Kavi Pradeep always wrote meaningful songs which fit the situation in the film and help convey the message to the audience. Many films got repeat audiences mainly because of his songs

Kavi Pradeep (Ramchandra Dwivedi) was born in Badnagar, Madhya Pradesh on February 6, 1915. Since his early student days in Madhya Pradesh and later in Uttar Pradesh, he had a passion for writing and rendering Hindi poetry. He hypnotised the audience at kavi sammelans with his inimitable style. In the late ’30s he moved from Allahabad to Mumbai and from kavi sammelans to the Hindi film industry.

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It was the late Himanshu Roy of Bombay Talkies who gave Kavi Pradeep his first break when he signed him to write the songs for his film Kangan. The film starring Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar and was made 59 years ago in ’39. He wrote four songs all of which became very popular and sung three of the songs himself.

Then came Bandhan produced by S Mukherjee and directed by Gyan Mukherjee. All the songs written by Kavi Pradeep became big hit with Chal chal re naujawan making history. The freedom movement was at a crucial stage at the time and this song gained instant popularity.

Pradeep wrote for five more Bombay Talkies’ films including Punarmilan, Jhoola, Naya Sansar, Anjan and Kismet. When Mahatma Gandhi gave the “Quit India” call Kismet was under production. All the leaders were in jail and the country was in great turmoil. This is when Pradeep penned ‘Aaj Himalay ki choti se phir hamne lalkara hai...door hato ae duniyawalon Hindustan hamara hai.’ This was the first song of Kismet and theatres resounded with “once more” calls after it ended. The reel had to be rewound and the song screened again and again. The song however was a direct attack on the British Government and Pradeep had to go underground to avoid arrest. Kismet made box-office history, running for 3-1/2 years in one theatre.

Then came Mashaal with the ever popular song by Manna Dey, ‘Upar gagan vishal niche gahara pataal, bich mein dharati, wah mere malik tune kiya kamal...’

There was no looking back for Kavi Pradeep after this. He gave two more hit films, Nastik and Jagruti. He wrote and sang another evergreen song. ‘Dekh tere sansar ki halat kya ho gayi bhagwaan kitna badal gaya insaan...’

Jagruti is remembered even today for its songs which are played every Independence Day and Republic Day throughout the country. The songs are ‘Aao bachchon tumhe dikhayen jhanki Hindustan ki, iss mitti se tilak karo, yeh dharti hai balidan ki...’, ‘Hum laye hain toofan se kishti nikal ke iss desh ko rakhna mere bachon sambhal ke...’ and ‘Dedi humein azadi bina khadak bina dhal, Sabarmati ke sant tune kar diya kamal...’

Kavi Pradeep always wrote meaningful songs which fit the situation in the film and help convey the message to the audience. Many of films got repeat audiences mainly because of his songs.
Two films are remembered even today for the songs he wrote—Talaaq, a Rajendra Kumar starrer and Paigam starring Dilip Kumar, Raaj Kumar and Vyjayantimala. ‘Insan ka insan se ho bhaichara, yahi paigam hamara...’ is hummed even today.

S. Mukerji’s Sambandh also owes his success to songs like ‘Chal akela chal akela, tera mela pichche chchuta rahi chal akela...’, ‘Jo diya tha tumne ek din mujhe phir wohi pyar de do...’ and ‘Ek karaj mangta hum bachpan udhar de do...’ So also Jai Santoshi Maa, a low- budget film made in ’75 which became an all-time hit. For four months theatres screening this film had houseful boards outside. According to trade magazines it’s business was on par with Sholay. Special pooja was performed by ladies ‘Mein to aarti utaroon re Santoshi mata ki...’ was played in the theatres. Many times the reel had to be rewound and the song played again by public demand. Low-budget mythological films got a new lease of life with Jai Santoshi Maa.

The popularity of Kavi Pradeep’s songs stemmed from the fact that he wrote meaningful songs but his lyrics were such that any layman could understand them. He also sang soulful songs in his charismatic voice which even today sparkling gems.

Amongst his timeless creation there is one milestone which though not a film song is nonetheless a part of film history because it was the contribution of three stalwarts—Lata Mangeshkar, C. Ramchandra and Kavi Pradeep. The song is ‘Aae mere watan ke logon, zara ankh mein bhar lo pani, jo shahid hue hai unki zara yaad karo kurbani..’. From 1963 to 2002, for 40 years the song has remained ageless. It is said that when Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister, heard the song, he had tears in his eyes.