Indeevar Tribute
par...@xtra.co.nz
Inimitable, individual Indeevar
Kalyanji (Kalyanji-Anandji) no longer makes music for films. He would
rather teach other aspiring singers and small children. And he’s
successful and happy with the response. He spoke very softly about his
friend and colleague Indeevar (left) and how he missed him, his poetry
and a relationship that lasted more than forty years. The bond remained
more professional than personal, so Kalyanji could speak at length on
the films he had done with the poet but was at a loss regarding details
of Indeevar’s personal life.
Sandeep Roy, (right) Indeevar’s son, was reluctant to speak about his
father, Because he
was not close to him, we thought. But Sandeep was quick to correct the
view later as he spoke of his father with affection as only a son can.
His parents separated when he was a boy, and he was well clear of the
film industry. Still, all the platinum discs and trophies Indeevar
earned adorn the walls of his house. Which says something of their
relationship. An interior designer, Sandeep does not regret he wasn’t in
his father’s profession. But he is sorry
that he was not given a chance to live with his father again as a
family, and also that the film industry didn’t come to pay their last
respects.
Sandeep Roy
My father was a very simple man. He’s struggled a lot in his life. Made
something out of it and went to adopt the pen name of Indeevar which
means ‘The Lotus’. He had this particular trait in him about writing or
spelling his name in five or six different ways. Very Shakespearean
because Shakespeare too had this trait. His real name was Shyamlal
Harlal Roy. And the reason for the change in the name, I guess, was
because it is very typical of the film industry.
I suppose it’s because people needed something unique to identify with.
And I don’t think anybody has come across an another name like his. My
father was a nice person. He wouldn’t think twice before helping
somebody. He did not make class distinctions either. If he liked
the watchman of the building, he wouldn’t think twice before putting his
arm around him and chatting.
More than a father, he was a friend to me. We lived separately but still
we had good
relationship. He had his own personal life. But in spite of that, we
met each other once in a while. I would stay with him sometimes. In
fact, a couple of years ago, when my mother expired, we planned to live
together permanently. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. His personal
life didn’t affect me in the sense that I came to terms with it a long
time ago.
There was no resentment towards him because he was not living with us. I
was always with my mother and I was very attached to her. So when they
separated, my father thought that I would be better off living with my
mother. Over the years, my father thought that I should be
kept away from the industry and he preferred that I did things on my
own. He probably thought that I had no place in the industry. I was not
interested either in music or acting. So I became a interior designer.
When we would meet, he would speak about his professional life though.
He would say that it was very tough to be in the industry and you have
to always be on the move. But I suppose he did it well because he was
the one of the few people who did not have a PRO to promote him and
still got a lot of work and churned out hits. Personally, I think that
it was very commendable that his songs for this generation were hits.
That shows that he did move with the times.
He was extremely fond of three music directors, Kalyanji-Anandji, Bappi
Lahiri and Rajesh Roshan. Being in the industry for so long, he has seen
the whole scenario changing. But he still preferred singers like Kishore
Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar and singers of those days. But one has got to
survive, so the choice was to compromise. He felt that the general
awareness of the people had come down over the years, so everything had
to be simplified, including the lyrics. That drew a lot of criticism
from others, but he had to be in the business. Despite this, he managed
to write meaningful lyrics.
He published a book of poems long ago. In fact, when he was in the
hospital, I was in Delhi trying to publish the second one. But I had to
come back immediately. I do plan to publish the book in the future.
There were people from the industry who attended the funeral, but not
many. I know that he did not want it that way. Neither did I. I notified
the industry about him in the newspapers, but still they did not come. I
don’t know the reason for this kind of behaviour. I guess that’s how
everybody in the industry works.
The estranged son thing is a whole lot of lies. People didn’t know him
and they didn’t know me. I was not a part of the industry, so I did not
meet many of the industry folks. So maybe they drew their own
conclusions. You might hear many such rumours. Wait and see. But the
fact is that me and my father were very close as a father and a son
should be.
Kalyanji
I first met Kaviraj in the year 1958. Those days he had written a few
songs which did not do well. But in the year 1965, he wrote the lyrics
of Saraswati Chandra and we had given the music. He did quite a few
films with me. There was Purab Aur Paschim, Safar and many
others. He was a literary writer. Which was very good. That’s why we
called him ‘Kaviraj’. We never gave him a tune first as we would do it
with many others. We just told him to pen the lyrics and then set our
tunes accordingly. We would raid his stock of songs too, because they
were really good. He was very devoted to his work and did it till his
dying day. In fact, Koyla, which is to be released yet, has his songs.
We had a good friendship. He was a very flamboyant man. He would
entertain us whenever we were together. He was very generous. Our
working relationship was very good. We were in perfect tune with each
other. We did have arguments about certain aspects of music, but
always agreed that it will be for the betterment of the film.
So we would end up agreeing in the end. He never worked for money, but
for the love of his art. So he would sometimes get angry about a
particular change. But if he ever thought that the song sounded better
after the change, he never argued or fought.
