Talent can never be suppressed. Like water, it always finds its way even through the thorny forests and steep mountains. Here’s a story of finding fame despite the challenges, societal pressure.
If there is passion and desire, it shines in one’s work and draws appreciation. For a long time, in India, arts remained accessible only to the elite class. Although, we now appreciate artists from different fields, but only when they have achieved success. It is still rare to encourage budding artists or assist them in reaching their dreams.
When a students opts to study arts in higher education, we consider that they scored poorly and arts was their only option. Smashing this stereotype is Manoj Yadav, a small-town boy who turned his passion for writing shero-shayari into a successful career. He loves to play with words and did exactly that to create his own identity across the globe.
Son of a mill worker
Manoj Yadav hails from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and is currently a well-known name in Bollywood. He has written songs for various movies, including Raees, and Cricket World Cup. In 1960s, his father shifted to Mumbai after finding work in a mill. Thus, Manoj’s childhood was spent between Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh.
He would study in a Mumbai school and later spend two months-long summer holiday in Azamgarh. He was good in studies and popular among his teachers and classmates. Like most parent in India, his parents, too, hoped that he would become either a doctor or collector. But he had something else on his mind. His love for poetry was surpassing everything and he couldn’t bear the thought of parting with his passion.
Thrown book to a history teacher
It is quite imaginable with what craze and passion did Manoj feel about poetry. Once, he was creating some poetry on his notebook sitting in his history class. When the teacher noticed that he wasn’t attentive, she snatched and tore the paper.
Manoj was furious and threw the history book at the blackboard crying, “I don’t like history. I like poetry”. Watching his reaction and the quality of his writing at such a young age, the teacher too understood that Manoj was different.
Worked in great films
Manoj has composed songs for nearly two dozen films and many jingles. He has worked on the 2011 World Cup Cricket theme song and the title song of Kaun Banega Crorepati. The notable films he has worked in includes Raees, Gabbar is Back, Piku, Ungli, Boss, and Son of Sardar, to name a few.
Manoj says, “My father had brought me to Mumbai from the village. I started by writing jingles for a wall painting company and other small companies. I stepped into Bollywood for the first time in 2010 when I worked for the Ad film of Lux. Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan acted on that advertisement. The opportunity was given to me as a promotion and I did not receive any payment for it. It was the turning point of my life. Then I got the opportunity to write the Anthem “De Ghumake” for the cricket world cup 2011 and then one after another opportunity came my way.
Songs written for political parties
Manoj also wrote the famous campaign song “Kaam Bolta Hai” for the SP in the recent election in Uttar Pradesh. Manoj also has worked with well-known artists such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, and Pritam.
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