Shams-ul-Huda bihari was born in 1922 in Ara, Bihar. He studied in Calcutta, at Presidency College and graduated with a BA degree. He used to write romantic poetry in Urdu and Hindi, in his early days. He was also fluent in Bengali. As a youngster, he played football in Calcutta for Mohan Bagan. His brother Huda Bihari was a director (Jogi) and producer (Do Badan, Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai).
In 1947, he moved to Bombay from Calcutta, where he'd been living and studying. For the rest of his life, he wrote, with varying success, for the Hindi film industry. In the late fifties and sixties, his work, particularly his partnership with composer
O P Nayyar and the singer
Asha Bhosle was exceptionally popular. With the decline in romantic movies during the seventies, his recorded work was limited though he continued to write throughout the period.
Starting the '50s decade with a few songs in Bedardi, Khubsoorat, Rangeela and Daku Ki Ladki. Bihari got some attention in a Ram Ganguly compostion in Gawaiyya, where he wrote 'Teri Yaad Ka Deepak Jalta Hai...'. But still success evaded him in these years. In 1954, his songs clicked with the release of Shart.
Hemant Kumar was the composer. He wrote beautiful songs for the film, like, 'Na Ye Chand Hoga Na Taare Rahenge...', 'Dekho Ye Chand Chhupke Karta Hai Kya Ishaare...', 'Meri Taqdeer Ke Maalik...'. Bihari did a lot of work with Hemant Kumar, which includes, Ek Jhalak, Hill Station and Yahudi Ki Ladki.
Bihari also did some good work with
Ravi who was
Hemant Kumar's assistant in those days, for the films like, Dilli Ka Thug & Ghar Sansaar. His 'Sapno ki Dor bandhi palkon ka palna...' and 'Bhala karne wale bhalai kiye ja..' were appreciated by the film goers. His collaboration with music director
O P Nayyar was very fryuitful and together they created some of the best melodies, like, 'Bahut shukriya badi meherbani meri zindagi mein huzoor aap aaye...', 'Mujhe dekhkar aapka muskurana...' (both for Ek Musafir Ek Hasina), 'Kisi na kisi se kabhi na kabhi...', 'Deewana hua baadal...', 'Ye chand sa roshan chehra...', 'Isharon Isharon mein dil lene waale...' (All for kashmir Ki Kali), 'Wo hans ke mile humse...' (Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi), 'Zara haule haule chalo more saajna...' (Sawan ki Ghata) etc.
They together worked for many films like, Mangu, Ek Musafir Ek Hasina, Hongkong, Kashmir Ki Kali, Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi, Do Dilon Ki Daastan, Mohabbat Zindagi Hai, Sawan Ki Ghata, Ye Raat Phir Na Aayegi, CID 909, Dil Aur Mohabbat, Ek Baar Muskura Do etc to name a few.
One of the few good writers that gave us so many good songs, and yet remained relatively unsung. That was S H Bihari. The man who could write touching romantic songs died on 25th February 1987.