I remember when we were doing Saraswati Chandra. The song Chandan sa
badan, chanchal chitwan. Originally, this song was written with
different lyrics. It was Chehre pe namak, ankhon mein chamak. I didn’t
like the words. So I requested him to change it. After
much discussion, he realised that the change would be good. So he wrote
Chandan sa badan. And he got a national award for it too.
He was quite perturbed with the industry of late. We would tease him,
asking, "Kaviraj, what’s happening? You are still writing lyrics for
films?" and he would admit that though he didn’t like it, he did it to
survive. Still his lyrics were much better than those of most others.
Look at what’s happening in the name of lyrics. He wrote very little
recently, maybe because he was old and couldn’t keep up with the pace.
But whatever he wrote, he did it well. One unique thing about him was
that he never bothered much about rhyming the songs. Despite that they
sounded good. You must have listened to Tu mile dil khile from Criminal.
His songs were never forgotten and I don’t think they will be forgotten.
We were very close to each other. We worked together all the time. He
was a very flamboyant person. He liked the company of women. In fact, he
had quite a few female friends. He has only one son. I also think he was
married at least twice. But he was a good human being. He would promote
good lyricists. He once had introduced us to Salim Jaipuri and Amar
Jalalabadi. He got along with everybody because he was very
straightforward. If he had a problem with anybody, he would tell that
person immediately. We have stopped making music for the past five years
now. We missed working with him all these years. But whenever we did, we
enjoyed it thoroughly.
As told to Sharmila Taliculam
Here is some hard work but Indeevarji’s pen had given us some of the
most memorable lyrics to remember for ever and ever….
MY FAVOURITE TOP -10 Of Indeewar ji
Bade armano se rakha hai balam teri kasam - Malhaar
Madhuban khusboo deta hai - Sajan Bina Suhagan
Chandan sa badan - Saraswatichandra
Hoton Se Chuo Lo tum - Prem Geet
Zindgi Ka Safar - Safar
Tujse Milna milkar chalna - Amaanat
Dushman Na Kare - Akhir Kyon
Hanste Hanste kat jaye raste - Khoon Bhari Maang
Kaise dil jeete aap ka - Madam X
Ghoongate mein Chanda hai - Koyla
Roshan
Sheesum, Agoosh & Anokhi Raat
Rajesh Roshan
Kaamchoor,
Aakhir Kyon - Dushman Na Kare
Khudgarz, All accept Log kewhte hai
Kishan Kanhiya,
Khoon Bhari Maang,
King Uncle,
Jurm,
Karan Arjun,
Koyala,
Keemat
Dariya Dil
Kala Bazaar
Kishen Kanhaiya
Bahar Aane Tak
Kalyanji Anandji
Johnu Mera Naam,
Suhaag Raat,
Safar,
Upkaar,
Purab Aur Paschim,
Dharmaatma,
Qurbani,
Sachcha Jootha
Don - Yeh mera
Kalaakar
Bappi Lahiri
Himmatwala,
Justice Choudhry,
Maqsad,
Qaidi,
Giraftaar
Aankhen,
Mr Azaad,
Thanedaar
Hatya -
Ghayal
Kanoon Apna Apna -
Prem Pratigya - Pyar kabhi karna
Mawaali
Anu Malik
Roop Suhana Lagta Hai
Sexy Sexy
Madam X
Tammana
Dil Ke Sau tukde - Auzaar
Viju Shah
Na Kajre Ki Dhaar - Mohra
Man Chahe sanam - Aar Ya Paar
OTHER MUSIC DIRECTORS
Maashooq - Deewana dil dhoondee / Shaym Surendar
Criminal - Tu Mile Dil Khilen / M.M. Kreem
Mr.Aashiq - Teri Chahat Ke Deewne/ Jatin Lalit
Fareb - Yeh Teri aankhen jhooki Jhooki / Jatin Lalit
Main Tera Dushman / Laxmikant Pyarelal
Meera Ka Mohan / Arun Paudwal
COMING SOON
Keemat
Kudrat
Khafa
Do Mastaane
With approximately 500 films to his credits Indeewarji left us at the
age of 73 on 27th February 1997, he passed away following a cardiac
arrest.
Clip from Screen Channel April 12 -1996
Interview by Salma Khatib
Indeevar the name means Neel Kamal, however his name was Shyamlal. He
was a master of Hindi, Urdu, persian litreture and had learnt urdu for
the past seven years before he died. Born in Barwasagar, Jhansi a
predominant muslim society. He quoted he had read Tulsidas’ Ramayan 18
times.
Musing on his career, the lyricist says he has always strived to bring
literature into film lyrics, and lighten the masses. I want the
satisfaction of knowing that I have given something to society…
Mashuban khushboo deta hai,
saagar Sawaan Deta hai,
Jeena uska jeena hai
Jo auro ko jeevan deta hai
Chalti hai lehra ke pawan
Ke sans sabhi ki chalti hai
Logon ne pyar diye jeevan
Ke preet dilo mein palti rahe
Dil who dil hai jo auro ko
Apni dhadkan deta hai
From Film Deewana
Hemant Parikh
par...@xtra.co.nz
