Down The Memory Lane With The Musical Legend Jaikishan

By Ipshita Sarkar | November 4, 2015

They together as music directors tried to bring in change in the musical waves of Hindi cinema. Shankar Jaikishan is still a celebrated duo when goes down the memory lane of the golden era of music.

Of the duo Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal was born on 4^th November 1929 in Gujrat. Skilled in playing harmonium and enhancing the interest in music by taking musical lesson Jaikishan moved to Mumbai to explore his career in music industry of Hindi cinema. After meeting Shankar outside the office of a Gujrati director, their friendship grew at Prithvi theatres where they met Raj Kapoor and time witnessed a never to be forgotten partnership.

It was in 1949 that the duo got their first break with Kapoor’s movie Barsaat. The industry saw a long partnership of  Kapoor and the music directors. Kapoor brought onboard the lyricists Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra who became those lyricists who worked with the duo the most and created sheer melodious tracks. The composers worked with many legendary singers notably Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey. They shared a good terms with lyricists other than Jaipuri and Shailendra and worked with Majrooh Sultanpuri, Rajinder Krishan, etc.

The duo was known for composing styles like India classical, semi classical and patronized greatly orchestra in their music. In fact they brought the trend of using orchestra to express emotions in songs. Their saga does not end here, they are largely remembered also because of introducing Jazz in Indian music. With their innovation in music style the composers enjoyed an unparalleled fame in the industry.

Jaikishan died on 12^th September 1971 at the early age of 41 and Shankar died on 26^th April 1987 at the age of 64. Though they are not present to create any more memorable track but their contributions in music industry are unforgettable. Proficient individually the two when met just knew how to create new wonders in the history of music in Bollywood.

Lets listen to some of the fantastic numbers of the duo

A song is known by every Hindustani across generations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wjGc1zGWBc

 

An evergreen song again from a Raj Kapoor movie, with whom they shared a long and successful partnership

 

Hits were the synonym for their music

 

 

They earned their name by creating some beautiful classical music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkqCfLo54t8

 

‘Mera Mehboob aaya hai’ from the movie Suraj

It is all about the ‘Suhana’ music which they have given to the industry