Lalji Pandey, better known by the nom-de-plume of Anjaan, was an Indian lyricist known for his work inBollywood. Having penned over 1,500 songs for more than 300 films, he is remembered for tracks from his frequent collaborations with composers Kalyanji–Anandji, R. D. Burman and Bappi Lahiri. Lyricist Sameer is his son.
Initial days in Bollywood
Anjaan had got his first break with the 1953 Premnath production Prisoner of Golconda where he wrote "Lehar Yeh Dole Koyal Bole" and "Shaheedon Amar Hai Tumhari Kahani". After this he remained fairly busy, but in small films. His only popular number was "Mat Poonch Mera Hai Mera Kaun Watan" with music by G. S. Kohli, with whom he did many small films. He was first noticed for his work with the Raaj Kumar film Godaan, based on the Premchand classic, with music by Ravi Shankar. This film got him a few good assignments in the mid-1960s with big composers like O. P. Nayyar in Guru Dutt's Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi and G. P. Sippy's Bandhan, which established him commercially with "Bina Badraa Ke Bijuriya Kaise Barse". This also saw the forging with fellow lyricist Indeevar and composers Kalyanji-Anandji. This was followed by songs in Kalyanji - Anandji's Kab? Kyon? Aur Kahan?. Shankar - Jaikishan's Umang, Rivaaj and Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari, Ravi's Vandana, R. D. Burman's Hungama and a few other films. And yet it took Anjaan many more years before he emerged as a very prolific writer who amalgamated a lot of his commercial songs with lyricism and poetry. He was at his best in the Amitabh Bachchan films of Kalyanji Anandji, beginning with Do Anjaane in 1976. Followed Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Don with his biggest hit of the career "Khaike Paan Banaras Wala",, Lawaaris and Jaadugar. He also wrote hits for Bachchan with other composers like Rajesh Roshan, Bappi Lahiri and R. D. Burman. His liaison with Prakash Mehra also yielded hits like Zindagi Ek Juaa, Dalaal and other films like Jwalamukhi, Ghunghroo, Mohabbat Ke Dushman, Muqaddar Ka Faisla, Imaandaar, Chameli Ki Shaadi and Himalay Se Ooncha.
Career after the 1980s
In the 1980s, he even emerged as the writers of choice for Mithun Chakravarty's films like Disco Dancer and Dance Dance and struck a gold mine in the films of Bappi Lahiri, Shibu Mitra and B. Subhash. Among his hits with them were the songs of Aandhi Toofan, Ilzaam, Aag Hi Aag, Paap Ki Duniya and Tarzan. His work with others was almost schizophrenically different, with songs like R. D. Burman's "Yeh Faasle Yeh Duriyan", "Laagi Lag Jaaye Logon", "Ganga Mein Dooba", ‘Meri Saanson Ko Jo’, "Na Jaane Kaise" and "Woh Woh Na Rahe", ‘Yashoda Ka Nandlala, ‘Sadiyan Beet Gayi’ and the beautiful songs of Eeshwar. Another major hit was Anu Malik's breakthrough film Ek Jaan Hain Hum. His health suffered a major setback in the early 1990s, though he delivered hits with Zindagi Ek Juaa, Dalaal, Ghayal and the 1990 chartbuster "Gori Hain Kalaiyan" and his last hitShola Aur Shabnam. His other films in the 1990s included Vishnu Devaa, Parakrami, Insaniyat, Police Aur Mujrim, First Love Letter, Aandhiyaan, Phool Bane Angaarey and others. In the 1960s, Anjaan also wrote several non-films albums composed by Shyam Sagar and sung by Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey and Suman Kalyanpur. Rafi's song "Main Kab Gaata" was a big hit then. Anjaan also entered the world of Bhojpuri films with the massive hit Balam Pardesia in the late 1970s. The song "Gourki Patarki Re" became a rage and set the stage for many more films with a resurgent Chitragupta and laying the foundation for the personal - and later - professional liaison between their respective sons Sameer and Anand-Milind. Anjaan was a very successful all-rounder for almost 20 years in Hindi films, but his poetry still had the colour of Bhojpuri language and the ethos and culture of Uttar Pradesh, the citadel of Hindi. This is why, says Sameer. he could write "Khaike Paan", "Bina Badra Ke Bijuriya" and similar songs with great skill. His own favourites were his songs from Apne Rang Hazaar and Badaltey Rishtey and "Maano To Main Ganga Maa Hoon Maano To Behta Paani" and "Chal Musafir" from Ganga Ki Saugandh. A few months before his death on 13 September 1997, his only book of poems, Ganga Tath Ka Banjara was released at the hands of Amitabh Bachchan.
