Kavi Pradeep

Kavi Pradeep (born Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi; 6 February 1915 – 11 December 1998), was an Indian poet and songwriter who is best known for his patriotic song "Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo" written as a tribute to the soldiers who had died defending the country during the Sino-Indian War.

Kavi Pradeep was born Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi in 1915 into a middle-class Audichya Brahmin family in the small central Indian town of Badnagar near Ujjain.

Since his early student days and later while pursuing graduation from University of Lucknow, he had a passion for writing and rendering Hindi poetry.

Shri Girija Shankar Dixit, a local genius poet from Unnao District in Uttar Pradesh, was his first teacher who mentored his poetry skills( Girija Shankar Dixit was the eldest son of renowned poet Shri Balbhadra Prasad Dixit).

He hypnotised the audience at kavi sammelans (poet's gatherings) with his inimitable style.

It was during this time he adopted the pen name ("nom de plume") Pradeep.

After graduating from Lucknow University in 1939, he decided to join a teacher's course to become a teacher.

Pradeep was invited to a Kavi Sammelan in Bombay where he was offered his first film Kangan (1939), by Himanshu Rai of Bombay Talkies.

The film starred Leela Chitnis and Ashok Kumar.

Pradeep shifted to Bombay and wrote four songs for the film, all of which became very popular, and sung three of the songs himself.

His first recognition came for his patriotic lyrics for the film Bandhan (1940).

In a career span of five decades, Kavi Pradeep wrote about 1,700 songs and nationalistic poems including the lyrics for some 72 films, including hits like "Chal Chal Re Naujawan" in film Bandhan (1940) and "Aao Bachcho Tumhein Dikhayen" and "De Dee Hame Azaadi" in the film Jagriti (1954) In 1958, HMV, released an album of 13 songs with his lyrics.

He was made the Rashtrakavi (National Poet), and came to be known as, Kavi Pradeep.

He next film was Bandhan (1940) produced by S. Mukherjee and directed by Gyan Mukherjee.

The music director was Saraswati Devi.

This time he wrote all the songs which became huge hits.

The most notable is "Chal Chal Re Naujawan", which made waves since the Indian freedom movement was at a crucial juncture.

He worked on five more movies for Bombay Talkies which included Punar Milan (1940), Jhoola (1941), Naya Sansar (1941), Anjan (1943) and Kismet (1943).

Kismet is known for its patriotic song "Aaj Himalay Ki Choti Se (Phir Hum Ne Lalkara Hai, Door Hato Ae Duniyawalon Hindustan Hamara Hai)" (From the peak of the Himalayas we are warning other countries to stay away from India as it is our country).

His status as a nationalistic writer got immortalised for writing a daringly patriotic song "Door Hato Ae Duniya Walo" (Move Away O Outsiders) in India's first golden jubilee hit Kismet (1943) because he was forced to go underground to avoid arrest immediately after the film's release that invited the ire of British government.

Mashaal (1950) was his next film and it features the extremely popular song "Upar Gagan Vishal" sung by Manna Dey.

Kavi Pradeep was at his creative zenith when he wrote for the films Nastik (1954) and Jagriti (1954).

He even lent his voice for the evergreen song "Dekh Tere Sansar Ki Halat Kya Ho Gayi Bhagwaan, Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan" (Look at your world, O God. How the man has changed!) from the film Nastik (1954).

Jagriti is considered to be among his best work for one movie as it includes hit songs such as "Aao Bachcho Tumhein Dikhayen Jhanki Hindustan Ki, Is Mitti Se Tilak Karo, Yeh Dharti Hai Balidan Ki" (sung by himself), "Hum Laye Hain Toofan Se Kishti Nikal Ke, Is Desh Ko Rakhna Mere Bachcho Sambhal Ke" and "De Dee Humein Azadi (Bina Khadag Bina Dhal, Sabarmati Ke Sant Tu Ne Kar Diya Kamaal)".

His devotional song fom the superhit film Waman Avtar (1955) starring Trilok Kapoor and Nirupa Roy “Tere Dwar khada Bhagwan” is popular till today.

His songs were so popular that fans would see his movies repeatedly just to listen to his soulful songs.

Kavi Pradeep always believed in writing songs in simple words portraying a meaning fitting into the situation.

The popularity of his songs was due to his down-to-earth lyrics and simple language that was well understood by everyone.

However he managed to prove his detractors wrong with films Talaaq, a Rajendra Kumar starrer and Paigam (1959) starring Dilip Kumar, Raaj Kumar and Vyjayantimala.

With "Insaan Ka Insaan Se Ho Bhaichara, Yahi Paigam Hamara" being a highlight.

By the 1960s, the popularity of his songs was on the wane and film producers who were looking for western music and fast numbers avoided him.

S. Mukerji's Sambandh (1969) starring Pradeep Kumar was a movie that ran on the popularity of songs such as "Chal Akela Chal Akela, Tera Mela Peechhe Chhoota Raahi Chal Akela", "Jo Diya Tha Tum Ne Ek Din, Mujhe Phir Wohi Pyar De Do, Ek Karz Mangta Hoon, Bachpan Udhar De Do" were written by Kavi Pradeep.

He continued to show his brilliance in 1975, when the movie Jai Santoshi Maa was released.

For a low-budget movie, it matched the collections of another blockbuster Sholay.

For months, theatres screening the movie, held the housefull boards high.

Ladies would perform poojas when the immortal song "Main To Aarti Utaroon Re Santoshi Mata Ki" was played in the theatres.

He also sang one of the songs "Yahan Wahan" from the film for which he received the award as Best Male Playback Singer from the Bengal Film Journalists' Association in 1975.

Kismet was his groundbreaking effort since it came at the time of the Quit India Movement.

The country was in strife with all national leaders in prison.

In 1997, he was honoured with India's highest award in cinema, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, for lifetime achievement.