Kalyanji Virji Shah Biography 
Kalyanji Virji Shah, better known as Kalyanji was a popular music director of Bollywood. He forms the integral part of Kalyanji-Anandji duo, the other person being his brother Anandji Virji Shah. Many of the golden songs of Bollywood give the music credit to one of the most popular composer duo of Bollywood - Kalyanji-Anandji. The duo received Filmfare award for best music for 1974 movie – Kora Kaagaz, which includes the memorable songs like Mera jeevan kora kaagaz and Mere padne mein nahi laage dil kyon. Apart from Kora Kaagaz, they received 7 Filmfare nominations for Upkaar, Himalay ki gode mein, Don, Tridev, Qurbani, Zanjeer and Bairaag. Songs of Saraswati Chandra gave them National Film Award for Best Music Direction. In fact the duo has given some amazing memorable songs to Bollywood music fans since 1960s. Been music from the film Nagin (1954) was played by none other than Kalyanji, which proved to be his career breakthrough too. Noted music director of present times, Viju Shah who composed music for Tridev, Gupt, Badamiya Chottemiya is his son.
The brothers were born to the successful businessman Virji Shah and they started learning music together. Actually he was not a music teacher, but taught boys music to pay bills for their father, Virji. They were brought up in Girgaum in the midst of Marathi and Gujarati people. Kalyanji got the break to Bollywood through Nagin, where he played the master ‘been music’ for the movie. He started giving music individually in the late 1950s. Noted lyricist Gulshan Bawra entered film world through one such song composed by Kalyanji. The song 'Main kya jaanu kahan’ sung by Lata Mangeshkar for 1959 movie – Chandrasena.
In 1960, the brothers started composing songs together and Meena Kumari-Balraj Sahni starrer Satta Bazar marked their debut. Later they composed songs for numerous movies like Rafoo Chakkar, Chalia, Sachaa Jhutha, Raaz, Mahal, Purab Aur Pachhim, Ek Hasina Do Diwane, Safar, Johny Mera Naam, Aamne saamne, Kaalicharan, Himalay Ki God Mein, Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Geet, Dil ne pukara, Maryada, Haath Ki Safai, Ek Se Badhkar Ek, Suhaag raat, Tridev, Don, Joroo Ka Ghulam, Blackmail, Saraswati Chandra, Dharmatma, Qurbani, Bairaag, Upkar, Kahani Kismat Ki etc. In fact, they composed songs as per demand of times, both slow paces and fast tracks and have been equally popular among the masses. Kalyanji passed away in 2000.
Pal pal dil ke paas of Blackmail, Chalia mera naam of Chalia, Jo tumko ho pasand of Safar, Pal bhar ke liye and O babul pyare of Johny mera naam, Haa tum bilkul of Himalay ki gode mein,Pardesiyom se of Jab jab phool khile, Le jayenge of Haseena maan jayenge, Aap jaisa koi of Qurbani, Is des ki darti of Upkaar, Chandan sa badan and Phool tumhe bheja of Saraswati chanda, O saati re and Salaam-e-Ishq Meri Jaan of Muquaddar ka sikandar, Yeh duniyawale of Mahal, Khaike paan and Yeh mera dil of Don and Gali gali mein and Tirchi topi of Tridev are only a few gems among the vast ocean of songs contributed by this outstanding pair of Bollywood.
Published: N/A
Updated: July 21, 2014
