Background
Anand Bakshi (Bakhshi Anand Prakash Vaid) was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, in 1930. His mother, Sumitra, died 1940, when he was 10.
Anand Bakshi (Bakhshi Anand Prakash Vaid) was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, in 1930. His mother, Sumitra, died 1940, when he was 10.
His ancestors were Mohyal Brahmin from Kurree, near Rawalpindi, and had origins in Kashmir. Bakshi"s family migrated to India (Delhi) on 2 October 1947, in the aftermath of the partition, when he was 17 years old. The family arrived in Lucknow and later they travelled to Delhi and settled there.
Success
Anand Bakshi came to Hindi films to make a name for himself in writing and singing but ended up becoming more successful in writing lyrics.
He got his break writing songs in a Brij Mohan"s film titled, "Bhala Aadmi", 1958, acted by Bhagwan Dada. He wrote 4 songs in this film.
His first song in this film was "Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal" which was recorded on 9 November 1956. He first found success with the film Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath, which was produced by (LimeLight), Music Kalyanji & Anandji Music Public-HMV/Saregama 1962.
Then he found big success in 1965 (Jab Jab Phool Khile) produced by Limelight and Music by Kalyanji Anandji and went on to work as a lyricist of over 3500 songs and 638 films in his career.
He got his first time singing in a film was in Mom Ki Gudiya(1972). The first song he sang was a duet “Baaghon mein bahaar aayi hothon pe pukaar aayi”, along with Lata Mangeshkar for music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. He also sang the solo " Main dhoondh raha tha sapnon mein" from the same film.
He also sang songs in 4 other films: Sholay (1975) where he sang the quawwali "Chand Sa Koi Chehera" along with Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, Bhupinder.
Maha Chor (1976); Charas (1976). And, Balika Badhu (1976).
After writing for few movies from 1956 onwards, Bakshi made a mark for himself for writing a quawalli for the 1962 film Kala Samundar, the song was “Meri Tasveer Lekar Kya Karoge Tm”, and the film Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath 1962. He got his real big breakthroughs in 1965 with Himalaya Ki God Mein, and a huge breakthrough again in 1965 with the super hit film Jab Jab Phool Khile, starring Shashi Kapoor.
And yet again in 1967 with the super hit movie Milan (starring Sunil Dutt).
This five films within a decade cemented his status as a writer of immense caliber. Anand Bakshi’s was widely associated with music Composers such as Laxmikant Pyarelal, R Doctorate Burman, Kalyanji Anandji, South Dakota Burman, Anu Malik, Rajesh Roshan and Anand-Milind and his songs have been sung by all the top singers as also other singers like Shamshad Begum, Ila Arun, Khursheed Bawra, Amirbai Karnataki, Sudha Malhotra and more. After this, he wrote memorable lyrics in many movies including Bobby and Amar Prem (1971), Aradhana 1970, Jeene Ki Raah, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay (1975), Dharam Veer, Nagina, Hum (1991), Mohra (1994), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Heer Raanjha, Dushman (1998), Taal (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) and Yaadein.
Death
Late in his life, he suffered from heart and lung disease as a consequence of lifelong smoking.
In 2001, he caught a bacterial infection at Nanavati hospital, during a minor heart surgery. He finally died of multiple organ failure on 30 March 2002, 8:00 Prime Minister at Mumbai"s Nanavati Hospital, at the age of 72.
The last released movie with lyrics by Anand Bakshi after his death was Mehbooba.