Remembering song writer and actor Gulshan Bawra

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Gulshan Kumar Mehta, popularly known by his pen name Gulshan Bawra (literally: "Gulshan the madman") (12 April 1937 – 7 August 2009), was an Indian songwriter and actor in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning 42 years, he has to his credit about 240 songs, he collaborated with noted music directors like Kalyanji Anandji, Shankar Jaikishan, and R. D. Burman. He composed almost half of the songs in films like Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kasme Vaade (1976) and Satte Pe Satta (1982). Apart from R. D. Burman hits, he is most remembered for his songs like 'Mere Desh Ki Dharti" in Upkaar (1968) and "Yaari Hai Imaan Mera" in Zanjeer (1974), both of which got him the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award. The latter also topped the Binaca Geetmala annual list of 1973. As a character actor, he also appeared in a small number of Hindi films.

Early life and education
Gulshan Kumar Mehta, popularly known as Gulshan Bawra was born 30 km from Lahore in a place called Sheikhupura. His father had a construction business, and his immediate family were Shri Labh Chand Mehta, father of Roop Lal Mehta and Chaman Lal Mehta, incidentally both their families were victims of the partition riots where young Gulshan witnessed his father and his cousins' father killed in Labh Chand Mehta's haveli, in front of their own eyes. His elder sister at Jaipur, brought him and his elder brother up. After his brother got a job, they shifted to Delhi, where he graduated from Delhi University. During college, he began to write poetry.

Career
He wanted to come into films and applied for a job with the Railways. He was posted to Kota, Rajasthan, but when he arrived there, the vacancy was filled. His next call was luckily that for the post of a clerk at Mumbai and he arrived in the city in 1955. Gulshan struggled to get a film break, initially keeping his job on. Kalyanji (of Kalyanji-Anandji), then on his own as Kalyanji Virji Shah, gave him his first opening in Chandrasena (1959) in the song "Main kya jaanu kahan laage yeh saawan matwala re", sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

K-A's first joint film, the Meena Kumari-Balraj Sahni starrer Satta Bazar later the same year marked his first brush with success with hits like "Tumhein yaad hoga kabhi hum mile the" (Lata-Hemant), "Aakde ka dhanda" (Rafi) and "Chandi ke chand tukdon ke liye" (Hemant Kumar). It was during the making of this film that the film's distributor Shantibhai Patel christened him "Bawra".

Almost half of his songs have been with R.D.Burman. His last release was Zulmi (1999) and his last hit was "Le pappiyaan jhappiyaan paale hum" for Haqeeqat (1995), which landed him in his only controversy - of writing a vulgar song. As always, Bawra is selective and is doing two films only today. He finds today's filmmakers, music barons and composers musically illiterate and thus is even choosier than before, as he lives a secure, relaxed life. "Why should I torture myself or waste my lyrics and talents on those who will ask me to do all sorts of compromises?" he asks. His films in the '90s include, besides Haqeeqat and Zulmi, Qurbani Rang Jaayegi, Tehkiqaat, Laat Saab, Maidan-E-Jung, Indrajeet and Chor Pe Mor.

He died on 7 August 2009 at age 72 at his Pali Hill residence in Mumbai.

Filmography
As actor
Vishvaas (1966)
Upkar (1967)
Pavitra Paapi (1970)
Pyar Ki Kahani (1971)
Jaane-Anjaane (1971)
Jangal Mein Mangal (1972)
Zanjeer (1973)
Shehzada (1972)
Lafange (1975)
Agar... If (1977)
Aap Ke Deewane (1980)
Yeh Vaada Raha (1982)
Boxer (1984)
Basera
As lyricist
Purnima (1965)
Upkar (1967)
Zanjeer (1973)
Khel Khel Mein (1975)
Kasme Vaade (1976)
Satte Pe Satta (1982)
Agar Tum Na Hote (1983)
Awaaz (1984)
Noted lyrics
Song Movie "Chand ko kya maloom chahta hai " "Lal Bangla(1966 "Chaandi ki deewar na todi" Vishwas
"Mere desh ki dharti" Upkar
"Yaari hai imaan mera" Zanjeer
"Sanam teri kasam" Sanam Teri Kasam
"Agar tum na hote" Agar Tum Na Hote
"Tu tu hai wohi" Yeh Vaada Raha
"Aati Rahengi Baharen" Kasme Vaade
"Kasme Vaade Nibhayenge Hum" Kasme Vaade
"Jivan ke har mod pe mil jayenge humsafar" Jhoota Kahin Ka
"Teri Badmashiyan" Zulmi
"Waada karle saajana" Haath Ki Safai
"Peenewalon ko peene ka bahana chahiye" Haath Ki Safai
"Le pappiyaan jhappiyaan paale hum" Haqeeqat
"Pyar Hamen Kis Mod Pe" Satte Pe Satta
Awards
Award Song Movie
Filmfare Best Lyricist Award - 1974 Yaari Hai Imaan Mera Zanjeer
Filmfare Best Lyricist Award - 1968 Mere Desh Ki Dharti Upkaar