Anand bakshi

Anand Bakshi was born in Rawalpindi in undivided India now Pakistan. He was an avid movie buff right from childhood and he had always dreamt of coming to Bombay and become a big shot. However he lacked the courage to tell his wish to others fearing that he might be ridiculed. At that point of time though his dream was limited to becoming a successful playback singer.

The Struggle

So passionate was Bakshi about joining the film industry that he ran away from home and joined the navy with the hope of reaching the city of his dreams. However fate had something else in store for him. The naval mutiny in Karachi ended his career in the navy. After the partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan Bakshi returned to his family in Lucknow. Although he couldn?t continue with his education his dreams were very much alive. A short stint as a telephone operator followed but he soon realized that he was meant for something else and he moved to Bombay.

Although he had arrived in the city with a bagful of dreams no body really acknowledged his presence. Dejected and disillusioned Bakshi went back to Delhi and worked as a motor mechanic. But he was unable to rid himself of his desire to be a part of the glamour world and so he returned to the city of dreams. A few senior lyricists even ridiculed him but Bakshi persisted and his persistence paid off when a chance meeting with actor Bhagwan materialized into an offer to write the lyrics for Bhagwan?s film Bada Admi. A few years later Jab Jab Phool Khile released and the song ?Pardesiyon Se Na Ankhiya Milana? proved to be a big hit and that song made everyone notice Bakshi.

However life wasn?t exactly milk and honey for Bakshi as the struggle for survival continued even after Jab Jab Phool Khile. That was the result of groupism that existed during the late sixties and early fifties. Every music director had his or her own favorite lyricist. Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri were Shankar Jaikishan?s favorites and Shakeel Badayauni was patronized by Naushad. Even the great SD Burman refused to consider him seriously as a lyricist because he thought Bakshi was another one of those aspiring playback singers. Life was extremely difficult for the lyricist whose career had only just begun. To get into the elite group of poets was indeed a difficult exercise. His hard work and persistence finally paid off when the songs of Hariyali Aur Raasta proved to be chartbusters. The film had many timeless numbers and one of them was 'Bol Meri Taqdeer Mein Kya Hai'.

The Career Begins

It was Milan (1967) however that finally took Bakshi to the top. Songs like Sawan ka Mahina, Bol Gori Bol, Ram Kare Aisa Ho Jaye, Main to Diwaanaa and of course Hum Tum Yug Yug Geet Milan ke were hummed in every corner of the country. Anand Bakshi had arrived. And from then onwards he never looked back.

Followed a golden period for Bakshi whose association with Lakshmikant-Pyarelal and R.D. Burman led to such musical milestones like Farz (1967), Do Raaste (1969), Bobby (1973), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Ek Duje ke Liye(1981) with the former and Kati Patang (1970), Amar Prem (1971) and Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), just to name a few, with the latter. Of these his work in Amar Prem particularly stands out and was among his favourites. Shakti Samanta heard Bakshi recite Chingari Koi Bhadke at a 'kavi samelan' and incorporated it especially into the film. Other masterpieces in this film include Bada Natkhat Hai, Kuch to Log Kahenge, Yeh Kya Hua and Raina Beeti Jaaye.

Mention must also be made of his association with filmmakers like Raj Kapoor, Shubash Ghai and Yash Chopra.

Raj Kapoor

Bobby
Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978)
Shubash Ghai

Karz (1980)
Hero (1983)
Karma (1986)
Ram Lakhan (1989)
Saudagar (1991)
Khalnayak (1993)
Taal (1999)
Yaadein (2001)
Yash Chopra

Chandni (1989)
Lamhe (1991)
Darr (1993)
Dil to Paagal Hai (1997).