The year 1949 saw the emerging of a team of musicians and lyricists that came together to create history in the entertainment industry. They were the young composer duo, Shankar Jaikishan, the lyricists, Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. As the Shankar Jaikishan banner took off and sky-rocketed to fame, so did the lyricists. The four of them were not only a professional team, but were close friends as well. Besides working together constantly, they even spent time away from work in each other’s company. Their relationship went beyond that to become family friends too.
As the SJSH team’s popularity and success grew immensely, they became extremely busy. It was, but natural, to split their work. Shankar worked mostly with Shailendra and Jaikishan with Hasrat. But, it was never set in stone that that was how they worked all the time. There was many a time when it was the other way around. Shankar and Hasrat teamed up while Jaikishan and Shailendra got together. Regardless, Shankar, Shailendra, Jaikishan and Hasrat remained as close as any friends could be. One could never hear a negative comment from anyone of them about the others as they were true friends in the sense. How blessed were they!!
Seen in the picture below is Shailendra greeting Jaikishan on his birthday.