Thread by @GChintamani

We lost #AnandBakshi on this day in 2002. His songs are often overlooked by classicists as they seemed to lack the so-called finesse others laid great stress upon. Bakshi sahab’s brilliance lay in his simplicity that could convey the greatest of life’s truths in a song literally.

Bakshi sahab witnessed the Partition, joined the Navy and also served in the Army. He moved to Bombay twice and finally settled in the city in 1956. He found great success in the mid-1960s with films such as ‘Himalay Ki God Mein’ and 'Jab Jab Phool Khile'

It's legendary that few understood a situation as well as #AnandBakshi. He could spin magic in a couple of ‘antaras’ like the story-song ‘Ek tha Gul’ in ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile.’

He'd also give several stanzas and ask the composer to pick what worked best.

Raj Khosla got #AnandBakshi to write for ‘Anita’ after Raja Mehdi Ali Khan’s death. Bakshi gave his fee to Khan’s widow. Khosla felt Bakshi's second line for his title track for Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, ‘Koi nahin main tere saajan ki' summed up his film

#AnandBakshi’s greatest gift was to sum-up deep philosophies of life in words that connected with the common man like in Amar Prem. 'Kuchh reet jagat kee ayesee hai, Har yek subah ki shaam hui, Tu kaun hai, tera naam hain kya, Sita bhi yahan badanaam hui’

My grandfather, #Arudra was known for writing simple words that touched everyone. Both he and #AnandBakshi are examples of how film writing is perhaps a higher art than even poetry. Bakshi sahab was famous for never letting talent get the better of the song or film's situation.

Amongst the thousands of songs and millions of words that #AnandBakshi wrote in his lifetime, it’s almost impossible to pick up a handful.

The first song that comes to mind when you think 'Anand Bakshi' would be ‘Chingari koi bhadke’ from Amar Prem.

Often mistaken for a Gulzar song, ‘Main Shayar Badnam’ is all #AnandBakshi. While writing my book ‘Dark Star', the line -
‘Sholon pe chalna tha, kaanto pe sona tha, Aur abhi jee bhar ke kismat pe rona tha’ kept playing in my mind.

Few #KishoreKumar songs manage to grab you the way ‘Mere mehboob qayamat hogi.' #AnandBakshi uses a harsh sounding word, ‘Vehshat’, in the middle of a lover’s anguish-filled plea.

“Khatm Bas Aaj Yeh Vehshat Hogi, Aaj Rusva Teri Galiyon Mein Mohabbat Hogi”

One my all-time favourite #AnanddBakshi lines is from the song ‘Koi haseena jab rooth jaati hai’ from Sholay.

“Dor se patang jab toot jaati hai to, Rukh rangeen ho jaati hai…”

Aap Ki Kasam is perhaps one of #RajeshKhanna’s best performances. Like most Khanna films of the 1970s, it has great songs too.

Tough to pick one, but lines like “Gham na karo din judai ke bahut hain kum…aap ki kasam” from the title track make it easy.

Often best while self-reflecting, #AnandBakshi is peerless in ‘Yeh Jeevan Hai’ from ’Piya Ka Ghar’ where his words tell you that all it takes to set things right is a single moment…

“Yeh zid chhodo, yun na todo, har pal ek darpan hai”

With Gupt’s ‘Mushkil bada yeh pyar', an entire generation discovered #AnandBakshi

Words, literally, end up making a song-
Yeh paheliya atkeliya, yeh jawaniya divaniya,
Veerraniya hariyaliya, aabadiya barbadiya
mushkil bada yeh pyar hai.
Vintage Bakshi

Like Majrooh, #AnandBaskhi infused freshness in love songs even in his 60s.

Dil to Pagal Hai’s ‘Arey re arey’ is a great example-
Haath mera thaam lo saath jab tak ho,
Baat kuch hoti rahe baat jab tak ho,
Saamne baithe raho tum raat jab tak ho

Go beyond 'Dum Maaro Dum' to discover #AnandBakshi's greatness.

Each word in 'Ram ka naam' is philosophical, timeless.

Ram Ne Hans Kar Sab Sukh Tyage
Tum Sab Dukh Se Dar Kar Bhaage
Krishhn Ne Karm Ki Rit Sikhai
Tumane Farz Se Aankh Churaai
O Raam Duhaai