CHINAR SHADE : SHAKEEL BADAYUNI;" DAGAABAAJ TORI BATIYAAN NA MANOON RE "

(With Naushad)
)

( With Sahir)

( With Asha Bhonsle)

( The Giants..Naushad, Rafi and Shakeel)
“ DAGAABAAJ TORI BATIYAAN NA MAANOON RE ”

SHAKEEL BADAYUNI ( 1916-1970 )
When Naushad heard him in a Mushaira , he took him to A R Kardar and said :
“ Leejiye Janab ek shaayar laaya Huun . Ba khoob chalega . Pada likha hai , hoshiar hai .”
Kardar engaged him on a monthly salary of Rs300/=. The first song “ Afsaana likh rahi huun dil e beqaraar ka” that he wrote was sung by Uma Devi ( Tun Tun ) . It was an instant hit.A grand partnership between him and Naushad started from that point of time and continued till Shakeel’s death . This duo composed some memorable and lyrical songs that are still haunting and loved across the length and breadth of the country. Naushad once told him ..

“ Bhai Sahib, film medium ko samjho. Film ka gaana karodon ko pasand aana chaahiye. Yeh Mushaiara nahin hai ke chaar pannch shaayar aap ki “ Wah ! Wah ! karein to kaam ho gayaa. Yahaan Seth ko aap ke gaane ki badolat apna paisa bhi vasool karna hai .Aap ko sunaney vaale ka dil bhi jeetana hai "
or
'Dear brother , Understand this film medium. A film song should be loved by crores of people .You are not in a Mushiara where even four or five poets appreciate you and you are satisfied .Here your song must earn money back for the Seth ( Producer ). And then you have to win the hearts of your listeners as well. ”

And shakeel rose fully to the expectations of Naushad.

The Naushad-Shakeel combination has been one of the finest collaboration in Bollywod.. Together they worked in 27 films.These films gave some of the finest songs and memorable melodies.These melodies were also the reason behind the commercial success of these films.

Amongst urdu lyricists of his time , Shakeel was the only poet who could read and write Hindi . Some memorable songs that he wrote include ..

(1) Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Di , Zara Dekh Liya kar Parwaane
(2) O Duniya Ke Rakhwaale
(3) Suhaani Raat Dhal Chuki Hai
(4) Tu Ganga Ki Mauj Mein
(5) Piya Aiso Jiya Mein samaayi gayo re
(6) Bhanwara Badaa Nadaan re
(7) Ek shahanshaah ne Banwaa ke Haseen taaj Mahal
(8) Pyaar Kiyaa To Darnaa kyaa
(9) Dagaabaj tori Batiyaan Na Maanoon re
(10) Gaadi Waale Gaadi Dheere Haank Re
(11) Nain lad Jaihein
(12) Apni Aazadi Ko Hum hargiz Mitaa saktey nahin
(13) Meray Pairon mein Ghungroo Bandha de
(14) Rahaa Gardishon mein har dum
(15) Chal diya Kaarwan
(16) Chaudhavin ka chaand ho ya Aftaab ho
(17) Aaj Meray mun mein sakhi Baansuri Bajaaye koyee
(18) Doondo Doondo re saajana more kaan ka Baala
(19) Guzrein Hain aaj Ishq mein hum uss maqaam se
(20) Madhuban mein Radhika Naache re
(21) Do hanson ka jorra bichharr gayo re.
(22) Man Tadpat Hario Darshan Ko aaj
(23) Nagri Nagri Dwaare Dwaare Doondoon re Saanwariya
(24) Nasib Mein Jis ke Jo Likha thha
(25) Zaraa nazron se keh Do Ji Nishaana Toot na jaaye

Shakeel Ahmed Qadri , who later came to be known as Shakeel Badayuni ,was born in a conservative Muslim family ; But his father Maulana Jameel Ahmed Sokhta Qadri gave modern education to his promising child . He was made to study Urdu , Arabic and Hindi .
After Graduating from Aligarh in 1942 , Shakeel joined as an officer in Supplies Department at Delhi . Resigning in 1946, he moved to Mumbai to work as Lyricist in Hindi cinema . His poetic journey can be traced from Badayun to Aligarh and then to Delhi and Finally to Mumbai. He wrote songs for more than 90 films, mostly working with Naushad .Almost all the songs that he wrote , touched heights of popularity .He also kept writing poetry and was seen frequently in Mushairas of Mumbai where he would recite his Gazals in Tarranum ( Singing them in his own tune ).
Apart from Naushad ,Shakeel also worked with some other music directors that include S D Burman , Ravi , C Ramchandra, Hemant Kumar and Ghulam Mohd. Mother India , Ganga Jamuna, Deedar , Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam , Chaudavin Ka chaand , Gharana , Mere Mehboob, Baiju Baawara ,Leader , Mughal e Azam , Phoor Aur Pather and Bees saal Baad are some successful films for which he wrote lyrics.

Shakeel’s Non film Gazals like “ Duur Hai Manzil Raahein Mushkil aalum Hai Tanhaayi Ka “ , “ Aey Mohabbat Teray Anjaam Pe Rona Aaya “ or "Meray Hum Nafas Mera Hum Navaa Mujhe Dost Bun Ke Dagaa Na De “ were equally popular. Begum Akhtar sang many of his Gazals in her soulful voice .

Shakeel proved himself a great master when he wrote Bhajans . Bhajans in praise of Sri Rama and Sri krishna were his speciality. Bhajans with intense devotion like ' Mun tadpat Hari Darshan ko aaj ' were also composed by him. His Sri Ram Bhajan 'Jai Raghunandan Jai Siya Ram ' that he wrote for Gharana (1961) movie became an all time hit.

About his Gazals , Ali sardar Jafri has written:

“Shakeel knew the art of writing a Gazal and singing it as well. I have not been so close to the literary life of Shakeel But I have always found myself very close to his Gazal. So broad and wide is the appeal of his style and content that every listener is made to believe as if Shakeel is conveying his story . ”

Some chronic ailments visited him when he was barely in his early fifties. An attack of TB kept him away from his friends and work. The chronic Piles that he carried with himself for many years turned out to be cancer of Rectum. He was a diabetic as well. He breathed his last in 1970. A faithful Naushad stood by him till his last breath . To support him when he needed money , Naushad made him to write some songs from Hospital bed .
In 2013 , Government of India released a commemorative stamp in his honour .
I end this post with some lines from Sakeel ‘s Gazal,

Meri Zindagi Pe Na Muskara Mujhe Zindagi Ka Allam Nahin
Jisse Teray Gham se ho waasta Woh Khizaan Bahaar se kam Nahin
Wahi kaarwan Wahi Raaste Wahi Zindagi wahi Marhale
Magar Apne Apne Muqaam Par kabhi Tum Nahin Kabhi Hum Nahin

( Avtar Mota)