Gulshan Bawra – Bollywood lyricist who penned ‘Mere Desh Ki Darti’ and ‘Yaari Hai Imaan Mera’

Gulshan Bawra (1937-2009) was a famous Bollywood lyricist and poet who penned some of the very popular songs of 1970s and 1980s. He penned romantic, philosophic as well as patriotic songs and his career best songs are included in the films – Agar Tum Na Hote, Upkar, Kasme Wade, Zanjeer, Haath Ke Safai, Satte Pe Satta, Khel Khel Mein etc. His career spanned over 4 decades. Yet he wrote only less number of songs, mostly associated with legends – Shankar Jaikishan, Kalyanji Anandji and R. D. Burman. Bawra also played brief roles on Bollywood screen.

His birth place Sheikhupura is now in Pakistan. Born in Punjab, his family shifted to India at the time of partition, and unfortunately he witnessed the death of both his father and uncle in front of his eyes in the riots that occurred during India-Pakistan Partition. He also lost his mother in the riots. He was only 10 years old then. He was brought up by his elder sister in Jaipur and completed his graduation from Delhi. During his college days he started writing poems. In 1955 he moved to Mumbai to find a break in Bollywood, and struggled for nearly 15 years to get the real break he was waiting for. ‘Mein Kya Jaanu Kaha Laage’ from Chandasena (1959) composed by Kalyanji Virji Shah was his first Bollywood song.

‘Tumhein Yaad Hoga Kabhi Hum Mile The’ for Satta Bazaar was the first song penned by Bawra for Kalyanji-Anandji and the song is still popular. Other songs of the movie – Chandi ke chand tukdon ke liye and Aakde ka dhanda too became popular, and during the film making the film’s distributor Shantibhai Patel rechristened him as Gulshan Bawra, the name he is still known to the outer world. He was most active in the 1970s and 1980s, and with 1990s he reduced his work. “Le Pappiyaan Jhappiyaan Paale Hum” for Haqeeqat and all songs of Zulmi (1999 – his last release) were his major works of 1990s. He played character roles in around 20 movies since mid-1960s.

Gulshan Bawra – Some interesting facts

1. His real name is Gulshan Kumar Mehta, and he took the professional name ‘Gulshan Bawra’ which literally translates as ‘Gulshan – The madman or insane’. The name was given by a film distributor who named so after seeing his appearance and attire. He felt that Gulshan doesn’t resemble a poet and looks like a ‘Bawra’ (mad man).

2. He lost both his parents during riots at Partition when he was 10, and later brought up by his elder sister.

3. He came to Mumbai in 1955 to become a singer along with his government post.

4. He worked in a clerical post in railways in Mumbai during his struggling days in cine field.

5. During his lifetime he wrote around 250 Bollywood film songs only and most of them are still popular.

6. Around half of his songs were written for R. D. Burman, mostly between 1975 and 1985, and it owns many hit songs of Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor to the credit. He also penned lyrics for numerous songs to Kalyanji-Anandji, who gave him the first break to Bollywood.

7. While working in railways he once closely observed a goods train from Punjab which unloaded wheat sacks at the station. The lines – “Mere Desh Ki Darti” born in his mind and he wrote down in a diary. He read this poem to Manoj Kumar who was then struggling for a break and he liked it. Later when Upkaar was made, the song was used which gave a major break to the lyricist and a Filmfare award too. He also penned ‘Har Khushi Ho Wahan’ song for the movie. Mahendra Kapoor received National award for best playback singer for this song.

8. He won Filmfare Best Lyricist Award twice for the songs – Mere Desh Ki Dharti of Upkaar and Yaari Hai Imaan Mera of Zanjeer.

9. His most popular song on friendship – Yaari Hai Imaan Mera topped Binaca Geetmala annual list of 1973.

10. He was seen in small roles in films such as Upkar, Pavitra Paapi, Boxer, Agar…If, Zanjeer, Shehzada etc.

11. He was seen playing harmonium in the popular song, Deewane Hai Deewano Ko of Zanjeer co-starring Amitabh and Jaya.

12. Catchy lyrics of “Le Pappiyaan Jhappiyaan Paale Hum” for Haqeeqat got into controversies. He was criticized for writing a vulgar song. 

