A Tribute to Shail Chaturvedi

Shail Chaturvedi, eminent Hindi poet, humorist, lyricist and Bollywood character actor, passed away early Monday morning.

A former lecturer at Allahabad University, Chaturvedi had also played character roles in several television serials and Bollywood movies, including Uphaar, Chitchor, Naiyya, Hum Do Hamaare Do, Chameli Ki Shaadi, Narasimha, Kareeb, Jahan Tum Le Chalo.

A contemporary of humourists like Kaka Hathrasi, Pradeep Chaubey and Ashok Chakradhar, Chaturvedi formed the A-league of hasya kavis. His works took a candid dig at the changing face of Indian politics through the 70’s and the 80’s. Chaturvedi was well-known for his cynical approach to everyday life. He had a quirk ready for anything odd that caught his eye.

When colour television was still a novel concept, Chaturvedi was synonymous with the annual kavi sammelan broadcast on Doordarshan every Holi. The exchange of repartees with fellow poets never failed to tickle even the weakest of the funny bones. When he was done having audiences at kavi sammelans in splits, he graced the small-screen with his large frame.

I remember those years fondly when we used to eagerly await Hasya Kavi Sammelan shows on TV.