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Jail Cell Song Became a Hit: Majrooh Sultanpuri's Struggle and Raj Kapoor's Support for "Ek Din Bik Jaayega".
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News18•01-10-2026, 04:01
Jail Cell Song Became a Hit: Majrooh Sultanpuri's Struggle and Raj Kapoor's Support for "Ek Din Bik Jaayega".
- •Majrooh Sultanpuri, a renowned lyricist and Urdu poet, was born on October 1, 1919, in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
- •Due to his leftist views and poems on government policies, he was arrested and imprisoned.
- •Even in jail, he continued to write, and it was there that he composed the lyrics for what would become "Ek Din Bik Jaayega Maati Ke Mol".
- •Raj Kapoor, aware of Majrooh's financial difficulties, offered help, but Majrooh preferred work over charity, leading Raj Kapoor to commission a song.
- •Years later, these lyrics were used in Raj Kapoor's film 'Dharam Karam', becoming the hit song 'Ek Din Bik Jaayega Maati Ke Mol', sung by Mukesh.
Key Questions Answered
The composition written by Majrooh Sultanpuri in a jail cell was later used by Raj Kapoor in the film 'Dharam Karam', featuring the evergreen song 'Ek Din Bik Jaayega Maati Ke Mol' sung by Mukesh and composed by R.D. Burman.
Majrooh Sultanpuri was arrested and sent to jail due to his leftist views, poems on government policies, and a critical verse addressing Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during a workers' meeting.
When Majrooh Sultanpuri's family faced financial difficulties during his imprisonment, Raj Kapoor wanted to help him. Respecting Majrooh's self-respect and refusal to accept direct charity, Raj Kapoor offered him work and asked him to write song compositions.
