Ye zindagii ke mele, duniyaa mein kam na honge…
Afasos ham na honge!
Born on Aug 3, 1916, in Uttar Pradesh’s small district of Badayun, Shakeel Ahmed Shakeel hailed from a family of poets. His forefathers were great poets particularly his great grandfather Khatija Mohd. Wasil was a name to reckon in poetry hence Shakeel had poetry in his blood.
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| SHAKEEL BADAYUNI and MUGHUL-E-AZAM | ||
Termed as ‘Geet Kar-e-Azam’ by the government of India eminent Bollywood lyrics Shakeel Badayuni was one of the ‘First’ poets who introduced aadbi shayri (cultured poetry) into Bollywood lyrics. Remember his poignant Ghazal,
Na milataa Gam to barabaadii ke afasaane kahaan jaate,
Agar duniyaa chaman hotii, to viiraane kahaan jaate….
This Ghazal from Mehboob Khan’s movie AMAR established him as an Emperor of Ghazal. His association with music director Naushad began after Naushad spotted him at a mushairas (Poet convention) and persuaded him to join films. Persuaded because in those film music was looked down upon and no poet of repute wished to be associated with Bollywood music but Shakeel took a daring step and brought a revolution in Hindi film songs.
His first film with Naushad was DARD (1947) and the song was the hit song ‘Afsana Likh Rahoon…‘ sung by Uma Devi, who later became famous as comedienne Tun Tun. With the other hit song ‘Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki’ … from Naushad’s next movie DULARI, the duo got together so well that Shakeel became a regular lyricist of Naushad’s movies and the duo gave several hits like ANDAAZ, MOTHER INDIA, MUGHAL-E-AZAM, GANGA JAMUNA, RAAM AUR SHAM, MERE MEHBOOB, BAIJU BAWRAA etc.
Besides Naushad he shared a good relation with music director Ravi. Remember hit movies like GHARANA, GHUNGHAT AND GRIHASTI, PHOOL AUR PATTHAR, CHAUDHVIN KA CHAND, DO BADAN etc.?
He won three ‘Filmfare Best Lyricist Award’. Interestingly he hit a hat trick by fetching three awards in a row for Chaudvin ka chand ho… CHAUDHVIN KA CHAND (1961), Husnwale tera jawab nahin… GHARANA (1962) and Kahin deep jale kahin dil… BEES SAAL BAAD (1963).
He died of T.B. (tuberculosis) in April 20, 1970 at the age of 53.
