aur baat hoti, Toh kuch aur baat hoti,
Yeh naseeb jagmagaate to kuch aur baat hoti…
Cine Gaurav 
Beautifully reviewed as usual. 😊
Shankar Jaikishan are an absolute favourite with me. I love their orchestration which primarily consists of high pitched 🎻 violins.
Yet I feel they couldn’t function as per their own will under the RK banner. Since Raj Kapoor introduced them in Barsat they were more or less under his debt. Also Mukesh came into picture due to RK and he had limitations so they had limitations too to suit him
Once they were out of RK shadow, however, they pitched their notes high to suit Rafi era. And performed extremely well as free birds.
There are 3 more party songs if I may add to your list. Of them, two are from Raat Aur Din. The first one is Dil ki girah khol do, chup na baitho and the other is Awara ee mere dil ( fast version, not picturized on Nargis ). The third song is Mud Mud key na dekh from shree charso bees.
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