In the mid-1960s, there was huge competition in Bollywood films. There was big budget films doing great business, and directors like Raj Kapoor, BR Chopra, V Shantaram, Shakti Shamanta were at the zenith of their careers. Among composers Shankar Jaikishan had huge work load composing music for all the leading actors of Bollywood from Raj Kapoor to Rajender Kumar, Shammi Kapoor to Manoj Kumar.
In that era, Dharmender stormed in as a handsome matinee idol, who competed against all the leading stars and by late 1960s became a phenomenon. As Shankar Jaikishan was the highest paid composers of that time, it
was not possible to hire Shankar Jaikishan in all the films of Dharmender, at that time, because he used to sign more than 7 to 8 films per year. But whenever Shankar Jaikishan composed music for Dharmender, the music led to huge success and box office success of the film.Rajender Kumar was ruling Bollywood in the early 1960s. Dharmender acted as an anti-hero in the film Aye Milan Ki Bela in 1964. Saira Banu and Rajender Kumar had the lead roles. Shankar Jaikishan’s melodious music stormed Bollywood in that year. But as Rajender Kumar had the lead role, playing the elder brother of Dharmender, all the hit songs of Rafisahab were picturized on Rajender Kumar like “mai pyar ka deewana”, “aha aye milan ki bela dekho aye”, “to bura maan gaye”, “o sanam tere ho gaye hum”, “tum khamseen ho, nadan ho, nazuk ho, bholi ho”. So Dharmender did not get an opportunity to give lips in the landmark songs of the super hit film.
Similarly in Shammi Kapoor’s film Boy Friend in 1961, Dharmender got a 2nd lead role. All the songs of Shankar Jaikishan sung by Rafisahab was picturized on Shammi Kapoor and all of them became super hit. The super hit songs included “mujhe apna yaar bana lo”, “kyon ji mujhe pehchana”, “salam aap ki methi nazar ko salam”, “dheere chal ae bheegi hawa”, “ai ga ai gay eh kya ho gaya”, to name a few.
But in 1969, Dharmender acted in lead role in the film Pyar Hi Pyar opposite superstar Vaijayantimala. The Dharmender, Rafisahab, Shankar Jaikishan began from there. All the hit songs of Rafisahab for Dharmender became smash hits like “mai kahin kavi na ban jayun tere pyar me ai sunita”, “abhi salamat, abhi hu zinda”, “tum mera, mai teri, duniya jale to jale”, “dekha hai teri ankho me pyar hi pyar beshumar”, “aa gaya, hum aa gaye phir dar kaahe ka”. The film became a big hit and Shankar Jaikishan music led to success of Dharmender once again.
In the film Shikar, which a crime thriller, Dharmender, Shankar Jaikishan and Rafisahab combination again rocked Bollywood. Rafisahab’s song “shikar karneko aye, shikar hoke chale” became a big hit. Asha Parekh acted opposite Dharmender in the film.
In 1969, Dharmender Sharmila Tagore starrer Yakeen became a big hit. Dharmender played a double role in the film. Again the Shankar Jaikishan Rafisahab combination proved successful for Dharmender. All the songs of Rafisahab, “gar tum bhula na doge”, “yakeen karlo mujhe muhobbat hai tumse tumse” became a big hit. Rafisahab’s other song “baharon ki baraat ayi” also became a big hit.
In 1970, Dharmender acted opposite Hema Malini in the film, Tum Haseen Mai Jawan. Again the Shankar Jaikishan Rafisahab combination stormed Bollywood. Rafisahab’s title song “aap ko pehele bhi kahin
dekha hai”, tum haseen mai jawan”, became a big hit. The other hit songs of Rafisahab included “chehera tera allah allah, baten teri masha –allah”, dil accha hai acchi hai surat.”In 1970, Dharmender acted in Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker. As majority of songs were picturized on Raj Kapoor, so Manna Dey and Mukeshji sang those songs. There were no songs picturized on Dharmender. So the Shankar Jaikishan and Rafisahab combination magic did not work there.
In 1971, Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal died. But Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi continued with the duo name Shankar Jaikishan. In 1974 Shankar Jaikishan composed music for Dharmender’s film Resham Ki Dori. Saira Banu acted opposite Dharmender. It became a big hit. Rafisahab sang songs for Dharmender like “sone ki gehene kyun tune pehene”, but the biggest hit song was Suman Kalyanpur’s “behena ne bhai ki kalai se” which became a cult song for Rakhi for all the years.
In 1975, Shankar Jaikishan composed music in Dharmender’s film Saazish. Saira Banu acted opposite Dharmender in the film. It was directed by Kalidas. In that film Mahendra Kapoor was used for the songs of Dharmender. In International Crook, also Shankar Jaikishan, composed music for Dharmender. But Rafisahab was not used in the film.
From early 1970s, Laxmikant Pyarellal contributed in majority of Dharmender films, and as usual Rafisahab sang super hit songs one after the other in films like Jeevan Mrityu, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Loafer, Pocketmaar, Dost, Pratigya, Maa to name a few.
As Shankar Jaikishan during the prime time was more busy with Rajender Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Manoj Kumar and others, there was no scope to give music in majority of Dharmender films. But the films where they composed music for Dharmender, became extremely successful. Rafisahab was a blessing in the career of Dharmender. Rafisahab had sung at least 10 songs for Dharmender which remained as musical landmarks of the century, including “jane kya dhundti reheti hai yeh ankhen tujhmen” in the film Shola Aur Shabnam, composed by Khayyam, “mujhe dared dil ka pata na tha, mujhe aap kis liye mil gaye” in the film Akashdeep composed by Chitragupt, “aap ke haseen rukh me aaj naya noor hai” from film Baharan Phir Bhi Aayegi, composed by OP Nayyar, “akhri geet muhobbat ka sunalun to chalun” in the film Neela Akash, composed by Madanmohan Kohli, to name a few. During a period when Bollywood industry was crowded with stars of various styles from Dilip Kumar to Raj Kapoor, Pradeep Kumar to Bharat Bhushan, Rajender Kumar to Shammi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar to Joy Mukherjee, Biswajeet to Shashi Kapoor, the combination of Rafisahab and Shankar Jaikishan was a launching pad from where Dharmender created an image and position in Bollywood from where his career just improved and improved.
