July 4th, 2010

Pradeep

Pradeep

Pradeep

Best remembered for his inspirational and patriotic songs, lyricist Kavi Pradeep, as he was commonly known, wrote over 1,500 songs for films. He was born Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi in Badnagar, Madhya Pradesh. A graduate from Lucknow University, Pradeep aimed to be a schoolteacher rather than a professional poet. However, he was discovered by Himansu Rai of Bombay Talkies, and signed on as lyricist for the film Kangan. The film’s songs enjoyed great popularity, and Pradeep went on to become one of the leading lyricists of Hindi cinema. Influenced by the Indian nationalist movement, he wrote a number of patriotic songs for films. His Door hato ae duniya walon Hindustan hamara hai (Kismet) and Chal chal re naujawan from the eponymous film became anthem’s of the nationalist movement.

One of Pradeep’s most memorable creations is the elegiac patriotic song, Ae mere watan ke logon, zara aankh mein bhar lo paani. A tribute to the martyrs of the Indo-China War, the touching song was rendered by Lata Mangeshkar. Pradeep refused to sell the rights of the song to film producers; its royalties now go to India’s Ministry of Defence.

Pradeep received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1961. In 1997, he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honour for excellence in the field of cinema.

Bollywood . Bollywood