He was the longest-lasting lyricst of the film industry. From Sher-e-Baghdad in 1957 to Kuch Dil Ne Kaha in 2002, Anand Bakshi wrote a majority of the most popular Hindi films songs during his 4-decade career.
The Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar who sang a sizeable chunk of Bakshi Saab’s poetry says there was no other lyricist as popular as Bakshi. “Unke shabd logon ke dil aur dimaag pe chhaa jateen thhi. Whether it was Sheesha ho ya dil ho aakhir toot jata hai(Asha) or Jaane kyon log mohabbat kiya karte hain (Mehboob Ki Mehndi) the connection with the listener was immediate and ever-lasting.Among the most popular lyricist of my times, I sang the maximum songs of Anand Bakshiji . I think the first lyrics of his that I sang were in the film Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath .Kalyanji-Anandji were the composers. Gaane chalin bahot chalin. And there was no looking back.”
Lataji remembers innumerable music recordings with Anand Bakshi. “He was always there for the recordings .And he would make invaluable suggestions. He was not just a poet, he also composed songs. And he sang very well. In fact I think he came to Mumbai to become a professional singer. Bakshi Saab and I sang a duet Baghon mein bahaar ayee in a film called Mome Ki Gudiya. He was a complete music person.We shared a wonderful rapport. When we met he never greeted me with a Namaste. He would greet me with, ‘Wah Ji wah’. When I was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2001 Bakshi Saab wrote a poem for me. It was alovely gesture, and one that I haven’t forgotten.”
Adda Lataji, “He wrote some of my most memorable songs.I specially like Bindiya chamkegi(Do Raaste), Solah baras ki baali umar(Ek Duuje Ke Liye),Aaj dil pe koi zor chalta nahin(Milan), Sawan ka mahina(Milan) , Kora kagaz ttha yeh mann mera(Aradhana), Raina beeti jaye(Amar Prem) , Oh mere bairaagi bhawra(Ishq Par Zor Nahin), Jaane kyon log mohabbat kiya karte hain(Mehboob Ki Mehndi) , Kitne din aankhen tarsegi (Naya Zamana) , Kya yeh zindagi hai(Yeh Gulistan Hamara), and so many others.”
Why only me? Bakshi Saab wrote beautiful songs for other singers like Kishore Kumar’s Chingari koi bhadke(Amar Prem) and Yeh jeevan hai(Piya Ka Ghar).