By Omair Alavi Like Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar, Shailendra Singh was the man with an original voice; you could have picked his voice without error. He started his career in the 70s and continued until the 80s after which he faded away into oblivion. However, during his brief career, he sang many successful hits…
SAMAA | Omair Alavi – Posted: Oct 4, 2017 | Last Updated: 4 years ago
By Omair Alavi
Like Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar, Shailendra Singh was the man with an original voice; you could have picked his voice without error. He started his career in the 70s and continued until the 80s after which he faded away into oblivion. However, during his brief career, he sang many successful hits and was part of many songs that are now considered a classic. On his 65th Birthday, we decided to shortlist a dozen of his gems, as a gift to the man who ruled the airwaves
Main Shayar To Nahi
Film: Bobby (1973)
Singer: Shailendra Singh
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
The song that sent both Rishi Kapoor and his voice Shailendra Singh to the top; the playback singer debuted big with Bobby and was Chintu’s playback for a long time, last rendering a song in Hum Tum, 30 years after their first collaboration.
Hum Tum Ek Kamre Main Band Hon
Film: Bobby (1973)
Singer: Shailendra Singh, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Bobby had an amazing soundtrack thanks to the combination of Laxmikant Pyarelal and director Raj Kapoor. This song has been recreated and imitated so many times that people have lost count – Lata’s vocals sound as young as her partner’s as well as the beautiful girl being played by new-found Dimple Kapadia.
Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai
Film: Bobby (1973)
Singer: Shailendra Singh, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Shailendra used his education as a trained actor to best use in this song where he matched his colleague Lata Mangeshkar and delivered a classic song for coming generations.
Na Chahoon Sona Chandi
Film: Bobby (1973)
Singer: Shailendra Singh, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Everyone who is fond of films has heard of this song where Manna Dey joins Shailendra and Lata for a classic number that is still as famous as it was 4 decades back.
Hum Ne Tumko Dekha
Film: Khel Khel Main (1975)
Singer: Shailendra Singh
Music: R D Burman
The brilliance of this song can be judged from the fact that the scenario was used in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai where the organizers play an Altaf Raja song before Rani Mukherjee’s Tina saved them; much like Rishi Kapoor did 23 years earlier.
Jatay Ho Jaan e Jana
Film: Parvarish (1977)
Music: Lamxikant Pyarelal
Singers: Amit Kumar, Shailendra Singh, Aarti Mukherjee, Asha Bhosle
Shailendra was used as the second vocalist (and sometimes third, depending on the number of leading men in the song) for most part of his career. Here he does playback for Vinod Khanna while in another song of the film; he did the same for Shammi Kapoor which is a huge thing considering he preferred Mohammad Rafi.
Anhoni Ko Honi Kardein
Film: Amar Akbar Anthony (1978)
Music: Lamxikant Pyarelal
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Mahendra Kapoor, Shailendra Singh
3 Heroes, 3 Playback Singers and all three did a wonderful job in what turned out to be the climax of Manmohan Desai’s biggest hit. Shailendra playbacks for Rishi, Kishore for Big B and Mahendra Kapoor does the honours for Vinod Khanna.
Aye Yaar Sunn
Film: Suhaag (1979)
Singers: Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Shailendra Singh
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Shashi Kapoor is a blind ex-cop who with the help of his twin brother Amitabh Bachchan shoots a gun, drives a motorbike and captures the bad guys. Silly, isn’t it? Pay attention to the vocals where Shailendra is as amazing as the veteran vocalists Asha and Rafi.
Hoga Tum Se Pyara Kon
Film: Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981)
Singers: Shailendra Singh
Music: R D Burman
The film may have flopped but the songs did well including this number from Shailendra Singh that had Rishi Kapoor dancing on top of a train long before Shah Rukh Khan attempted it in Dil Se a decade and a half later.
Pari Ho Aasmani Tum
Film: Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981)
Singers: Shailendra Singh, Asha Bhosle
Music: R D Burman
This is my favourite Shaildenra song where he mesmerizes the audience with his vocals and expressions, like never before. The qawwali touch reminds one of Parda Hai Parda but that’s where the comparison stops. Both the songs are a class in their own leagues.
Lambu Ji Lambu Ji
Film: Coolie (1983)
Singers: Shabbir Kumar, Shailendra Singh
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor played rescuers of a lost girl in this song and tried to outdo each other thanks to Shabbir Kumar and Shailendra Singh. They both manage to outdo each other with their vocals as well … watch it to believe it.
Jaane Do Na
Film: Saagar (1985)
Singers: Asha Bhosle, Shailendra Singh
Music: R D Burman
The film borrowed elements from Bobby such as the pairing of Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor, the poor father of the bride and Shailendra Singh who was at his best in this number. Asha Bhosle’s voice made Dimple look super-hot while Rishi looked as needy as he did in Bobby, thanks to the same playback singer.
