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Kalyan laundry man doubles up as lyricist

Very few people living in Kalyan’s Murbad Road are aware that the forty-one-year-old dhobi who comes to collect their clothes is also an accomplished lyricist.

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Has three poem books, lyrics for a Bhojpuri film and Hindi music albums to his credit

Very few people living in Kalyan’s Murbad Road are aware that the forty-one-year-old dhobi who comes to collect their clothes is also an accomplished lyricist.

In fact, Shiv Sagar Unnavi has written lyrics for Bhojpuri films like Kahan Jayibe Najariz Churaike, and has even penned songs for Hindi music albums.

Unnavi, who holds a BA degree in Hindi Literature from the Allahabad University, came to Mumbai in 1978 to become a lawyer. But he couldn’t fulfill this dream due to lack of funds. So, he took up odd jobs, until the early 80s, when he ended up with a coal-iron in his hands and has been the neighbourhood dhobi ever since. Yet he did not forget his literature lessons.

Today, along with owning a small laundry in Kalyan, he takes time out from his busy schedule to churn out filmy numbers. Till date, Unnavi has penned three books, two of which are poetry collections in Hindi and the third is a Ghazal collection in Urdu.

“I always had to suppress my ambitions because I haven’t had enough funds throughout my life. But a few people, who I have met through my laundry, read my poetry helped me with my first book Ghayal Bharat, which was published in December 2001. This was a start and then my second book Andhon Ke Shaher Mein Aaina was published in Decmeber 2003. It was followed by Maikada, the Urdu Ghazal collection, in December 2005,” says Unnavi.

He adds: “I have also been interested in writing lyrics for songs and in November 2000, I approached Venus Music with a small collection of lyrics written for a Bhojpuri album, which was released in November 2003. This album — Kat Gaya Khatmal —became a great hit amongst Bhojpuri listeners. I got a second offer of writing lyrics for a Bhojpuri film starring Shahbaz Khan (of Tipu Sultan fame) and Bhojpuri film star Krishna Abhishek.” The film was released in March this year.

Unnavi has also penned 16 love songs for two Hindi music albums called Chandramukhi and Padosan. He is in talks with a few leading music companies who want to release the albums.

“Unnavi is a very good lyricist. He can write in Hindi, Awadhi and Bhojpuri — it’s his unique selling point. He will surely earn fame in the future,” said Rajesh Prasad, who was a music director, Venus Music.

Unnavi stays in a rented one-room flat with his two children and wife, and it is where he runs his laundry too.

“The laundry shop is my only source of income. It helps me put food on the table and funds my passion, which also helps me rejuvenate after a tiring day. I make it sure that I write some poetry or Ghazal every day,” says Unnavi.

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