Kalyanji: He was more than just a composer

A tribute to one of the legendary music composers, who groomed many leading stars in singing

With younger brother Anandji, Kalyanji Virji Shah, who passed away on August 24, 2000, was one of the legendary music duos of Hindi cinema. With over 250 films in Hindi (and a few in Gujarati), to their credit, the brothers Kalyanji-Anandji were one of the successful composers.

Some of their well-known compositions are for films such as  Himalay Ki God Mein, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Upkar, Saraswatichandra, Saccha Jhutha, Safar, Johny Mera Naam, Victora No. 203, Zanjeer, Kora Kagaz, Don, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Qurbani, Laawaris, and finally, Tridev.

Kalyanji was an iconic figure known as much for humour as for his spirituality. A disciple of Osho (Acharya Rajneesh), Kalyanji also edited Osho Times for a long while.

Anandji looked after rhythms, orchestration and business affairs. He says, “In theory, it was crazy to consider a partnership between us as Kalyanji-bhai was five years older. And our filmmakers had a choice of two individuals and could choose our compositions according to their tastes!”

When filmmaker Prakash Mehra became busy with multiple assignments, it was Kalyanji, who suggested that he should have two sets of composers, which opened the doors for Bappi Lahiri. Also, it was because of Kalyanji, that Amitabh Bachchan was cast in Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer, which became a major turning point in Amitabh’s career.

He later groomed him to sing as well! A lesser-known fact is that Kalyanji also trained Anil Kapoor and made him sing in Chameli Ki Shaadi.

The duo was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1992, in recognition of their contribution to music and society.