BAKSHI ON BAKSHI – A SON REFLECTS ON HIS FATHER

Posted by Vivek on January 23, 2011 | 2 Comment

For the record, India’s most prominent lyricist, Anand Bakshi, left for his heavenly abode, in 2002. But the reality is that he is still with us and will continue until we stop humming these songs:

Tujhe dekha toh ye jaana sanam – Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
Ghar aaja pardesi – Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
Jaadu teri nazar, khushboo tera badan – Darr
Lagi aag sawan ki, phir who zadi hai – Chandni
Bholi si surat, aankhom mein masti – Dil Toh Pagal Hai
I love my India – Pardes
Zara tasveer se too, utar ke samane aa, Meri mehbooba – Pardes
Taal se taal mila – Taal
Ishq bina kya jeena yaron – Taal
Humko hamise chura lo – Mohabatein
Udja kaale kawan – Gaddar, Ek Prem Katha

The day we stop singing/thinking about these creations of Anand Bakshi, is the day he will leave us.

I don’t see that day happening in my lifetime so we can securely say, that Anand Bakshi continues to live amongst us.

A true writer can write in the midst of a practical life and Anand Bakshi, lived such a life, serving the Armed Forces, the Navy and being amongst his family members. This practical life resulted in over 3500 songs and 650 films, which bore his creativity.

On walking into the offices of the Indian Film Writers Association, His photo stands as an inspiration to all writers.

Here his son, Rakesh Anand Bakshi, a feature film Director in his own right, remembers his father:

“Today at 6pm, from the street below my house I heard a young flute seller play “Mere Naina Sawan Bhado…” from the film, Mehbooba. (music R.D.Burman. lyrics Bakshiji)
He was playing so beautifully that I called out to him and called him up to my door steps.
I told him he is a wonderful player and I wanted to reward him, so I gave him some money.

He accepted the money and was surprised I did not want to buy a flute but yet I had paid him. He asked me why did I not buy a flute and yet I gave him some money for it.
I replied I was so pleased to hear this song that’s written by my father and I liked the gentle melodious way he played it and I was happy that someone as young as him is playing a song that’s so old.

He asked me who my father is, and I told him Bakshji’s name.
Strangely he did not react. He said he has not heard of him nor seen his picture ever, so I named R.D.Burman (“RDB”), and again a blank!

He explained in embarrassment he was always a destitute and always uneducated so cannot read nor write.

Then I asked him to play some other song and he surprised me by playing the song from the movie, Geet – “Aaja Tujhko Pukare Mere Geet…

I asked him to play yet another song and he played a song from Dil Toh Pagal Hai!
and he had sincerely told me with 100 percent honesty that he has not heard of RDB nor Anand Bakshi!

So I lead him inside my house and showed his Bakshiji’s picture. He took Bakshijis blessings.

Then I showed him a picture of RDB and LP (Laxmikant Pyarelal)! He touched the pictures to his head and took their blessings.

I asked him why did he do this, and he replied, “I eat because of these people. and I do not know who they are till this moment. I wanted to say thank you”.
I was touched! I gifted him a book written by Vijay Akela on Bakshiji’s songs.
He again took blessings of the book and then accepted it.

The flute seller walked away from my house, and life probably, but he left behind an emotion I cannot express in any language. But like him I think some things can only be expressed with music even if you can’t understand it’s language or origins.
The poor destitute musician left his mark on me, just like the legends have left a mark on us music lovers, beyond education, borders and language.”

Rakesh. Anand Bakshi