Kalyanji Anandji is a name in Indian film music that shall remain immortal thanks to their peerless numbers like Chandan sa badan… (SARASWATICHANDRA), Main to ek khwab hoon… (HIMALAY KI GOD MEIN), Mere desh ki dharti… (UPKAR), Pardesiyon se na … (JAB JAB PHOOL KHILE), Khaike paan banaras wala….(DON) etc. The duos Kalyanji Anandji are brothers’ who hailed from Kutch in Gujarat. Kalyanji was elder to Anandji.
June 30 marks the birthday of Kalyanji Virji Shah better known as Kalyanji. Raaga. Com remembers him and takes a look how Kalyanji brought a revolution in film music with the introduction of an electronic music way back in the 50’s.
Readers may have heard the famous song Man Dole Mera Tan…. from Vyjantimala and Pradeep Kumar starrer NAGIN (1954). The highlight of the song is the ‘Been Music’ played by snake charmers. However readers would be stunned to know that the music was produced by a young musician called Kalyanji Virji Shah, who was assisting music director Hemant Kumar in the movie.
Recalling the song eminent music director Hemant Kumar in a radio interview said, “Kalyanji Virji Shah and his younger brother Anandji was my assistant. The duo was very intelligent and kept innovating music. During the making of the movie NAGIN, I had a tough challenge to produce the Bean effect that was produced by road side snake chambers to charm the snakes. As the Bean Music was the back bone of the movie I wanted to produce it as authentic as possible but despite using several instruments I was unable to produce the right effect. Hence I was in a bit dilemma.”
He continued, “One day to my surprise I heard the same music in my room being played by an electronic instrument by my assistant Kalyanji Virji Shah. Listening to the music I was overjoyed and hugged Kalyanji. Later Kalyanji informed me that the instrument was called Clavioline, which he has imported from foreign country at a whopping price.”
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