The South Indian producers and directors have had a long love affair with Shankar Jaikishan music and so did the southern music lovers who enjoyed Hindi music as much as, or even more than, their counterparts from other parts of the country. Many a times, they re-produced super hits of the Telugu versions in Hindi with great success.
AVM Productions made the ever popular Chori Chori (1956) that won SJ their first Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. Another was, Main Sunder Hoon (1971). Producer/director and Dada Saheb Phalke Awardee, L. V. Prasad worked with SJ in Chhoti Bahen (1959) under his home banner Prasad Productions. With the super success of Chhoti Bahen, Prasad also made Sasural (1961), Humrahi (1963) and Beti Bete (1964), which all were re-makes super hit Telugu movies and had silver jubilee runs. Sasural won SJ another Filmfare Award. Then came, College Girl (1960) by noted director, T. Prakasa Rao who had a very long association with SJ. He also directed Humrahi (Prasad Productions), Suraj (1966), Duniya (1968) and Rivaaj (1972).
SJ won a Filmfare Award for their work in Suraj. The very famous producer/director C. Sridhar made Dil Ek Mandir (1963), a re-make of a Tamil blockbuster, with SJ music and followed it up with Dharti (1970) and Duniya Kya Jane (1971). B. Ananthaswami’s Screen Gems made Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) that launched Hema Malini. B. R. Panthulu made Dil Tera Diwana (1972) for Padmini Pictures. Gemini Pictures made Zindagi (1961) and followed it with Shatranj (1969) in partnership with N. N. Sippy. SJ worked in Vikram Productions movie Bhai Bahen (1969). Navashakti Productions has SJ compose music for their Telugu movie, Jeevitha Chakram (1971) with the legendary actor turned Chief Minister, N. T. Rama Rao which had a very successful run. Aankh Micholi (1972) was made by EVR Pictures in Chennai. Director K. Shankar made Rajkumar (1964), Sachhai (1969) Pardey Ke Peechhey (1971), Bandagi (1972), Chhote Sarkar (1974). Last but not the least is Chandrashekhar who made Street Singer (1966) with his dear friend, Shankar composing music under the pseudonym, Suraj.
It should be noted that all the above movie makers had great confidence in the ability and talent of SJ and felt that every rupee paid to them in remuneration would be paid back a hundred fold in returns. Almost all of the above movies enjoyed great success with SJ music.
L. V. Prasad was impressed by SJ’s “jiya bekrar hai chhayi bahar hai..” from SJ’s first movie Barsaat (1949). He had the song as an inspiration for a number in his film Samsaram (1950) released the following year. ENJOY!
Seen in the picture below taken at the premier of Suraj are (from left to right): Jaikishan, Krishnamurthy (Producer, Venus Pictures), Vyjayanthimala and Shankar. (Back row): Director T. Prakash Rao, Rajendra Kumar and others.