Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi - Remembering The Legend On His 33rd Death Anniversary

Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi of Shankar Jaikishan (also known as S-J), fondly known as 'Emperors of Music' was a popular and successful Indian composer of the duo of the Hindi film industry, working from 1949 to 1986. They are considered to be among the best composers of the Hindi film industry. Later, Shankar continued to function as a Music Director alone, still giving music under the banner Shankar-Jaikishan, till 1986.

Shankar, along with Jaikishan and other artists, composed "everlasting" and "immortal melodies" in the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. Their best work was noted for being "raga-based and having both lilt and sonority".

Shankar Singh s/o Ram Singh Raghuvanshi (15 October 1922 – 26 April 1987) was basically from Punjab, but his initial years were spent in Hyderabad. His full name was Shankarsingh Raghuwanshi. During his formative years, Shankar played the tabla and learned the art formally from Baba Nasir Khansahib. For many years, Shankar studied as a disciple of the legendary composer Khawaja Khurshid Anwar, in whose orchestra he performed. As per latest knowledge un-earthed by SJ Fans Association International (SJFAI), contrary to the adverse propaganda that he was illiterate and never went to school, as per his surviving close relatives (families of his sisters), this is not true. In fact, Shankar had studied at Hyderabad and had passed 10th class, before moving to Bombay. A 10th class pass of pre-independence era cannot be considered to be illiterate by any means.

Shankar started his career with a theater group run by Satyanarayan and Hemawati, before shifting to Prithvi Theatre where he played tabla and performed some minor roles in plays. It was at Prithvi Theatre that he learnt to play and mastered several other instruments like Sitar, Accordion and Piano etc. Besides his work at Prithvi Theatre, he also started working as an assistant to the leading composer duo of Husnlal Bhagatram and nurtured the ambition of becoming an independent music director.

Shankar's death

Shankar died in 1987. His death received nominal media coverage and his funeral was attended only by his family and some friends. The film industry was hardly represented at his funeral , thus reinforcing the stereotype of its fickle-natured loyalties.

Raj Kapoor later paid glowing tributes to the colleague of his salad days in a televised interview. However, it was only after Raj Kapoor's own death in 1988 that the significance of his association with Shankar Jaikishan was brought out in great detail.

A prominent crossroad junction at Churchgate, Mumbai has been named after Shankar-Jaikishan.

Chandrakant Bhosle first noticed Shankarji, as Shankar was popularly known among his friends, in Mumbai in 1945 when Shankarji arrived in Mumbai with balle troup of guru Krishnankutty and dancer Hemawati. Bhosle was a 'tabla' player and had become closely associated with Shankarji. He used to play 'rhythm' in Shankarji's orchestra from 1945 until Shankarji's death. A night before Shankarji's death, i.e. on 25 April 1987 Shankarji dropped Bhosle near Charni Road railway station where Bhosle stayed and drove off to his own residence at Churchgate. On 26 April Bhosle was, as usual, waiting for Shankarji at around 10.00 a.m. to take him to the studio, but Shankarji did not turn up so Bhosle went to the studio by taxi. All the musicians waited the whole day for Shankarji in the studio but he did not turn up. The next day, Bhosle read the news of Shankarji's death. Unfortunately, family members with whom Shankarji was staying did not inform Bhosle, Raj Kapoor or anybody from the film fraternity about Shankarji's death.

It was Mr. Gokhale, who was once a cook in Shankarji's house, who later became Pujari in Gora Ram Mandir at Thakurdwar, Mumbai, who informed people that Shankarji was cremated hastily on the day of his death, without the knowledge of others.

#बरसात में #शंकर_जयकिशन ने एक नया ट्रेन्ड और शुरू किया। सैड सांग को फ़ास्ट बीट के साथ प्रस्तुत करने का। इसी फिल्म में राज कपूर पर मुहम्मद रफी की आवाज़ का इस्तेमाल करके उन्होंने यह भी बता दिया कि सिचुएशन और गाने के मूड के अनुसार वह गायक का चुनाव करते हैं

#बरसात फ़िल्म से #शंकर_जयकिशन ने एक और नया प्रयोग किया। इसके पहले संगीतकार नायिका के लिए, सहनायिका के लिए व एक्स्ट्रा के लिए अलग अलग गायिकाओं के आवाज़ का इस्तेमाल किया करते थे। परंतु #शंकरजयकिशन ने सभी के लिए एक ही आवाज़, यानी लाता की आवाज़ का उपयोग कियाI

