Nitin Raikwar – The lyricist of peppy tracks in Mumbai dialect
Nitin Raikwar is a less-known and long forgotten lyricist of Bollywood, who was active during second half of 1990s and early 2000s. He is the writer behind some of the top chartbuster songs of the era, but less people know about him. Nitin Raikwar created some of the peppy songs which music lovers still ponder. Though people are not familiar with this lyricist, his songs will make them remember his talents because some of them topped many music charts. He has also composed a few songs.
Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan made their singing debut through Nitin Raikwar songs
Nitin Raikwar wrote some of the chartbuster hits of super stars like Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. He was the lyricist of Aati Kya Khandala of Ghulam (1998), which became a rage across the nation mainly because of the lyrics and Aamir Khan’s voice. He also penned Apun Bola of Josh (2000) which marked the singing debut of Shah Rukh Khan. In short, both Khans made their singing debut through Nitin Raikwar songs (as far as I know). Both these songs were hits and highly marketed at the time of release. Alka Yagnik is the female voice of both these duets, filmed in a fun mode.
He penned Apun Bola of Josh after listening the script. As the movie was based on Goan culture, he added a few words with cultural significance. He is one among those lyricists who popularized Mumbai language through songs and the best instance is Aati Kya Khandala.
Nitin Raikwar worked with Ram Gopal Varma camp
He penned all the 9 songs of 1999 Ram Gopal Varma film, Mast. All the songs were chartbusters. Music album received good reviews for both lyrics and compositions. Uske Siva sung by the composer Sandeep Chowta and its female version – Tere Siva sung by newcomer Sunidhi Chauhan were beautifully written by Nitin Raikwar. Sunidhi marked her singing debut in Bollywood through this album (if we exclude her less-known song byte from 1996 film – Shastra). Sunidhi was launched as a full-fledged playback singer through Mast. Same is the case of composer Sandeep Chowta, who marked his singing debut through the title track of this album.
Aasman Kehta Hai Rab Se – The romantic solo sung by Sonu Nigam received a lot of praises. His duets with Sunidhi (Suna Tha & Ruki Ruki) and Sadhana Sargam (Pucho Na Yaar) were also well received. Also read: Top duets of Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan.
Nitin Raikwar later worked with Sandeep Chowta for Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001) produced by Ram Gopal Varma. He penned lyrics for all the songs of which “Kambakth Ishq” sung by Sonu Nigam, Sukhwinder Singh and Asha Bhosle topped all charts. Mujh Ko Khuda Ne De Diya, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (in two versions) and Roundhe Hai Mujhko Tera Pyar – too were well-written songs.
Nitin and Sandeep also worked together for the movie, RGV’s Company (2002) which included the chartbuster item song – ‘Khallas’ filmed on Isha Koppikar. Thus, Asha Bhosle rendered two chartbuster hits for this duo in the early 2000s. She also recorded the songs – “Main Tere Dil Ki Malika” and “Hey Rama Krishna Govinda Gopala” for Mast – the duo’s earliest work together. Company (2002) also included a not-so-popular duet “Pyar Pyar Mein” sung by Babul Supriyo and Sonali Vajpayee. Songs of Dum starring Vivek Oberoi and Diya Mirza – Jeena and the title track were popular.
They also worked together for Yeh Kaisi Mohabbat in 2002 (not produced by RGV). Raikwar wrote lyrics for songs such as Zindagi Jeene Ka Naam Hai and Jaan Hai for the movie, James (2005) produced by RGV. Music was composed by Bapi-Tutul. He penned lyrics for Aake Darr song of Darna Zaroori Hai (2006) and a few more songs of RGV production like Mr Ya Miss.
He turned a composer too:
Nitin Raikwar has composed two songs for 2004 Bollywood film, Naach directed by Ram Gopal Varma. Six tracks of the album were composed by Amar Mohile and Shailendra-Swapnil, and the rest two by Raikwar – “Berang Zindagi” and “Ishq Da Tadka“. He penned 4 songs for the album.
He composed and penned lyrics for 2 songs for Sanjay Manjrekar film, Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav in 2005 – The title track by Vinod Rathod and KK, and “Kabhi To Rooth Ja” sung by Shaan.
Other top chartbuster songs of Nitin Raikwar
He marked his debut through Anil Kapoor-Juhi Chawla starrer Loafer in 1996. He wrote the chartbuster song, Teri Tirchi Nazar Mein Hai Jadoo composed by Anand-Milind. Nitin Raikwar wrote many peppy numbers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Many of his songs were written in Mumbai dialect.
His other hit songs include – “Nepal Ki Thandi Hawa” and “Rab Jaane Bhai Rab Jaane” from Gharwali Baharwali (1998), “I Love You Bol Daal” from Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), “Zinda Hain Hum To” from Josh (2000), “Mere Baap Ki Beti” from Chal Mere Bhai (2000), “Excuse Me” and “Style Mein Rehne Ka” from Style (2001), Phatela Jeb from Ankhen (2002), “Tu Ban Jayegi Madhuri” from Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon (2003), “Aila Re Aila” from Khatta Meetha (2010) reused in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) and few more.
Nitin Raikwar penned lyrics for children-films like Chota Chetan (1998) and Jajantaram Mamantaram (2003). In 2014 media reported that he was unwell. He had undergone a very delicate brain operation and after that he fully disappeared from media. In 2017 also media reported that he survived a health scare while he was working on his debut album.
Nitin Raikwar – A brief biography
Nitin hails from Pune. His father was a successful show organiser and he wanted Nitin to do something similar to it. He tried his hand at singing in orchestras before moving to Mumbai in 1987 with Bollywood dreams. Though he was aware of the risk factors associated with pursuing Bollywood, he decided to try his hand. He used to write and seek feedback from his friends working in Bollywood, most of them working as supporting actors.
He finally met Anil Kapoor on the sets of Ladla, yet it took a couple of years to get the first chance through Anil Kapoor film. Nitin Raikwar wrote Teri Tirchi Nazar Mein Hai Jadoo for Loafer in 1996. But it was Aati Kya Khandala that earned him fame like no other, which helped him to earn more offers.
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