For a song to be a hit and remembered through generations, it takes actual masterminds. Artists who work behind the screens deserve more appreciation as they’re the real lifelines for something to be worthy of so much of love and appreciation. Huge part of Raj Kapoor’s fame and success’ credit goes to the creative team that surrounded him and worked on majority of his projects – his dream team. Let’s remember an important part of the said team – Hasrat Jaipuri, on what could have been his 99th Birth Anniversary.
Born in the Pink City as Iqbal Hussain on April 15 1922, Jaipuri grew up with his grandfather. Growing up in Jaipur, he got his grounding in Urdu and Hindi from his grandfather who was a poet, too. Love is a crazy thing; it was the love of a girl named Radha that drove young Iqbal into poetry. The song from Raj Kapoor’s movie Sangam – ‘Yeh Mera Prem Patra’, is a letter he wrote to her and was later turned into a song.
Such was his intelligence and craft. To turn a love letter into an actual song by carefully weaving words and emotions together in right amount and give it appropriate emotional weight – Hasrat Jaipuria was a gifted mastermind.
Barely in his 20s, he flew to Mumbai, like many other youngsters to make a name of his own. Conductor during the day and a performer at Mushairas at the night – that’s how he spent his first 8 years in Mumbai. It was that one night at a Mushaira that changed his life. Impressed by his ‘Mazdoor ki laash’, Prithviraj Kapoor introduced him to Raj Kapoor which opened the doors of a lifelong friendship and a professional relation for him.
‘Jiya Beqaraar Hai’ was the beginning of Jaipuri’s legendary journey to penning down some of Bollywood’s most loved songs of all time. Along with Shailendra, Jaipuri went on to giving out some legendary songs that are loved even today.
We are in times where there are people who listen to BTS and also people who listen to Badshah and then you see even these listeners hum to the tune of Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana – this speaks of the impact; the song is loved and appreciated even after decades.
Although it is true not many remember the pen behind the lyrics. Majority of light is thrown at the visuals we all remember or the voices given to the songs. A bunch might also know the composer who birthed the tune. But give credit where it’s due – know about the lyricist who wrote these gems of songs. From simple heart touching lyrics to beautiful expressions of heartbreaks and transient happiness – Jaipuri’s lyrics have it all.
He passed away on September 17 1999, leaving us with songs like Ichak Dana Bichak Dana, Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana, Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat, Ehsan Tera Hoga Mujh Par, Sayonara Sayonara, Badan Pe Sitare Lapete Hue etc.; they are now some of the gems that will live with us as long as the love and appreciation for Hindi music does.
