Short Biography Shankar Jaikishan

Short Biography Of Shankar Jaikishan -


Reality views by sm –

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Shankar Jaikishan is known as one of the greatest composers of Bollywood, Hindi industry.

Name - Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi
Born - October 5, 1922
Place – Punjab India
Died – April 26, 1987


Name - Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal
Born – November 4, 1929
Place – Vansda, Gujarat India
Died – September 12, 1971

Profession – Music director, composer

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. Shankar worked as assistant to the leading composer duo of Husnlal Bhagatram.

Jaikishan obtained his musical lessons from Sangeet Visharad Wadilalji and later from Prem Shankar Nayak. After moving to Bombay, he became a disciple of Vinayak Tambe.

In Bombay Shankar and Jaikishan both used to visit the office of director Chandravadan Bhatt in search of work.
At this place both met and become friends. Shankar promised to Jaikishan that he will get the Jaikishan the job of a Harmonium player at Prithvi theaters and later he got the job. And both became very close friends.

Raj Kapoor offered Barsaat movies music to Shankar who insisted on taking Jaikishan as his partner and thus came into existence the new pair of music directors named `Shankar-Jaikishan' who gave excellent music for the RK production `Barsaat' in 1949.

Shankar Jaikishan had the major contribution towards the development of Jazz music in India and the new genre Indo Jazz. Their 1968 album Raaga-Jazz style is the earliest Indo-Jazz recording in India. In this album, considered to be one of the most innovative, SJ created 11 songs based on Indian Ragas with saxophone, trumpet, sitar (by Rais Khan), tabla, bass etc.

During their heyday and even toward the later part of their career, they were the highest paid music directors in the industry.

Shankar played the role of a fisherman in the film Aag (1948).
Jaikishan appeared in a small role as the drunkard husband of Nadira in the film Shree 420 (1955). Also, the song Aye pyaase dil bezubaan was picturized on him in the film Begunaah (1957).



Few Names of Movies where SJ gave great music –
•Chori Chori
•Anari
•Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai
•Professor
•Suraj
•Brahmachari
•Pehchaan
•Mera Naam Joker
•Be-Imaan
•Yahudi
•Chhoti Bahen
•Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
•Dil Ek Mandir
•Sangam (film)
•Arzoo (1965 film)
•Diwana (film)
•Chanda Aur Bijli
•Andaz (1971 film)
•Resham Ki Dori
•Sanyasi

Jaikishan died in 1971 due to cirrhosis of liver, a disease caused by excessive consumption of alcohol.
After Jaikishan's death, Shankar carried on with the banner of Shankar-Jaikishan alone (as per their mutual understanding made during their life time that in case of the demise of any one of them, the surviving partner will continue to work with the same team name).
But Shankar has to face many problems after the death of Jaikishan and as rule of industry Shankar also suffered the same problems which others suffer.
Shankar died in 1987. Sadly, 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 (even Raj Kapoor did not attend), thus reinforcing the stereotype of its fickle-natured loyalties.

Descendents of Shankar and Jaikishan stayed away from the film industry.
Shankar's family is based in Hyderabad and is involved in the hotel business.
Jaikishan's family is based in Mumbai and his wife (Pallavi Jaikishan) and one daughter (Bhairavi Jaikishan) are dress designers. Jaikishan's other children pursue different vocations.