Anand Bakshi

Anand Bakshi
Born	Bakshi Anand Prakash Vaid (1930-07-21)21 July 1930 Rawalpindi,Punjab,British India
Died	30 March 2002(2002-03-30)(aged 71) Mumbai,Maharashtra,India
Occupation	Lyricistof film songs
Years active	1945 – 2002
Relatives	Aditya Datt(grandson)
Awards	Filmfare Award for Best Lyricistin 1978, 1981, 1995 and 1999

Anand Bakshi(21 July 1930 – 30 March 2002) was an Indianpoetandlyricist.He wonFilmfare Award for Best Lyricist4 times during his career. He wrote over 6000 film songs in more than 300 films.

Early life

Anand Bakshi (Bakshi Anand Prakash Vaid) was born inRawalpindiin thePunjab ProvinceofBritish India(now inPunjab, Pakistan), on 21 July 1930 into aMohyal Brahminfamily of theVaidclan.The family arrived in Delhi, after thePartition of Indiaand then migrated toPune,then toMeerutand settled finally in Delhi.

Bakshi was fond of writing poetry since his youth, but he did this mostly as a private hobby. In a 1983 interview withDoordarshan,Bakshi recounted that after his initial studies, he joined theIndian Navy,where due to a paucity of time, he could only write occasionally. He continued to write poetry whenever time permitted, and used his songs and lyrics in local programmes related to his troops. He worked in the Navy for many years and simultaneously tried to market his songs in the Mumbai film world.

Career

Bakshi came toHindi filmsto make a name for himself in writing and singing, but ended up becoming more successful in writinglyrics.He got his first break writing songs in a Brij Mohan film titledBhalaa Aadmi(1958), acted byBhagwan Dada.He was paid a sum of 150 rupees for four songs.He wrote four songs in this film for music directorNisar Bazmi.His first song in this film was "Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal" which was recorded on 9 November 1956 (in his own voice onAll India Radiointerview).

After writing for a few movies from 1958 onwards, he first found success in 1962 withMehendi Lagi Mere Haath(1962 film), music byKalyanji-Anandji,withRaj Kapooras producer.Bakshi later made another mark for himself writing a qawwali for the 1962 filmKala Samundar,the song was "Meri Tasveer Lekar Kya Karoge Tum" composed byN. Datta.He got his real big breakthrough in 1965 film withHimalay Ki God Mein,and again in 1965 with the super-hit filmJab Jab Phool Khile,starringShashi Kapoorand both composed by Kalyanji–Anandji; and yet again in 1967 with the super-hit movieMilan(starringSunil Dutt). These six hit films within a decade of his entry into films cemented his status as a lyrics writer.

Bakshi was preferred lyricist byRajesh Khannafor films with Rajesh Khanna in the lead. He went on to work as a lyricist of over 6000 songs in more than 300 films in his career.(See Filmography below for films reference, names of the films and their year of release).

He got another break as a singer in a film directed by Mohan Kumar –Mom Ki Gudiya(1972). The first song he sang was a duet – "Baaghon mein bahaar aayi honton pe pukaar aayi", along withLata Mangeshkar,with music composed byLaxmikant–Pyarelal.He also sang the solo "Main dhoondh raha tha sapnon mein" from the same film.

He also sang songs in four other films:Sholay(1975), where he sang the qawwali "Chand Sa Koi Chehera" along withKishore Kumar,Manna DeyandBhupinder,(the song was released on vinyl, but not in the feature film);Maha Chor(1976);Charas(1976) Song: Aaja Teri Yaad Aayi; andBalika Badhu(1976).

Bakshi was widely associated with music composers such asLaxmikant–Pyarelal,R D Burman,Kalyanji Anandji,SD Burman,Anu Malik,Rajesh RoshanandAnand–Milind,and his songs have been sung by all the top singers as well as other singers such asShamshad Begum,Ila Arun,Khursheed Bawra,Amirbai Karnataki,Sudha Malhotraand others. He is known to have worked with more than one generation of music composers.

He wrote the first recorded songs of many first time male and female leads who went on to become stars, and also of singers such asShailendra Singh,Kumar Sanu,Kavita Krishnamurthyand he established himself as a versatile lyricist with the song "Dum Maro Dum"in the movieHare Rama Hare Krishna(1971).

After this, he wrote memorable lyrics in many movies includingBobby,Amar Prem(1971),Aradhana(1969),Jeene Ki Raah,Mera Gaon Mera Desh,Aaye Din Bahar Ke,Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke,Seeta Aur Geeta,Sholay(1975),Dharam Veer,Nagina,Lamhe,Hum(1991),Mohra(1994),Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge(1995),Pardes(1997),Heer Raanjha,Dushman(1998),Taal(1998),Mohabbatein(2000),Gadar: Ek Prem Katha(2001), andYaadein(2001).

Personal life

Bakshi was married to Kamla Mohan Bakshi. The couple had two daughters, Suman Datt and Kavita Bali, and two sons Rajesh Bakshi and Rakesh Bakshi.

Death

Late in his life, he suffered from heart and lung diseases. In March 2002, he caught a bacterial infection atNanavati hospitalduring a minor heart surgery. He died there due tomultiple organ failureon 30 March 2002, at the age of 71.

Filmography

Main article:Anand Bakshi filmography

Awards

• Filmfare Award for Best Lyricistin 1978, 1981, 1995 and 1999.

External links

• Anand BakshiatIMDb