Today is the death anniversary of Shakeel Badayuni, the greatest poet and lyricist. I have penned more than 20 blogs on him. He continues being my favourite. One of the reasons is that the emotions of his songs, ghazals, and nazams come closest to my own.
Recently, on Friday, 07 Apr 23, my book of poems titled Dhanak (Rainbow) was launched. It was a huge honour for me to dedicate it to Shakeel Badayuni:
My dedication to him read:
As soon as I learnt singing (mainly to sing to my wife, Marilyn, suffering from Alzheimer’s, I started singing Shakeel songs. Today, as a tribute to him, I reproduce some of these:
Song #1
Zara sun haseena-e-nazneen
The very first song of Shakeel that I sang was on his Birth Anniversary, 03 Aug 2021.
It was composed by Ravi in my favourite Raag Pahadi. Mohammad Rafi sang it. The song was picturised on Vijay Kumar and Waheeda Rehman in the hill station of Nainital for the 1963 movie Kaun Apna Kaun Praya.
Please enjoy my rendition of: Zara sun haseena – e – nazneen…(Incidentally, I recorded it live whilst shooting the video without the assistance of good audio equipment)
Song #2
Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj
Even whilst I was learning to sing, the second of Shakeel songs that I sang was this. It was difficult for me but I had always wanted to sing it. It is from 
the 1952 Vijay Bhatt movie Baiju Bawra for which the composer and music director Naushad received the only Filmfare Award in his career. Later, he was honoured by the Government of India by bestowing on him Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest in India in cinematic excellence.
Naushad composed it in Raag Malkauns, Tintal. Mohammad Rafi sang it with unmatched verve. It is often considered as the best bhajan in Hindi movies, as also the true representation of Malkauns.
Please enjoy my own rendition of: Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj…
Song #3
Insaaf ki dagar pe bachcho dikhao chal ke
I would call this as an iconic song from the 1961 Nitin Bose (Dilip Kumar production) movie Gunga Jumna starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.
I included this song as the #1 Children’s Song (in a country-wide poll in the year 2013) depicting all the ideals in the Preamble to the Constitution of India.
I was penned by Shakeel, composed by Naushad, and sung by Hemant Kumar for Abhi Bhattacharya who enacted the role of a teacher in Gunga Jumna’s village open air school.
Please enjoy my rendition of: Insaaf ki dagar pe bachcho dikhao chal ke….
Song #4
Aaj purani raahon se koi mujhe awaaz na de
By this time I had already started doing riyaaz for high pitch and notes; a feature in many Rafi songs. Here, on a very early stage, I sang this iconic 
song put together by Shakeel, Naushad and Rafi for the 1968 movie Aadmi starring Dilip Kumar, Waheeda Rehman, and Manoj Kumar.
The lyrics are so powerful. I maintain that the most loved songs in Hindi movies were penned by Shakeel, composed by Naushad, and sung by Mohammad Rafi for Dilip Kumar. This is one of them.
Please enjoy my rendition of: Aaj purani raahon se koi mujhe awaaz na de…
Song #5
Husn waale tera jawab nahin
This song fetched Shakeel Badayuni the second of the only hat-trick of Filmfare awards (the second, third and fourth Best Lyricist awards since these were instituted in the year 1960; Shailendra was the first lyricist ever to receive it for Yeh mera deewanapan hai for the 1959 Bimal Roy movie Yahudi).
It was filmed for the 1961 SS Vasan (Gemini Productions) super-hit movie Gharana starring Rajendra Kumar and Asha Parekh.
Please enjoy my own rendition of: Husn waale tera jawab nahin….
I sang it for our wedding anniversary last year; Shakeel is remembered by me for all important events and festivals.
Song #6
Deewana keh ke aaj mujhe phir pukariye
It is from the 1963 movie Mulzim starring Pradeep Kumar and Shakila.
It was composed by Ravi and sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy my rendition of: Deewana keh ke aaj mujhe phir pukariye…
Song #7
Mujhe ishq hai tujhi se
Finally, I have selected a song that I sang to Lyn on our anniversary (yes we celebrate it twice in a year!) on 12 Dec 2022.
She was so happy when I sang and enacted it for her (you can see it in the movie).
The original song was filmed on Joy Mukherjee and Nanda for the 1971 movie Umeed. It was composed by Ravi and sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy my rendition of: Mujhe ishq hai tujhi se….
I hope you liked my selection and singing of Shakeel songs on his death anniversary on 20 Apr 23.
There will be more on more occasions.
