Kalyanji Anandji

Most Celebrated Music Composers of Bollywood

Kalyanji Anandji is a name used by Indian composer duo known for its work on Bollywood film soundtracks, particularly action potboilers in the 1970s. The name comes from first names of the two Gujarati Jain brothers that formed the duo, Kalyanji Virji Shah and Anandji Virji Shah. Some of their best known works are Don, Saraswatichandra, Qurbani and Safar and won the 1975 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, for Kora Kagaz.

History: Kalyanji and Anandji were children of a businessman who migrated from Kutch to Mumbai to start a grocery and provision store. The two brothers began to learn music from a music teacher, who taught them in lieu of paying his bills to their father. One of their fore-grand parents, was a folk musician of some eminence. They spent most of their formative years in the hamlet of Girgaon amidst Marathi and Gujarati environs and amidst some eminent musical talent that resided in the vicinity.

Kalyanji started his career as a musician, with a new electronic instrument called the Clavioline. which was used for the famous Nagin Been, utilsed in the film Nagin (1954) which had the music of Hemant Kumar. Kalyanji then, along with his brother Anandji started an orchestral group called Kalyanji Virji & Party - which organised musical shows in Mumbai and outside. This was the first attempt made for holding live musical shows in India.

Kalyanji Anandji's arrival in the Bombay Film Industry as music composers was a turning point. When Big music directors like S.D Burman, Hemant Kumar, Madan Mohan, Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan and Ravi were ruling the music world in Hindi films, and it was a golden period of film music, it was very tough to make a place amongst them. Still they came, and won the heart and mind of Indian people.

The Bharat Bhushan - Nirupa Roy hit, Samrat Chandragupta (1959) was his first film as Kalyanji Virji Shah. It’s songs like ‘Chahe Paas Ho’ (Lata - Rafi) are remembered to this day. Followed a few more films alone like Post Box 999 before Anandji who was assisting him, joined him officially to form the 'Kalyanji - Anandji' duo in Satta Bazar and Madari (1959). Chalia (1961) was their earliest major hit. 1965, when two decisive scores, Himalay Ki God Mein and Jab Jab Phool Khile, established them as composers to reckon with.

Kalyanji-Anandji's variety-studded music is complete with some of the topmost songs of all singers and genres. Both Kalyanji and Anandji worked as music composers for over 250 films, 17 of which were Golden Jubilees, and 39 Silver Jubilees. The factor behind their success is hard work, apart from their talent. They were never self-centered, and egoistic in nature. The spiritually inclined two brothers opened up a new horizon in Bollywood. As they used to put society in front of them and as a thankful gesture, organized many charitable concerts for various NGOs and several charitable institutions, in India and Abroad. Along with some of the biggest names in Bollywood, like Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Rekha, Sridevi, just to name a few.

Another quality to be mentioned is that they were tireless in discovering new talents and grooming them as well. Manhar Udhas, Kumar Sanu, Alka Yajnik, Sadhna Sargam, Sapna Mukherjee, Udit Narayan, Sunidhi Chauhan, now very popular names, were nurtured as singers and got their first break from Kalyanji-Anandji.

They also helped introduce or gave career defining breaks to lyricists like Qamar Jalalabadi, Anand Bakshi, Gulshan Bawra, Anjaan, Verma Malik and M. G. Hashmat.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, their work was introduced to a young Western audience by three albums. 'Bombay The Hard Way: Guns Cars And Sitars' was a mix album put together by US DJ Dan The Automator; 'Bollywood Funk' was an Outcaste compilation album put together by Sutrasonic DJs Harv and Sunni; while 'The Beginners Guide To Bollywood' was compiled by John Lewis from Time Out magazine. All three of these records concentrated on Kalyanji-Anandji tracks from 1970s films that featured funk breakbeats, wah-wah guitars and Motown-style orchestrations. In 2005, Black Eyed Peas's "Don't Phunk with My Heart" utilised music pieces from two of their songs: "Ae Naujawan" from the 1972 film Apradh, and "Yeh Mera Dil" from the 1978 film Don which won the rap group a Grammy Award.

On 24 August 2000, Kalyanji breathed his last but his era with Anandji will always be remembered for their great contributions. Kalyanji’s dream for training new and young talents and promoting them is carried on today by Anandji in the name of Little Stars. The composers composed some outstanding songs rendered by the legend kishorekumar such as "Jeevan se bhari teri aankhe", "zindagi ka safar hai ye kaisa Safar", "pal pal dilke pass", "Neele Neele amberpe" There composition called pal bharke liye was used in an episode of The Simpsons

Awards :
• Cine Music Directors Award - 1965 - Himalay Ki God Mein
• 1st National Award - 1968 - Saraswati Chandra
• Filmfare Award - 1974 - Kora Kagaz
• 1st Platinum Disc by HMV - Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978)
• 1st Platinum Disc by Polydor - Qurbani (1980)
• IMPPA Award - 1992 - For Contribution to Films
• Padmashree by the Government of India - For Outstanding Contribution
• IIFA Award (South Africa) - 2003 - Lifetime Achievement Award
• Sahara Parivar Award (United Kingdom) - 2004 - Lifetime Achievement Award
• BMI Award (United States) - 2006 - For Grammy Award winning rap song "Don't Phunk with My Heart"

