Yaad na jaaye, beete dino ki

Yaad na jaaye, beete dino ki
Jaake na aaye jo din, dil kyun bulaaye unhe, dil kyun bulaaye
Yaad na jaaye, beete dino ki
Jaake na aaye jo din, dil kyun bulaaye unhe, dil kyun bulaaye

Din jo pakheru hote, pinjre mein main rakh leta
Din jo pakheru hote, pinjre mein main rakh leta
Paalta unko jatan se
Paalta unko jatan se, moti ke daane deta
Seene se rahta lagaaye
Yaad na jaaye, beete dino ki
Jaake na aaye jo din, dil kyun bulaaye unhe, dil kyun bulaaye

Tasveer unki chhupaake, rakh doon jahan ji chaahe
Tasveer unki chhupaake, rakh doon jahan ji chaahe
Man mein basi yeh murat
Man mein basi yeh murat, lekin mite na mitaaye
Kehne ko hain woh paraaye

Yaad na jaaye, beete dino ki
Jaake na aaye jo din, dil kyun bulaaye unhe, dil kyun bulaaye
Yaad na jaaye, beete dino ki

Movie: Dil Ek Mandir (1963)
Director: C V Sridhar
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Lyricist: Shailendra
Music Composer: Shankar-Jaikishan

Born in Rawalpindi (Pakistan) and brought up in Mathura, Shailendra started his career as an apprentice with Indian Railways in its Matunga workshop, Bombay in 1947. He was involved with the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI), and began writing socialist-themed poems and songs.

At a mushaira, Raj Kapoor heard Shailendra reciting his poem Jalta hai Punjab based on Partition and offered to buy it. Because of his leftist inclinations and his aversion to mainstream cinema, Shailendra refused. However, he later reconsidered and created many hit songs in collaboration with Kapoor and composers Shankar-Jaikishan. He later wrote many hit songs for other composers.

In 1961, Shailendra produced the Basu Bhattacharya movie Teesri Kasam, starring Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman. Although the film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film, it was not a commercial success. The heavy financial loss, along with alcoholism, led to his death at age 43. 

As I was checking songs to post in connection with his birthday (August 30), I was spoilt for choice, despite our featuring many of his songs in this blog. No wonder Gulzar has stated that Shailendra was the best lyricist produced by the Hindi film industry. Those who appreciate poetic, meaningful songs will always remember his words. Man me basey woh shabd, kabhi mite na mitaaye! ~ S