# How Majrooh Sultanpuri penned the timeless Teesri Kasam track from prison for Raj Kapoor

> Imprisoned after reciting anti-establishment verses, Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote an iconic opening couplet for Raj Kapoor, which later evolved into a celebrated Bollywood classic.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Bollywood · **Published:** 2026-09-19 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/bollywood/majrooh-sultanpuri-ki-likhi-do-pnktiyan-kaise-banin-raj-kapoor-ki-teesri-kasam-ka-amara-gita-34909 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Majrooh Sultanpuri, Raj Kapoor, Teesri Kasam, Hasrat Jaipuri, Mukesh, Balraj Sahni, Shankar Jaikishan

The years immediately following India's independence were marked by intense political idealism and creative ferment across literature and cinema. During that passionate era, an outspoken lyricist known for his revolutionary temperament frequently stirred literary gatherings and mushairas with hard-hitting poetry. Prominent actor Balraj Sahni shared a deep personal friendship with him. On one occasion, both attended a convention organised for industrial labourers. As they arrived together, the gathered workers enthusiastically requested the poet to recite a few spirited lines reflecting their struggles and aspirations.

Obliging the audience, the poet delivered an incisive critique of the prevailing political direction. The verses included the striking thought, 'Dil mein khwab dollar ka basakar phirti hai Bharat ki ahimsa.' The crowd cheered passionately, and the bold observation gained considerable traction. However, authorities and influential figures within the establishment took serious offence at the poem. Consequently, both the outspoken writer and Balraj Sahni were handed two-year prison sentences. The incarceration arrived at an exceptionally distressing moment, as the writer's wife was pregnant and his household faced severe economic hardship.

## Raj Kapoor's dignified gesture of financial support
When Raj Kapoor learned about the lyricist's plight behind bars and the precarious financial condition of his family, he immediately decided to intervene. At the same time, the filmmaker understood that the imprisoned artist possessed immense self-respect and would flatly refuse any unconditional charity or handout. To offer assistance without bruising his dignity, Raj Kapoor devised an ingenious creative assignment.

Raj Kapoor met him and explained that he wanted a song reflecting on the universe, asking the writer to pen lines pondering why and how the world was created. The poet instantly delivered a profound opening hook that asked the Almighty why this difficult existence had been shaped: 'Duniya banane wale kya tere dil mein samayi, kahe ko duniya banayi.' The man behind those lines was Majrooh Sultanpuri. In return for the opening couplet, Raj Kapoor handed him 1000 rupees, an enormous sum of money in 1948-49. Through this dignified gesture, Majrooh's pregnant wife and family received critical financial relief during their darkest hour.

## A 17-year journey to Teesri Kasam
Nearly 17 years slipped by after that prison transaction before those lines found their way into a feature film. While working on the cinematic classic 'Teesri Kasam', Raj Kapoor shared Majrooh's archived opening couplet with lyricist Shailendra. Because Shailendra was heavily occupied producing the film himself, he handed the lines over to Hasrat Jaipuri, asking him to compose the stanzas and complete the track.

Hasrat Jaipuri crafted the verses surrounding the original hook, while the legendary musical duo Shankar-Jaikishan composed its haunting melody. Rendered in the evocative vocals of Mukesh, the composition turned into a monumental musical masterpiece that continues to resonate decades later. When the finished track was eventually presented to Majrooh Sultanpuri, he magnanimously insisted that official songwriting credit should belong entirely to Hasrat Jaipuri. While formal records credit Hasrat Jaipuri, cinema lore preserves the reality that the foundational couplet was born out of Majrooh Sultanpuri's prison resilience.

## What this means for you
This historical episode highlights the profound dignity, mutual respect, and collaborative generosity that once defined classic Indian cinema.

- **For music listeners:** It offers deeper insight into the real-life struggles and history behind one of Bollywood's most celebrated tracks. Audiences can now appreciate the prison origins and creative contributions behind this golden era classic.
- **For creative professionals:** The story serves as an enduring masterclass in offering financial help while preserving the recipient's dignity and pride. Raj Kapoor's thoughtful method of commissioning creative work instead of offering charity remains exemplary.
- **For cultural historians:** The episode documents the early post-independence tensions surrounding free expression and political dissent among prominent artists. It reflects the heavy personal costs paid by progressive cultural figures during that transitional decade.
- **For modern collaboration:** Majrooh Sultanpuri's willingness to step aside on formal credit demonstrates a rare camaraderie that transcended professional ego. It offers a striking contrast to contemporary industry disputes over intellectual property and public recognition.

## Why this happened
The genesis of this iconic track and Majrooh Sultanpuri's imprisonment were shaped by post-independence political friction and deep creative solidarity.

- **Political confrontation:** The poet's verse recited before industrial labourers directly attacked the state's foreign tilt, stating that Indian non-violence carried dreams of the American dollar. Authorities deemed this intolerable, resulting in two-year prison terms for both Majrooh and Balraj Sahni.
- **Financial distress and dignity:** Imprisonment left Majrooh's pregnant wife and household without livelihood during a severe crisis. Recognizing Majrooh's fierce self-respect, Raj Kapoor commissioned a poetic hook on creation to legitimately give him 1000 rupees.
- **The production of Teesri Kasam:** Seventeen years later, Raj Kapoor retrieved the couplet during the making of 'Teesri Kasam'. Producer Shailendra reallocated the draft to Hasrat Jaipuri, who completed the song before Shankar-Jaikishan and singer Mukesh turned it into an evergreen hit.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Why were Majrooh Sultanpuri and Balraj Sahni sent to prison?
They received two-year prison sentences after reciting critical political poetry during a workers' meeting in post-independence India.

### 2. Why did Raj Kapoor pay 1000 rupees to Majrooh Sultanpuri in jail?
Raj Kapoor paid the sum as an honorarium for writing an opening couplet, ensuring financial relief for Majrooh's struggling family without hurting his self-respect.

### 3. Which movie eventually featured the song Duniya Banane Wale?
The iconic composition was featured 17 years later in Raj Kapoor's acclaimed cinematic project 'Teesri Kasam'.

### 4. Who is officially credited as the lyricist of the song in Teesri Kasam?
Hasrat Jaipuri holds the official songwriting credit after completing the stanzas, with Majrooh Sultanpuri graciously asking for the credit to remain with him.

## Inspiration & Lessons
The story of Majrooh Sultanpuri and Raj Kapoor offers enduring life lessons in navigating adversity with self-respect and extending help with profound empathy.

- **Upholding personal dignity:** Face intense financial and legal hardships without compromising personal integrity or resorting to unconditional handouts. Hard work and self-reliance remain powerful anchors in the darkest times.
- **Helping with sensitivity:** Support vulnerable colleagues in ways that elevate rather than diminish their self-esteem. Commissioning honest labour or creativity is far nobler than treating someone as a subject of charity.
- **Generosity over credit:** Prioritise the shared joy of a finished artistic creation over personal acclaim and possessiveness. Majrooh Sultanpuri's willingness to concede credit to Hasrat Jaipuri remains an extraordinary example of humility.

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