Songs and Films :
Their songs repeatedly entered top popularity ratings of Binaca Geetmala and topped the list many times. Some of their notable compositions, by song title, are as follows:

• "Aankhon Aankhon Me Hum Tum" (Mahal, 1969)
• "Aao Tumhe Me Pyar Sikha Doon" (Upasna, 1971)
• "Aap Se Humko Bichhade Huye" (Vishwas, 1969)
• "Akele Hai Chale Aao" (Raaz, 1967)
• "Ankhiyon Ka Noor Hai Tu" (Johar Mehmood in Goa, 1965)
• "Apni to jaise taise" (Laawaris, 1978)
• "Are Oh Re" (Suhaag Raat, 1968)
• "Bekhudi Mein Sanam" (Haseena Maan Jayegi, 1968)
• "Bharat Ka Rahnewala Hoon" (Purab Aur Pachhim, 1970)
• "Bina Badra ke Bijuria" (Bandhan, 1969)
• "Bure Bhi Hum Bhale Bhi Hum" (Banarasi Babu, 1973)
• "Chahe Aaj Mujhe Na Pasand Karo" (Darinda, 1977)
• "Chahe Paas Ho" (Samrat Chandragupta, 1959)
• "Chandan Sa Badan" (Saraswatichandra, 1968)
• "Chand Si Mehboob" (Himalay Ki God Mein, 1965)
• "Chandi Ki Dewar Na Todi" (Viswas, 1969)
• "Chale The Saath Milkar " (Hasina Maan Jayegi, 1968)
• "Chhalia Mera Naam" (Chhalia, 1960)
• "Chhuk Chhuk" (Rafoo Chakkar, 1975)
• "Chupke Se Dil Dai De" (Maryada, 1971)
• "Darpan Ko Dekha" (Upasna, 1971)
• "Dil Ko Dekho Chehra Na Dekho" (Sachaa Jhutha, 1970)
• "Dulhan Chali" (Purab Aur Pachhim, 1970)
• "Dam Dam Diga Diga" (Chhalia, 1960)
• "Dheere Re Chalo Gori" (Johar Mahmood In Goa, 1965)
• "Do bechare bina sahare" (victoriya no. 203, 1972)
• "Do Qadam Tum Bhi Chalo" (Ek Hasina Do Diwane, 1971)
• "Dilwala Diwana Mutwala Mastana" (Professor Pyarelal, 1981)
• "Duniya Mein Pyar Ki Sab Ko" (Sachaa Jhutha, 1970)
• "Ga Ga Ga Gaye Ja" (Professor Pyarelal, 1981)
• "Gali Gali Mein" (Tridev, 1989)
• "Ganga Maiya Men Jab Tak" (Suhaag Raat, 1968)
• "Gazar Ne Kiya Hai Ishara (Tridev, 1989)
• "Ghodi Pe Ho Ke Sawar" (Ghulam Begam Badshah, 1973)
• "Govinda Aala Re Aala" (Bluff Master, 1963)
• "Guni Jano Bhakt Jano" ("Anshoo Aur Muskan, 1970)
• "He Re Kanhaiya" (Chhoti Bahu, 1971)
• "Hum Chod Chale Hai Mehfil Ko" (Ji Chahta Hai, 1964)
• "Humare Siva Tumhare Aur Kitne Diwane" (Apradh, 1972)
• "Hum Ko Mohabbat Ho Gai Hai" (Haath Ki Safai", 1974)
• "Humsafar Mere Humsafar" (Purnima", 1965)
• "Hamne Tujhko Pyar Kiya Hai " (Dulha Dulhan, 1964)
• "Humne Aaj Se Tume Yeh Naam De Diya" (Raja Sahab), 1969)
• "Ho Gaye Hum Aapke Kasamse" (Bombay 405 Miles, 1981)
• "Husna ke Lakhon rang"(Johny Mera Naam,1970)
• "Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhen" (Safar, 1970)
• "Jiske Sapne Humen Roz Aate Hai (Geet, 1971)
• "Jo Pyar Tune Mujhko Diya Tha" (Dulha Dulhan, 1964)
• "Jo Tumko Ho Pasand Wahi Baat Karenge" (Safar, 1970)
• "Jo Tum Hansoge To" (Kathputli,, 1971)
• "Jubaan Pe Dardbharee Daastaan" (Maryada, 1971)
• "Kankaria Maar Ke Jagaya" (Himalay Ki God Mein, 1965)
• "Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door The" (Aamne Samne, 1978)
• "Karle Pyar Karle Aankhen Char"(Sacha Jhoota, 1970)
• "Kasam Na Lo koyee Humse" (Bombay 405 Miles, 1981)
• "Kaun Raha Hai Kaun Rahega" (Sankoch, 1976)
• "Khaike Paan Banaraswala" (Don, 1978)
• "Khush Raho Har Khushi He" (Suhaag Raat, 1968)
• "Koi Jab Tumhara Hraday Tod De" (Purab Aur Paschim, 1970)
• "Koi Koi Raat Aisi Hoti Hai" ("Banarasi Babu, 1973)
• "Kya Hua Kya Nahin" (Yudh, 1985)
