RMIM Archive Article "258".


From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian

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# RMIM Archives..
# Subject: Lyricist Pradeep
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# Source: India Express (http://www.expressindia.com)
# Author: Vidyottama Sharma
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------------------------------------------------------------------- Forgotten bard turns 83, sings a sad tune Vidyottama Sharma ------------------------------------------------------------------- MUMBAI, February 5: The man whose words once brought tears to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's eyes and who had the entire nation swaying to his rythm, today finds himself completely out of tune with the times. Poet Pradeep, who penned Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon, turns 83 tomor- row, quietly. He lives off the money his daughter brings in because he can't bring himself to write verses that would fit ``the tunes given to me.'' However, talk about the past and his eyes light up. ``I had to write this song (Ai mere watan ke logon),'' he reminisces. ``It was the time when the Chinese had defeated us and the country's morale was down. But, when on the Republic Day Lata Mangeshkar sang the song, Pradeep had for long kept under wraps, he was not there to receive the praises showered on him. Of course, the prime minister did meet him in Mumbai later in March and was surprised to know that the song his daughter, Indu (Indira Gan- dhi) used to sing while leading her `battalion' as a child - Chal Chal Re Naujawan - was also penned by him. Poet Pradeep (Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi) has many more patri- otic songs to his credit - . Aao Bachchon Tumhein Dikhayein Jhanki Hindustan Ki..., Hum Laaye Hain Toofan Se Kashti Nikaal Ke.., De Dee Hamein Azaadi Bina...' and many more. Awarded the title Rashtra Kavi last year, he sometimes does feel sad that the government never thought of honouring him with any Padmashree or Padmabhushan. He says in a nostalgic tone, ``There are only three people left of Bombay Talkies I joined on coming to Mumbai. Ashok Kumar who is asthmatic, Anil Biswas who weeps over the changing scenario in the industry. And I who weeps like Anil. It is like my song Pin- jare Ke Panchheee, Tera Dard Na Jaane Koye... -------------------------------------------------------------------
From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian