Prem Dhawan (1923–2001) was an Indian lyricist, music composer, choreographer and actor of

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

known for his patriotic songs, especially for the lyrics and compositions for the 1965 Manoj Kumar starrer, '' Shaheed''. He was a winner of the National Film Award for Best Lyrics in 1971 and was honoured by the

Government of India The Government of India ( ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

in 1970 with

Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is confe ...

, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.

Biography

Prem Dhawan was born on 13 June 1923 at

Ambala Ambala () is a city and a municipal corporation in Ambala district in the state of Haryana, India, located on the border with the Indian state of Punjab and in proximity to both states capital Chandigarh. Politically, Ambala has two sub-area ...

in the present day

Haryana Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ...

state of India to a Jail Superintendent working for the British government. He did his college studies in

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest ...

during which period he was involved with the activities of the Communist party of India. He started his career in Lahore in 1946 as Assistant of Composer Khwaja Khurshid Anwar in

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (7 June 1914 – 1 June 1987) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, novelist, and journalist in Urdu, Hindi and English. He won four National Film Awards in India. Internationally, his films won the Palme d'Or ( Gold ...

's film ''Aaj Aur Kal''. He later moved to Mumbai to join the Indian People's Theatre Association. His association with the Indian People's Theatre Association helped him to learn classical music under the renowned classical musician,

Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar (; born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury, sometimes spelled as Rabindra Shankar Chowdhury; 7 April 1920 – 11 December 2012) was an Indian sitarist and composer. A sitar virtuoso, he became the world's best-known export of North In ...

. In 1946, he debuted as a lyricist with the movie, '' Dharti Ke Lal'', the first of the several till his last film, the Hindi version of '' Apoorva Sagodharargal'', in 1989. In between, he wrote lyrics for a string of films such as '' Aaram'', '' Tarana'', ''Aasman'', '' Shola Aur Shabnam'', '' Kabuliwala'', '' Ek Phool Do Mali'' and '' Purab Aur Pachhim''. He also composed music for several films like '' Shaheed'', which was reported to have enhanced the status of Dhawan and the lead actor of the film, Manoj Kumar. The film featured some of the hits of the time in ''Ae Watan Ae Watan'' and ''Mera Rang De Basanti Chola''. Dhawan, apart from his career as a lyricist and composer, acted in two films, ''Lajawab'' (1950) and '' Goonj Uthi Shehnai'' (1959). He also worked as a choreographer for seven films (''Vachan'' was the first film as choreographer and lyricist), though not with much success. The

awarded him the civilian honour of

in 1970. He won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics in 1971 for the film, '' Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar''. His career faded towards the eighties and did not have any notable contribution except for the 1989 dubbed movie, '' Apoorva Sagodharargal''. He died on 7 May 2001, at the age of 77, following a cardiac arrest.

As a lyricist

* ''

Appu Raja ''Apoorva Sagodharargal'' () is a 1989 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The film features an ensemble cast including Kamal Haasan, Gautami, Rupini, Srividya, Manorama, Nagesh, Delhi Ganesh, Nassar, Jaishank ...

'' (1989) * '' Do Dil Deewane'' (1980) * ''Guru Manio Granth'' (1977) * ''Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun'' (1976) * '' Kisan Aur Bhagwan'' (1974) * '' Purab Aur Paschim'' (1970) * '' Geet'' (1970) * '' Pavitra Paapi'' (1970) * '' Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar'' (1970) punjabi movie * '' Mera Naam Joker'' (1970) * '' Ek Phool Do Mali'' (1969) * '' Dus Lakh'' (1966) * ''Shaheed'' (1965) * ''Adhi Raat Ke Baad'' (1965) * ''Darasingh: Ironman'' (1964) * ''Shabnam'' (1964) * ''Cobra Girl'' (1963) * ''Vallah Kya Baat Hai'' (1962) * ''Ma Beta'' (1962) * '' Kabuliwala'' (1961) * '' Zabak'' (1961) * ''Tel Malish Boot Polish'' (1961) * '' Shola Aur Shabnam'' (1961) * ''Guest House'' (1959) * ''Heera Moti'' (1959) * '' Jagte Raho'' (1956) * ''Taangewali'' (1955) * '' Vachan'' (1955) * ''Aasman'' (1952) * '' Tarana'' (1951) * '' Aaram'' (1950) * ''Jeet'' (1949)

As a composer

* ''Raat Ke Andhere Mein'' (1987) * '' The Naxalites'' (1980) * '' Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun'' (1976) * ''Bhagat Dhanna Jatt'' (1974) * '' Kisan Aur Bhagwan'' (1974) * '' Mera Desh Mera Dharam'' (1973) * ''Bharat Ke Shaheed'' (1972) * '' Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar'' (1970) * '' Pavitra Paapi'' (1970) * ''Kenner'' (1968) * '' Shaheed'' (1965) * ''Veer Abhimanyu'' (1965) * ''

Aadhi Raat Ke Baad Nanabhai Bhatt (12 June 1915 – 24 April 1999) was an Indian film director and producer who worked in Hindi and Gujarati cinema. He is known for making over a hundred fantasy and mythological films, including ''Mr. X'' (1957), ''Zimbo Comes ...

'' (1965) * ''Darasingh: Ironman'' (1964) * ''Hindustan Hamara'' (Documentary - 1950) * ''Bharat Ke Shaheed'' (1972)

As a choreographer

* '' Waqt'' (1965) * '' Dhool Ka Phool'' (1959) * '' Do Phool'' (1958) * ''Sahara'' (1958) * '' Naya Daur'' (1957) * '' Vachan'' * '' Do Bigha Zamin'' (1953) * '' Arzoo'' (1950) * '' Sheesh Mahal (1950 film)'' (1950)

References

External links