Anjaan - Career After The 1980s

Career After The 1980s

In the 80’s, he even emerged as the writers of choice for Mithun Chakravarty’s films like Disco Dancer and Dance Dance and struck a gold mine in the films of Bappi Lahiri, Shibu Mitra and B. Subhash. Among his hits with them were the songs of Aandhi Toofan, Ilzaam, Aag Hi Aag, Paap Ki Duniya and Tarzan.

His work with others was almost schizophrenically different, with songs like R. D. Burman’s "Yeh Faasle Yeh Duriyan" (Zameen Aasman), "Laagi Lag Jaaye Logon" (Poonam / Anu Malik), "Ganga Mein Dooba" (Apne Rang Hazaar), ‘Meri Saanson Ko Jo’, "Na Jaane Kaise" and "Woh Woh Na Rahe" (Badaltey Rishtey, "Hamrahi Mere Humrahi" (Do Dilon Ki Daastaan), ‘Yashoda Ka Nandlala (Sanjog), ‘Sadiyan Beet Gayi’ (Triveni) and the beautiful songs of Eeshwar (all these films were with Laxmikant-Pyarelal showing a poetic vein). Another major hit was Anu Malik’s breakthrough film Ek Jaan Hain Hum.

His health suffered a major setback in the early 90’s, though he delivered hits with Zindagi Ek Juaa, Dalaal, Ghayal and the 1990 chartbuster "Gori Hain Kalaiyan" (Aaj Ka Arjun) and his last hit Shola Aur Shabnam (1992). His other films in the 90’s included Vishnu Devaa, Parakrami, Insaniyat, Police Aur Mujrim, First Love Letter, Aandhiyaan, Phool Bane Angaarey and others.

In the 60’s, Anjaan also wrote several non - films albums composed by Shyam Sagar and sung by Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey and Suman Kalyanpur. Rafi’s song "Main Kab Gaata" was a big hit then. Anjaan also entered the world of Bhojpuri films with the massive hit Balam Pardesia in the late 70’s. The song "Gourki Patarki Re" became a rage and set the stage for many more films with a resurgent Chitragupta and laying the foundation for the personal - and later - professional liaison between their respective sons Sameer and Anand-Milind.

Anjaan was a very successful all - rounder for almost 20 years in Hindi films, but his poetry still had the colour of Bhojpuri language and the ethos and culture of Uttar Pradesh, the citadel of hindi. This is why, says Sameer. he could write "Khaike Paan", "Bina Badra Ke Bijuriya" and similar songs with great skill. His own favourites were his songs from Apne Rang Hazaar and Badaltey Rishtey and "Maano To Main Ganga Maa Hoon Maano To Behta Paani" and "Chal Musafir" from Ganga Ki Saugandh. A few months before his death on 13 September 1997, his only book of poems, Ganga Tath Ka Banjara (A Gypsy from the Shores of the Ganges) was released at the hands of Amitabh Bachchan.