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Anandji Virji Shah Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

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Age: 91 Years
Wife: Shanta Ben Shah
Hometown: Mumbai

Anandji Virji Shah

Bio/Wiki
Other NameAnandji Veerji Shah, Anand V Shah
NicknameKalyanji Anandji, Chote Miyan
ProfessionMusic Director, Orchestrator, Conductor
Physical Stats
Height (approx.)5' 4" (163 cm)
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourGrey
Career
DebutFilm: Satta Bazaar (1959)
The poster of the film Satta Bazaar
Awards2015: Lifetime Achievement Award by Global Indian Music Academy (GiMA) Awards for his outstanding contributions to music

2015: Maestro Award by the Whistling Woods International College in Mumbai
Anandji Virji Shah at the Whistling Woods International
2012: Sixth Akshaya Samman Award by the Akshaya Mohanty FOundation for his outstanding contribution to music

2011: Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for his outstanding contributions to music

2006: BMI Film & TV Award by the Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) for the composition of the part of the song Don't Phunk with My Heart
Anandji Virji Shah with the BMI Award
2004: Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sahar Parivaar Awards for his outstanding contributions to music

2003: Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards for his outstanding contributions to music
Anandji Virji Shah with IIFA Award
1992: Padma Shri Award (fourth highest civilian award by Government of India) for his outstanding contributions to music
Anandji Virji Shah receiving the Padma Shree award
1992: Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) Award for contributions to music
Anandji Virji Shah (left, standing) with the IMPPA Award
1974: Filmfare Award in the Best Music Director category for the film Kora Kagaz

1968: National Award in the Best Music Director category for the film Sarawatichandra

1965: Cine Music Directors Awards for the film Himalay Ki God Mein
Personal Life
Date of Birth2 March 1933 (Thursday)
Age (as of 2024)91 Years
BirthplaceKundrodi, Cutch State, British India (now Kutch district, Gujarat, India)
Zodiac signPisces
NationalityIndian
HometownMumbai
ReligionHinduism
Relationships & More
Marital StatusMarried
Family
Wife/SpouseShanta Ben Shah
Anandji Virji Shah with his wife
ChildrenSon- Deepak Shah
Daughter- Rita Prakash Valambia
Anandji Virji Shah with his daughter Rita
ParentsFather- Virji Premji Shah
SiblingsBrother(s)- 2
• Kalyanji Virji Shah (music director)
Anandji Virji Shah with elder brother Kalyanji Virji Shah
• Babla (singer)
Anandji Virji Shah with brother Babla
Other RelativesSister-in-law- Kanchan
Anandji Virji Shah's sister-in-law Kanchan
Nephew- Viju Shah (Music composer)
Viju Shah
Nephew- Vaibhav Shah (percussionist, musician)
Anandji Virji Shah's nephew Vaibhav Shah

Anandji Virji Shah with the musical composer duo Sachin - Jigar

Some Lesser Known Facts About Anandji Virji Shah

  • Anandji Virji Shah’s childhood was in Girgaon, Bombay (now Mumbai), as his businessman father migrated from Cutch state, British India (now Kutch, Gujarat), to open a kirana store in Bombay.
  • The renowned film director V. Shantaram and actress Divya Khote were his family’s neighbours in Girgaon.
  • At age 11, he and his classmates sang the chorus in the film Meghdoot (1945).
  • At the start of their musical career, Anandji’s elder brother Kalyanji started an orchestral group named Kalyanji Virji and Party with him. The group was the pioneer in organising musical shows in Mumbai and other areas.
  • Anandji assisted his elder brother in the music direction of the films Samrat Chandragupta (1958) and Post Box 999 (1958). They officially came together as Kalyanji Anandji from the film Satta Bazaar and Madaari in 1959.

    Anandji Virji Shah with elder brother Kalyanji

    Anandji Virji Shah with elder brother Kalyanji

  • One of the earliest hits of the duo was the songs in the film Chhalia (1960). Another popular music composer duo, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, assisted them in this film.

    Anandji (second from right) with R D Burman and Laxmikant- Pyarelal

    Anandji (second from right) with R D Burman and Laxmikant- Pyarelal

  • Other milestone hits in their early musical career were the scores in the films Himalay Ki God Mein (1965) and Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965).
  • Many of the songs composed by Kalyanji Anandji appeared multiple times on the popularity chart of the radio program Binaca Geetmala broadcast on Vividh Bharati Service of All India Radio network.
  • Kalyanji Anandji gave the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar 302 songs, many of which are evergreen hits. Some of the popular songs under the trio’s credit are Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door Thay from Aamne Saamne (1967), Roothe Roothe Piya from Kora Kagaz (1974), Main Pyasa Tum Sawan from Faraar (1975), Salaam-e-ishq Meri Jaan from Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), Jiska Mujhe Tha Intezaar from Don (1978).
  • Some of the duo’s popular songs sung by Kishore Kumar are Zindagi Ka Safar from Safar (1970), Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz from Kora Kagaz (1974), Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas from Blackmail (1974), O Saathi Re from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), the qawwali Qurbani Qurbani Qurbani from Qurbani (1980), and Neele Neele Ambar Par from Kalakaar (1985).

    Anandji (left) with Kishore Kumar and Kalyanji

    Anandji (left) with Kishore Kumar and Kalyanji

  • The combination of Kalyanji Anandji and singer Mohammed Rafi gave everlasting hit songs such as Govinda Ala Re Ala from Bluff Master (1963), Akele Hai Chale Aao from Raaz (1967), Aja Tujh Ko Pukarein Mere Geet from Geet (1970), and Sare Shaher Mein App Sa from Bairaag (1976).

    Anandji with Mohammed Rafi and Kalyanji

    Anandji with Mohammed Rafi and Kalyanji

  • They had a long and close association with renowned singer Mukesh. Under their musical direction, he sang 91 songs. Some of the popular songs are Hum Chhod Chale Hain Mehfil Ko from the film Ji Chahta Hai (1964), Chand Si Mehbooba from the film Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Koi Jab Tumhara Hriday Tod De from the film Purab Aur Paschim (1970), and Kya Khoob Lagti Ho from the film Dharmatma (1975).

    Anandji (right) with Kalyanji (middle) and Mukesh (left)

    Anandji (right) with Kalyanji (middle) and Mukesh (left)

  • The renowned singer Asha Bhosle sang 297 songs for Kalyanji Anandji, some of which were popular internationally. Some of their popular hits are Aaiye Aapka Tha Humen Intezar from Mahal (1969), Husn Ke Laakhon Rang from Johny Mera Naam (1970), Yeh Mera Dil from Don (1978), Kya Dekhte Ho from Qurbani (1978), and O Saathi Re from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978).
  • They mentored many popular singers, such as Kumar Sanu, Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik, Sadhana Sargam, Udit Narayan, and Sunidhi Chauhan and also gave them their career’s first hit songs.
  • The duo composed music for over 250 films.
  • The duo retired from music direction with the film Tridev (1989) when Kalyanji’s son and Anandji’s nephew, Viju Shah, started his musical direction career.
  • After their retirement, their compositions were used by DJ Dan The Automator in the album Bombay the Hard Way: Guns, Cars and Sitars (1998), the DJ team of Sutrasonic, DJ Harv and DJ Sunni in the album Bollywood Funk and became popular with the Western audience.
  • The music group Black Eyed Peas’s Grammy Award-winning album Don’t Phunk with My Heart used Kalyanji Anandji’s music pieces from Ae Naujawan from Apradh (1972) and Yeh Mera Dil from Don (1978).
  • Anandji was known for his mimicry on stage.