13. It’s strange that though he worked 42 years in Bollywood and gave hits at uniform intervals, he never made it to be top, comparable with his contemporaries.

14. Despite ruling Bollywood music for more than 15 films, R. D. Burman earned his first Filmfare awards for the songs of Sanam Teri Kasam (1982). All the songs penned by Gulshan Bawra were popular.

Gulshan Bawra – Top Bollywood songs

1. Mere Desh Ki Dharti – Upkaar

2. Agar Tum Na Hote – Agar Tum Na Hote

3. Ek Mein Aur Ek Tu – Khel Khel Mein

4. Sapna Mera Toot Gaya – Khel Khel Mein

5. Hum Ne Tum ko Dekha – Khel Khel Mein 

6. Aati Rehengi Bahaarein – Kasme Vaade

7. Kasme Vaade Nibhaenge Hum – Kasme Vaade

8. Tu Tu Hai Wahi – Yeh Vada Raha 

9. Yaari Hai Imaan Mera – Zanjeer

10. Deewane Hai Deewano Ko – Zanjeer

11. Dilbar Mere – Satte Pe Satta

12. Pyar Hamen Kis Mod Pe – Satte Pe Satta

13. Zindagi Milke Bitayenge – Satte Pe Satta

14. Tumhein Yaad Hoga Kabhi Hum Mile The – Satta Bazaar

15. Sanam Teri Kasam – Sanam Teri Kasam

16. Jana O Meri Jana – Sanam Teri Kasam

17. Jeevan Ke Har Mod Pe – Jhoota Kahi Ka

18. Chand Ko Kya Maloom Chahta Hai – Lal Bangla

19. Wadaa Kar Le Sajna – Haath Ke Safai

20. Le Pappiyaan Jhappiyaan Paale Hum – Haqueeqat (1995)

21. Teri Badmashiyan – Zulmi (his last release)

22. Yeh Mausam Rangeen Sama – Modern Girl

Gulshan Bawra – R. D. Burman combination Top songs

1. Sapna Mera Toot Gaya from Khel Khel Mein (1975) – Asha Bhosle & R. D. Burman

2. Ek Mein Aur Ek Tu from Khel Khel Mein (1975) – Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar

3. Khullam Khulla from Khel Khel Mein (1975) – Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar

4. Aati Rehengi Bahaarein from Kasme Vaade (1978) – Asha Bhosle, Amit Kumar & Kishore Kumar

5. Kasme Vaade Nibhaenge Hum from Kasme Vaade (1978) – Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar

6. Jeevan Ke Har Mod Pe from Jhoota Kahi Ka (1979) – Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar

7. Kitne Bhi Tu Karle Sitam from Sanam Teri Kasam (1982) – Asha Bhosle / Kishore Kumar

8. Jana O Meri Jana from Sanam Teri Kasam (1982) – R. D. Burman

9. Mil Gayi Aaj To from Yeh Waada Raha (1982)  – Asha Bhosle

10. Tu Tu Hai Wohi from Yeh Waada Raha (1982) – Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar

11. Aisa Kabhi Hua Nahin from Yeh Waada Raha (1982) – Kishore Kumar

12. Dilbar Mere of Satte Pe Satta (1982) – Kishore Kumar

13. Pyar Hamen Kis Mod Pe from Satte Pe Satta (1982) – Kishore Kumar, R. D. Burman, Gulshan Bawra, Sapan Chakraborty, Bhupendra

14. Dukhi Pe Dukhi Ho from Satte Pe Satta (1982) – Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, R. D. Burman, Sapan Chakraborty, Bhupendra

15. Agar Tum Na Hote from Agar Tum Na Hote (1983) – Lata Mangeshkar / Kishore Kumar

16. Bachke Rehna Re Baba from Pukar (1983) – Asha Bhosle, R. D. Burman & Kishore Kumar

17. Samandar Mein Nahake from Pukar (1983) – R. D. Burman 

18. Tu Rootha To Main Ro Dungi Sanam from Jawani (1984) – Amit Kumar and Asha Bhosle

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