Mathura road to be named after lyricist Shailendra

Well-known Bollywood lyricist Shailendra will have a road named after him in Mathura where he spent his formative years from 1930 to 1946.

Manisha Gupta, chairperson of the local municipality, announced this at a function in Shailendra's memory, aptly titled "Jeena isi ka naam hai", organised by Jan Sanskratik Manch at the Birla Institute of Management and Technology in Greater Noida on Saturday.

The function was held to mark the lyricist's 92nd birth anniversary on August 30.

His son Dinesh fondly remembered his father and expressed his deep gratitude to the culturally inclined people of Mathura.

The road from Dhauli Pyaoo will be named after Shailendra, Manisha Gupta said: "It is an honour for the city as we will do it."

Ashok Bansal of the Jan Sanskratik Manch told IANS: "Shailendra came with his father from Rawalpindi and settled in Mathura. He was only seven at that time."

Shailendra died at the age of 43 in 1966. He wrote more than 800 songs for 117 films.

He acted also in some films with Raj Kapoor, Bansal said.

Bansal said a CD of Shailendra's 100 best songs was also released in Mathura and a souvenir was published on him.

"Hema Malini (Mathura MP) had initially agreed to dedicate a special gate in Shailendra's memory but has now gone back on her words," members of the Jan Sanskratik Manch said.