Cinemaazi remembers Pandit Narendra Sharma on his birth anniversary
28 Feb 1913
Cinemaazi remembers Pandit Narendra Sharma, the legendary poet, Hindi film lyricist and the founder of Vividh Bharati on his birth anniversary today. He penned some unforgettable poems, literature and lyrics in films. It was he who suggested the name 'Dilip Kumar' for Yusuf Khan.
Pandit Ji is remembered for memorable songs for Hindi films like Jyoti Kalash Chhalke (Bhabhi Ki Chudiya,1961) ,Yashomati maiya se bole nandlala and the title track of Raj Kapoor’s 1979 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram. The title song earned the lyricist his first Filmfare nomination.
According to his daughter Lavanya, Pandit Ji “was born on 28 February, 1913 in village Jahangirpur, Tehsil Khurja of district Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh in a Bharadwaj Brahmin family. He lost his father Purna Lal Sharma when he was merely 4 years old and was raised by his uncle Ganpat Tau ji & mother Ganga Devi.”
She also adds that Narendra was named by his uncle. Passing Intermediate from Khurja, he joined Allahabad University and did his Masters in English Literature & Education. He was a top student in his class and a favourite of his teachers.
It is widely believed that it was Bhagwati Charan Varma, author of the novel Chitralekha, who brought Pandit Ji to Bombay in 1942. He recommended him as a lyricist to Devika Rani of Bombay Talkies. Pandit Narendra Sharma's first film as a lyricist was for the Raj Kapoor and Devika Rani starrer Hamari Baat (1943).
In Mumbai, he met his to-be wife Susheela Godiwala. They were married on 12 May, 1947. Their home at Shivaji Park, Matunga was a hub of artistic and creative activity with the likes of Pannalal Ghosh, Pant, Anil Biswas, Dr Safdar Aah Sitapuri, Ramanand Sagar, Chetan Anand, Vijay Anand, Dilip Kumar and Amritlal Nagar as regular guests.
In 1952, he was invited by the then Prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to manage the new branch of All India Radio. They named it 'Vividh Bharati'. He revitalised All India Radio when its popularity was flagging by establishing this new branch. Under him, Vividh Bharati grew to become one of the most popular public media in India.
Pandit Narendra Sharma passed away on 11 February 1989.
Pandit Ji is remembered for memorable songs for Hindi films like Jyoti Kalash Chhalke (Bhabhi Ki Chudiya,1961) ,Yashomati maiya se bole nandlala and the title track of Raj Kapoor’s 1979 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram. The title song earned the lyricist his first Filmfare nomination.
According to his daughter Lavanya, Pandit Ji “was born on 28 February, 1913 in village Jahangirpur, Tehsil Khurja of district Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh in a Bharadwaj Brahmin family. He lost his father Purna Lal Sharma when he was merely 4 years old and was raised by his uncle Ganpat Tau ji & mother Ganga Devi.”
She also adds that Narendra was named by his uncle. Passing Intermediate from Khurja, he joined Allahabad University and did his Masters in English Literature & Education. He was a top student in his class and a favourite of his teachers.
It is widely believed that it was Bhagwati Charan Varma, author of the novel Chitralekha, who brought Pandit Ji to Bombay in 1942. He recommended him as a lyricist to Devika Rani of Bombay Talkies. Pandit Narendra Sharma's first film as a lyricist was for the Raj Kapoor and Devika Rani starrer Hamari Baat (1943).
In Mumbai, he met his to-be wife Susheela Godiwala. They were married on 12 May, 1947. Their home at Shivaji Park, Matunga was a hub of artistic and creative activity with the likes of Pannalal Ghosh, Pant, Anil Biswas, Dr Safdar Aah Sitapuri, Ramanand Sagar, Chetan Anand, Vijay Anand, Dilip Kumar and Amritlal Nagar as regular guests.
In 1952, he was invited by the then Prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to manage the new branch of All India Radio. They named it 'Vividh Bharati'. He revitalised All India Radio when its popularity was flagging by establishing this new branch. Under him, Vividh Bharati grew to become one of the most popular public media in India.
Pandit Narendra Sharma passed away on 11 February 1989.
