Kavi Neeraj...

Today is the birthday of Kavi Neeraj, the legendary Hindi film lyricist. Respected and regarded that he is from my perspective, I append few aspects of him, all thanking Google.

Neeraj, the pen name is famous in film Circles; his original name was Gopaldas Saxena

He was a Professor of Hindi Literature in Dharma Samaj College, Aligarh until Dev Anand heard Kaarvaan guzarta...at a mushaira and told him that they will work together— a promise that Anand kept. He invited Neeraj to Mumbai in the early 60s and introduced him to SD Burman, who was working on the movie Prem Pujari at that time. The rest as they say is history.

He abruptly stopped writing poems for films at the peak of his popularity. Instead, he chose to write and publish them in books.

The reason why he quit writing songs is strange: he considers himself unlucky. The reason for this mentioned by him was that at least two or three prominent music directors of Hindi film industry expired. He draws examples of Jaikishan of the music duo Shankar-Jaikishan as well as of S D Burman. The deaths of these music directors when they as well as Neeraj were at the peak of their popularity, left him very depressed and he made a decision to quit the film industry.

Some of his masterpieces are:

Aye Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo – Mera Naam Joker

Dhiire se jaanaa khatiyan me – Chuppa Rustam

Dil aaj shayar hai, gum aaj nagma hai, shab yeh ghazal hai sanam - Gambler

Karwan Guzar Gaya Gubar Dekhte Rahe – Nayi umar ki nayii fasal

Khilte Hain Gul Yahan, Khilke Bikharne Ko – Sharmilee

Maine kasam Li – Tere Mere Sapne

Meghaa chhaye aadhee raat bairan ban gayee nindeeyaa – Sharmilee

Mera maan tera pyaasa – Gambler

Phoolon ke rang se – Prem Pujari

Rangeela re – Prem Pujari

Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye, Phoolon Ka Shabaab – Prem Pujari