Rajendra Krishan’s Success Tale With AVM Production - Part II

Rajendra Krishan success story cannot be complete without the mention of his association with AVM Production, India’s oldest film production company that was established in 1945 and has the reputation of producing over 170 films in India’s four premier languages viz. Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.

Rajendra Krishan was born on June 6, 1919 in district in Gujarat, which is now a part of Pakistan. Since childhood he had a passion for poetries and when he grew up he used take part in poem contest conducted by newspapers. However his father Jagannath Duggal wished his to acquire a government job which he ultimately got. He was employed as a clerk in a municipal corporation in Shimla. However his heart wandered in the imaginative world of poetries. Hence much against the wishes of his father and family member he ran away to Mumbai with Rs 100/- in pocket in the mid 40’s. 

After an initial hitch and a lot of struggle he got his first assignment but not as lyricst but as script writer. The movie was JANTA (1947). Later after few more assignments he got the movie BADI BAHEN (1949). The song Chup chup khade ho zaroor koyi baat hai… is still a super hit song. The same year in the movie LAHORE he wrote a soul stirring ghazal, Baharein Phir Bhi Ayegi Magar Hum Nagoge … thus establishing himself as a popular lyrist. 

With the success of these films Rajendra Krishan got invitation from India’s premier Production House AVM to write lyrics in their movie BAHAR ( Remake of Tamil hit film VAZHKAI). The movie had Vyjayanthimala and Karan Diwan in the lead. The music was composed by S.D.Burman. Incidentally the movie was a huge hit. Its mega hit song Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re.... was recently even remixed and did excellent business. After this Rajendra Krishan became a permanent fixture at AMV Production and gave many hits like O Raat Ke Musafir Chanda Zara Bata De…(MISS MARY); Aye Dil Mujhe Bata De… (BHAI BHAI); Chal ud jaa re panchhi... (BHABI); itna na mujhse tu pyar badha ....(CHHAYA); Tumhi Ho Mata Pita.... (MAIN CHUP RAHUNGI)

Readers would be surprised to know that though Rajendra Krishan was born in Gujarat and later worked in Shimla but while working with AMV he grasped Tamil language so beautifully that he went on to script over 18 Tamil movies of AVM Productions.