Shailendra had written- There is neither elephant nor horse, one has to go there on foot… So Neeraj wrote- The wheel of time has turned brotherShailendra wrote that If there is a letter then everyone should read it.… then Neeraj wrote- The letter I write to you… which is in your memoryShailendra's songs are- Am I a wanderer…or am I wandering, am I a star in the sky...So Neeraj's words are- Dust settled, once the caravan had passed… These are just some examples where the sentiments of the songs of Shailendra and Neeraj are similar. The way Shailendra speaks in pure Hindi using minimum Urdu words. simple talk no chilli masala Through writing, he says the most heart touching things, in the same way, in simple speaking, Neeraj also weaves the philosophy of life in his songs. This is the reason why just as Shailendra was the favorite lyricist for veteran filmmakers like Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand, similarly, so was Gopaldas Neeraj who also wrote this- I am a man, I love a man…
When lyricist Shailendra passed away in 1966 after making Teesri Kasam, the Hindi poet and lyricist whose words were looked upon with great interest by the great musicians and filmmakers of the film industry was Gopal Das Neeraj. Whose works also had the same literary chessboard of colloquial proverbs, which was Shailendra's legacy. Neeraj ji himself had told in his interview that Raj Kapoor felt the philosophy of Shailendra in his songs, then Dev Anand, after listening to him in a poet's conference, was wowed, came forward and shook hands and said- I like your beautiful language. Will you write songs for films? For Neeraj, these praises proved to be the beginning of his coming out of misery and poverty.
It is noteworthy that Shailendra had given almost seventeen years to the world of cinema whereas Neeraj spent only six active years writing for films. In such a short time, he wrote a total of 120 songs which are ever popular and popular. Shailendra's songs are timeless, they have become aphorisms, while Neeraj's songs are also timeless, immortal on the tongues of people. his song Dust settled, once the caravan had passed… Had created a stir. The name of the film was – Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal. Roshan gave the music in that film released in 1966. Neeraj had not written this song for this film, but had already recited it on radio and in poetry conferences, which was included in this film. After which its popularity crossed every limit.
It is said that that song of Neeraj, sung in the voice of Mohammed Rafi, became the heartbeat of the dreamy youth of that time. It was on everyone's lips. Song written by Shailendra in independent India I am a wanderer… After this, this song of Neeraj was liked the most by the people. It became an obsession. People went crazy after hearing these lines – Everyone was robbed of their beauty from the acacia trees in the garden… and we kept standing and looking outside… or else We kept watching the havoc carrying the palanquin… the caravan passed by, we kept watching the dust… While explaining this song, he had said - There is no full stop to despair here, there is also a warning about the consequences of inaction.
This incident happened around 1960-62. A government program was organized in Mumbai. Dev Anand also came there. Neeraj recited poems from the stage. Sing your songs. During this time Neeraj met Devanand. Dev Anand said in English- I like your beautiful language. We'll work together someday. Neeraj ji had told in his interview that Dev Anand liked the use of Hindi words and philosophy in his songs. Shailendra was the only one in the film industry who gained popularity by using colloquial Hindi words in his songs, otherwise Most of the songs were full of Urdu words.
A few years later that historic time came. Dev Anand was making his next film. He sent an invitation to Neeraj ji. Then Neeraj had come to Aligarh. After receiving Dev Anand's letter, he again headed towards Mumbai. A meeting was arranged with music composer SD Burman. The film Prem Pujari was released in 1970 under the direction of Dev Anand. The songs were recorded before that. All the songs of the film became very popular- Rangeela O… my mind is so colored with your colors… Waheeda Rehman's performance on the song appears as if Meera is dancing in love with Krishna.
Neeraj established his songs in the film industry through this film. It had been almost four years since Shailendra passed away, the musicians and filmmakers whom Shailendra had made crazy, gradually started turning towards Neeraj. love priest May the beauty of flowers be mixed with love…with the color of flowers, with the pen of the heart…or are we the worshipers of love… For songs like this became immortal in the history of the film.
The story of the pairing of Raj Kapoor and Shailendra in films is well known to cinema experts. When Raj Kapoor was working for his dream project Mera Naam Joker (1970), he was looking for a lyricist who could touch the philosophical mood of his film. Raj Kapoor had heard many songs of Gopaldas Neeraj and liked them. Without Shailendra, Raj Kapoor's words were snatched away. He felt that Neeraj ji could become the voice of his heart like Shailendra in Mera Naam Joker. He got Neeraj to write two songs, which Mukesh sang. There was a song- Joker says all the time… half reality, half trap… And the second song was- Hey brother, please take a look... The first song became the theme song of the film. but the second song Hey brother, please take a look... Became most popular. Both the songs explain the philosophy of Mera Naam Joker. After these songs Raj Kapoor had said- I found my Shailendra.
it is believed that The caravan passed… It was Neeraj's first film song, but it is not true. He moved to Mumbai in the late fifties. Used to recite poems on stage. Like the great Hindi poets like Nirala, Bachchan, Dinkar, Makhanlal Chaturvedi, Shivmangal Singh Suman and Gopal Singh Nepali in the poetry conferences of that time, his personality and vocabulary also had their own influence. His literary practice crossed every phase from 1941 till the last phase of his life in the year 2018. That means, as a writer, he remained dedicated to songs, ghazals and poetry for almost 77 years.
He also used to recite songs on All India Radio in the fifties. At that time a large number of people used to listen to poems and songs on the radio. One of them was film artist Chandrashekhar, who was a big fan of Neeraj ji. Actor Chandrashekhar made a film named Cha Cha Cha as a director in the year 1964. Became the hero himself and made Helen the lead actress. In this film, Neeraj wrote a song for the first time- Morning did not come…evening did not come… The song became popular but this was the beginning of the struggle, historic meetings with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand were yet to happen. Then, like Chandrashekhar, director R. Chandra had also heard Neeraj's songs and poems on the radio. Who in his upcoming film Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal Dust settled, once the caravan had passed included.
When I asked him this question during a long meeting with him in Delhi in February 2016, he became emotional. He said that I really had a very close relationship with cinema, but when our favorite musician left this world, I also felt sad from there. Musicians like SD Burman, Roshan all passed away, so my heart was not there. I came back to my world. Brother, it is a simple matter, when the one who appreciated our words is no more, then for whom would I write? Who would appreciate my words? But I am proud of the fact that even though I stayed in the world of cinema for 5-6 years, whatever I wrote during that time is still sung today. The world of cinema is not a very suitable place for those with literary inclinations.
However, the truth is that even after returning from Mumbai, Neeraj's relationship with cinema continued. Dev Anand remembered him again. In 1984, he got songs written for Hum Naujawan and in 1990, Mahesh Bhatt also got songs written for Gunah Aur Fareb. He died on 19 July 2018.
