Zindagi ka safar…with Indeevar

Remembering the renowned lyricist through his songs in the Capital

REMEMBERING AN ICON Noted Hindi lyricist Santosh Anand (seated) with S. M. Khan and Raj Chopra.

In the age of remixes, it is now left to music aficionados to keep alive the legacy of eminent singers and lyricists of the post-Partition days. One such befitting tribute was paid recently to noted lyricist Indeevar, who worked diligently yet unobtrusively to pen emotional songs like “Zindagi Ka Safar Hai Yeh Kaisa Safar” and “Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera Tora”.

The musical show was organised in a subdued and dignified way in South Delhi by Savitri Vikas Samiti, an NGO.

In fact, it was the second edition of “Great Geetkar Indeevar Award” and an experienced team of percussionists paid a nostalgic tribute to this “Bundelkhand Ki Shaan”.

The team began with a peppy song “Yeh Mera Dil Pyar Ka Diwana” which is still hummed by many. As the band played the foot-tapping song one could imagine bewitchingly beautiful Helen serenading nonchalant Amitabh Bachchan in

Don .

On the occasion, lyricist Santosh Anand was honoured with the award comprising a trophy and certificate.

“Indeevar was my

sathi . In our first film

Purab Aur Paschim I wrote the song “Purva Suhani Aiye Re”. He was a dear friend who would drop by my home and I too would visit him at his house. We would have long conversations which still are etched in my mind,” he said in an emotionally choked voice.

The occasion was a sombre one with the evening emcees repeatedly emphasising the need to sing songs in their original words rather than making a mockery of classic songs – written brilliantly by lyricists of the 1950s and 1960s.

“During that glorious era of the Hindi film era, disciples demonstrated more reverence to their gurus than their parents. Youngsters of those days always complied with etiquette and respect towards elders,” said Anita Sehgal, an emcee from Lucknow.

While Anita was busy lecturing the patient audience about the nuances of tameez and tehzeeb, still religiously followed by the inhabitants of the Awadh region, Vijay Srivastava, the organiser, rehearsed backstage.

Later, Vijay, passionate about singing and composing, said in his native place of Jhansi the locals still remember Indeevar, born in a poor family, with a lot of fondness and respect.

“Indeevar was born on August 15 in 1924 and grew up to become a freedom fighter. He wrote under the pseudo name of Azad for which he was imprisoned by the British. Shyam Lal Babu Rai was his original name and when he came to Bombay, he wrote his first song by his original name for Double Face . But he was advised to change his name to Indeevar. He became a household name with the release of film Malhar in 1949.”

During his over two decade long career, Indeevar wrote over 1,000 songs. Apart from penning emotionally uplifting songs, Indeevar also wrote peppy numbers including Nazia Hassan’s sung “Aap Jaisa Koi” and Feroz Khan’s Qurbani song “Laila O Laila”.