• "Kya Khoob Lagti Ho" (Dharmatma, 1975)
• "Laila O Laila" (Qurbani, 1980)
• "Le Chal Mere Jivan Sathi" (Vishwas,1969)
• "Main To Ek Khwab Hoon" (Himalay Ki God Mein, 1965)
• "Main Bairagi Nachoon Gaoon" (Bairaag, 1976)
• "Main Doob Jatah Hoon" (BlackMail, 1973)
• "Main Pyasa Tum Sawan" (Farar, 1975)
• "Main Teri Mohabatt Mein" (Tridev, 1989)
• "Mere Desh Ki Dharti" (Upkar, 1967)
• "Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz" (Kora Kagaz, 1973) - this soundtrack won a Filmfare Award and topped in Binaca Geetmala for the year 1974.
• "Meri Lotery Lag" (Holi Aayi Re, 1970)
• "Mere Mitwa Mere Meet Re" (Geet, 1970)
• "Mere Toote Hue Dil Se" (Chhalia, 1960)
• "Meri Pyari Behaniya"(Sacha Jhoota, 1970)
• "Mile Mile Do Badan" (BlackMail, 1973)
• "Mujhe Kahte Hai Kallu Qawal" (Dulha Dulhan, 1964)
• "Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhin Se" (Jab jab phool khile, 1965)
• "Na Koi Raha Hai Na Koi Rahega" (Johar Mehmood in Goa, 1965)
• "Naino Mein Nindiya Hai" (Joroo Ka Ghulam, 1972)
• "Nazar Ka Jhuk Jana" (Passport, 1961)
• "O Dilbar Jaaniye" (Haseena Maan Jayegi, 1968)
• "Oh Mere Raja" (Johny Mera Naam, 1970)
• "O Sathi Re Tere Bina bhi" (Muqaddar Ka Sikander, 1978)
• "PAL PAL DIL KE PAAS" (Black Mail, 1973)
• "Pal bhar ke liye" (Johny Mera Naam, 1970)
• "Pardesiyon Se aakhiyan milana" (Jab jab phool khile, 1965)
• "Peene Walo Ko Peene Ka Bahana" (Haath Ki Safai, 1974)
• "Peete Peete Kabhi Kabhi" (Bairaag,1976)
• "Phool Tumhe Bheja Hai Khat Main" (Saraswatichandra, 1968)
• "pyar to ek din hona thaa" (Ek Shrimaan Ek Shrimati, 1969)
• "Qasme Wade Pyar Wafa" (Upkar, 1967)
• "Rafta Rafta Dekho Meri" (Kahani Kismat Ki, 1973)
• "Rahne Do Rahne Do, Gile Shikwe" (Rakhwala, 1971)
• "Saaz-E-Dil Chhed De" (Passport, 1961)
• "Samjhauta Gamon Se Karlo"(Samjhauta, 1973)
• "Salaam-e-ishq Meri Jaan" (Muqaddar Ka Sikande,r 1978)
• "Sama he suhana suhana"(Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani, 1970)
• "Sukh Ke Sab Saathi" (Gopi,1 970)
• "Tere Hoton Ke do phool" (Paras, 1971)
• "Tere Naina Kyon Bhar Aaye" ("Geet, 1971)
• "Teri raho me khade hai dil tham ke" (Chhalia, 1960)
• "Teri Zulfein Pareshan" (Preet Na Jane Reet, 1963)
• "Tirchi Topiwale" (Tridev, 1989)
• "Tum Ko Mere Dil Ne Pukara" (Rafoo Chakkar, 1975)
• "Tum Mile Pyar Se"(Apradh, 1972)
• "Tu Kya Jane" (Haadsaa, 1983)
• "Vaada Kar Le Sajna" (Haath Ki Safai, 1974)
• "Yaari Hai Meri Imaan" (Zanjeer, 1973)
• "Yeh Bombay Saher Hai Haadsaa" (Haadsaa, 1983)
• "Yeh Duniyawale Poochhenge" (Mahal), 1969)
• "Yeh Mera Dil" (Don, 1978)
• "Yeh Raat Hai Pyasi Pyasi" (Chhoti Bahu, 1971)
• "Yeh Sama, Sama he Suhana" (Jab Jab Phool Khile, 1965)
• "Y.O.G.A Karo Yoga Yoga" (Haadsaa, 1983)
• "Ye Do Diwane Dilke, Chale" (Johar Mehmood in Goa, 1965)
• "Ye Vada Raha" (Professor Pyarelal, 1981)
• "Yunhi Tum Mujhse Baat Karti Ho" (Sachaa Jhutha,1970)
• "Yudh Kar" (Yudh, 1985)
• "Zindagi Ka Safar Hai Ye Kaisa Safar" (Safar, 1970)
• "Zuban Pe Dard Bhari Dastan" (Maryada, 1971)
• "My Guru" ("Thicker Than Water", 2003)

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Information Courtesy : Mr. Mahavir S. Chavan

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