Happy Birthday Javed Akhtar: Revisiting Some Of His Interesting Releases

Author : Aarohi Agarwal

Javed Akhtar celebrates his 79th Birthday, a true master of words and a person who knows how to give emotion to any situation, whether it is ever-green releases with Jagjit Singh or his witty and whacky releases like ‘Dard-e-Disco’. He is a man who can give conviction to emotion and based on the words he wrote he became an integral part of everyone who loves Indian Music.

Spending over 5 decades in the Indian music industry, he has offered songs for numerous movies and has written scripts for some of the most iconic movies. Apart from several National Awards he also has been awarded with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. He is also one of the few Indian Lyricists who has received National Awards for consecutive 3 years. And on his birthday, let’s revisit some of his unforgettable releases of all time along with some of his lesser-known anecdotes.

• Lesser Known Facts of Javed Akhtar:

Akhtar is known for his brilliant songs but there is more to his legacy than people know about. Here are some facts that allow knowing a bit more about this straightforward and often audacious person. His achievements are surely impressive and his poetry is a legacy of his family.

1. Legacy of Poetry – His father Safia Akhtar and his grandfather Muzhtar Khairabadi both were well-known Urdu poets
2. Jaddo – His father used to call him “Jaddo” when he was a child, and this originated from the poetry of his father
3. Salim-Javed – Javed Akhtar has co-written iconic films like Sholay, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Zanjeer, Deewaar Trishul, Kaala Patthar, Seeta Aur Geeta, and Mr India alongside Salim Khan, popular Indian actor Salman Khan’s father.
4. 5 National Awards – He has received 5 National Awards for his lyrics in ‘Saaz’ (1996), ‘Border’ (1997), Godmother (1998), ‘Refugee’ (2000), and ‘Lagaan’ (2001).
5. 100 Movies – He has been a part of over 100 movies as a lyricist, starting from ‘Silsila’ in 1981 to the 2023 release ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’.

His songs have changed and evolved over the years with time while he kept his kurta pajama as his forever style statement his words were forever embryonic. If you are someone who perceives Akhtar as a serious writer then you are heavily mistaken as he also has a charming capricious writing side to his songs, which often came out as some of the most interesting and lighthearted songs written by Javed Akhtar:

• Lighthearted Releases of Javed Akhtar:

1. Dard-E-Disco (Om Shanti Om – 2007)
2. Khaike Paan Banaras Wala (Don – 1978)
3. Senorita (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara – 2011)
4. Pichle Saath Dinon Mein (Rock On! – 2008)
5. Rock N Roll (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna – 2006)
6. It’s the Time to Disco (Kal Ho Naa Ho – 2003)
7. Va Va Voom (The Archies 2023)
8. Gallan Goodiyaan (Dil Dhadakne Do – 2015)
9. Ek Do Teen (Tezaab – 1988)

These are the songs people have loved and danced with in almost every gathering. While his peppy releases are not limited he is truly remembered for his more gravitating releases. These songs have stayed with every Indian music lover, and secretly revisit these releases whenever something goes down or they experience heartbreak. Every lover will surely vouch for ‘Tumko Dekha to Yeh Khayal Aaya’ and those who aspire to be more will surely revisit ‘Chaand Taare’ over and over again. Let’s revisit some of his timeless releases.

• Timeless Releases Of Javed Akhtar:

1. Tumko Dekha To Yeh Khayal Aaya (Saath Saath – 1982)
2. Iktara (Wake Up Sid – 2009)
3. Main Agar Kahoon (Om Shanti Om – 2007)
4. Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon (Yes Boss – 1997)
5. Sandese Aate Hain (Border- 1997)
6. Mitwa (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna – 2006)
7. Paalanhaare (Lagaan – 2001)
8. Radha Kaise Naa Jale (Lagaan – 2001)
9. Panchchi Nadiyaan (Refugee – 2000)
10. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh (1942: A Love Story – 1994)
11. Khwabon Ke Parindey (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara – 2011)
12. Phir Bhi Yeh Zindagi (Dil Dhadakne Do – 2015)
13. Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum (Silsila – 1981)
14. Dekha Ek Khwab (Silsila – 1981)
15. Ghar Se Nikalte (Papa Kehte Hai – 1996)

The gravity of his songs often resonates with untold dreams and core aspirations of a person. Sometimes, it is about love for someone or wounded hearts, but he has always been the person of all seasons. He has been speaking the right things at the right moment. Counting on the blissful perspicuity of his words this man is someone who never restrained himself from saying the truth. And on his 79th birthday, and spending half of his life in this career, this man stays as relevant and as vibrant as he used to be 40 years back. On his birthday the entire Bollywood is wishing him and coming years of sharing words of wisdom.

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