#बरसात फ़िल्म का यह टाइटल गीत फिल्मो में शीर्षक गीत का सही प्रचलन ले कर आया। इस फ़िल्म के लिए रिकॉर्ड किये गए अतिम दो गीतों में से यह एक है। दोनों अंतिम गीतों को #शैलेन्द्र ने लिखा। लोग कहते हैं कि जब यह गीत परदे पर आता था तो लोग पैसे फेंकते थे पर्दे परI

हिंदी फिल्म संगीत के दो युग हैं. बरसात के पहले और बरसात के बाद. शंकर जयकिशन ने फिल्म संगीत का चाल, चेहरा और चरित्र बदल दिया. साथ ही फिल्मों में पार्श्व संगीत में क्रांति लाई. बाद में कुछ संगीतकारों ने उनके पार्श्व संगीत पर हिट गाने बना दिए.

भले ही जयकिशन साब की मौत के बाद SJ का जादू उतर गया हो फिर भी 15 साल तक शंकरजी संगीत देते रहे. कुछ बिछड़ गए, कुछ ने मुंह फेर लिया. मैं सोचता हूं क्या बॉबी के बाद RK और शंकरजी कभी मिले होंगे? क्या बात हुई होगी?

दिल उसे दो जो जान दे दे, जान उसे दो जो दिल दे दे
Among the most feted music directors, Shankar-Jaikishan won the Filmfare award for Chori Chori, Anari, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Professor, Suraj, Brahmachari, Pehchaan, Mera Naam Joker, Be-Imaan — all films from the 1960s and 70s except Chori Chori.

It is striking, however, that some of their most outstanding work of the 1950s was not awarded.

Shankar-Jaikishan were highly paid music directors. They reportedly had creative and personal differences in the mid-1960s but their name continued to appear together in the credits. After Jaikishan’s death in 1971 at the young age of 41, Shankar continued to compose music for films, but hits were no longer easy. Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi died in 1987. For millions of fans of Hindi film music, Shankar-Jaikishan remains alive through their unforgettable music.

Best Music Director (Popular) Awards Till Date Year Film Music Director 1953 Baiju Bawra Naushad 1954 Taxi Driver S.D. Burman 1955 Nagin Hemant Kumar 1956 Chori Chori Shanker-Jaikishen 1957 Naya Daur O.P.Nayyar 1958 Madhumati Salil Choudhury 1959 Anari Shanker-Jaikishen 1960 Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai Shanker-Jaikishen 1961 Gharana Ravi 1962 Professor Shanker-Jaikishen 1963 Taj Mahal Roshan 1964 Dosti Laxmikant-Pyarelal 1965 Khandaan Ravi 1966 Suraj Shanker-Jaikishen 1967 Milan Laxmikant-Pyarelal 1968 Brahmachari Shanker-Jaikishen 1969 Jeene Ki Raah Laxmikant-Pyarelal 1970 Pehchan Shanker-Jaikishen 1971 Mera Naam Joker Shanker-Jaikishen 1972 Be-Imaan Shanker-Jaikishen 1973 Abhimaan S.D. Burman 1974 Kora Kaagaz Kalyanji-Anandji 1975 Julie Rajesh Roshan 1976 Kabhi Kabhie Khayyam 1977 Amar Akbar Anthony Laxmikant-Pyarelal 1978 Satyam Shivam Sundaram Laxmikant-Pyarelal 1979 Sargam Laxmikant-Pyarelal 1980 Karz Laxmikant-Pyarelal 1981 Umrao Jaan Khayyam 1982 Sanam Teri Kasam R.D. Burman 1983 Masoom R.D. Burman 1984 Sharabi Bappi Lahiri 1985 Ram Teri Ganga Maili Ravindra Jain 1988 Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Anand-Milind 1989 Maine Pyar Kiya Raamlaxman 1990 Aashiqui Nadeem-Shravan 1991 Saajan Nadeem-Shravan 1992 Deewana Nadeem-Shravan 1993 Baazigar Anu Malik 1994 1942 A Love Story R.D. Burman 1995 Rangeela A.R. Rahman 1996 Raja Hindustani Nadeem-Shravan 1997 Dil To Pagal Hai Uttam Singh 1998 Dil Se A.R. Rahman 1999 Taal A.R. Rahman 2000 Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Rajesh Roshan 2001 Lagaan A R Rahman