#Best Songs Composed by C. Ramchandra

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10 Timeless Bollywood Classics By The Legendary Lata Mangeshkar You Should Listen Today

For more than seven decades, Lata Mangeshkar has been an iconic voice of Indian film music. As the most recorded artist in history, she’s had a hand in making some of Bollywood’s most beloved classics. Today, we’re taking a look at 10 of her timeless tracks that have stood the test of time and still inspire listeners.

Introduction to Lata Mangeshkar

Lata Mangeshkar is a legendary Indian playback singer. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional Indian languages. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India.

Mangeshkar was born on September 28,1929 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, into a Marathi family. Her father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, was a classical singer and her mother, Shevanti, was a homemaker. Mangeshkar’s elder sister, Meena Khadikar, was also a playback singer.

Mangeshkar started singing at an early age and made her film debut when she was just thirteen years old. She has recorded songs for films in various Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam and Oriya. 

Mangeshkar has won several awards for her contributions to Indian cinema, including the Padma Bhushan (1969), the Padma Vibhushan (1999) and the Bharat Ratna (2001). She has also been awarded the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer five times.

Mangeshkar’s career spans more than seven decades. She has sung songs for some of the biggest names in B

List of the top ten Lata Mangeshkar songs that have stood the test of time 

Lata Mangeshkar is a legendary playback singer in India who has sung thousands of songs in her career spanning over seven decades. Her voice has been heard in some of the most iconic Hindi film songs of all time. Here is a list of the top 10 songs by Lata Mangeshkar that have stood the test of time:

1. Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo: This patriotic song was composed by C. Ramchandra and written by Kavi Pradeep. The song commemorates Indian soldiers who died during the Sino-Indian War in 1962. The song is still remembered today as one of the most emotional and patriotic songs ever sung.

2. Lag Jaa Gale: This romantic ballad was composed by Madan Mohan and written by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. It was picturized on  Manoj Kumar, Sadhana and released in 1964. The song is still popular today for its soulful melody and lyrics.

3. Chhup Gaye Sare Nazare: The song is a romantic ballad and is one of the most memorable songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Her voice is so beautiful and expressive that it perfectly conveys the emotions of the characters in the song.

4. Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi: This evergreen love song was composed  by R.D. Burman and written by Gulzar. It was picturized on Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen from the film “Khamoshi” and released in 1975. The song is still popular today for its soulful composition and meaningful lyrics.

5. Bahon Mein Chale Aao: The lyrics of the song are very heartwarming and describe the feeling of being in love. The song is from the movie Anamika. Bahon Mein Chale Aao is one of those songs that will stay with you long after you’ve heard it.

6. Yeh Galiyan Yeh Chaubara:  This melodious song is from the movie Prem Rog. The song is sung by Lata Mangeshkar, and the music is composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. 

7. Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai: This song is one of the most popular songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh from the movie Shor and was released in 1972. The lyrics of the song are penned by Santosh Anand and the music is composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. It is a perfect track to listen to when you’re feeling romantic or missing your loved one.

8. Kora Kagaz Tha Yeh Man Mera: The song  was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, and picturised on Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna. The song starts off with a simple melody that gradually builds up into a crescendo. The lyrics are written in a simple yet emotive style, which perfectly captures the feelings of love and longing. The two singers have done a phenomenal job of conveying these emotions through their voices. The music is also very catchy and will stay with you long after you’ve heard it.

9.  Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum: This is a classic Bollywood song that has been sung by Amitabh Bachhan and Lata Mangeshkar. The song is from the movie Silsila and is one of the most popular songs of all time. The lyrics of the song are very meaningful and the tune is very catchy. The song has a very strong emotional impact on the listeners.

10.  Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi: This song from the movie Masoom is sung by Lata Mangeshkar.  The song is a beautiful ballad that has a message of hope and resilience. It is a perfect song for someone who is going through a tough time in their life. The lyrics are very relatable and the melody is very soothing. This is one of those songs that you can listen to over and over again and never get tired of it.

Describe what makes Lata Mangeshkar’s voice so unique and special

Lata Mangeshkar is often referred to as the Nightingale of India and is one of the most celebrated playback singers in Bollywood history. Her unique voice has been described as “honey-coated” and “clear as a bell”, with a wide range and perfect pitch. Lata Mangeshkar began singing at a young age and made her film debut in “Paa laagu kar jori re” from “Aapki Sewa mein” (1947). She went on to record songs for hundreds of Hindi films and has sung in over 20 languages. Mangeshkar’s voice is truly one of a kind and her contributions to the world of Bollywood music are immeasurable.

How Her Songs Are Still Relevant Today

Lata Mangeshkar is often referred to as the Nightingale of India and has been praised for her exceptional vocal abilities. She has recorded songs in over a thousand Hindi films and has sung in multiple languages .

One of the things that makes Lata Mangeshkar’s music timeless is her ability to connect with her listeners. Her songs are full of emotion and resonate with people even today. In a world where Bollywood movies are increasingly becoming more formulaic, her songs offer a much needed respite. They are a reminder of a simpler time when movie songs were truly reflective of the human experience.

Some of Lata Mangeshkar’s most popular songs include “Bhigi Bhigi Rato Me”, “Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya”, “Zindagi Pyar ka Geet Hai”, “Gum Hai Kisike Pyar Me” and “Dil To Hai Dil”. These songs are still relevant today because they deal with universal themes such as patriotism, love, heartbreak and longing. No matter what language you speak or where you’re from, these songs will speak to you on a deep level.

The continued influence of her music and how it has impacted subsequent artists

Lata Mangeshkar is one of the most prolific and respected playback singers in India. She has sung hundreds of songs in Hindi and other Indian languages over her career, which spans more than seven decades. Her music has been influential to subsequent generations of Indian artists, both in terms of her vocal style and the choice of songs she has recorded.

Mangeshkar’s influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary Indian singers. For example, Sunidhi Chauhan has cited Mangeshkar as an inspiration, saying “I grew up listening to Lataji’s songs and try to emulate her style in my own singing.” Similarly, Shreya Ghoshal has said that “Lataji is my biggest inspiration… There is no one who can match her versatility or expressiveness.”

Lata Mangeshkar’s work has also been referenced by a number of international artists. In a 2013 interview, Beyoncé said that she was influenced by Mangeshkar when she was growing up: “My mom used to play a lot of Hindi movie music around the house… I definitely remember being fascinated by the sound of Mangeshkar’s voice.” .

Conclusion

Lata Mangeshkar has been an iconic figure in the Indian music industry for over 70 years, and her influence on popular culture will no doubt continue for generations to come. Her timeless songs have touched the hearts of millions, transcending boundaries of language and geography. There is no denying that Lata Mangeshkar was a pioneer when it came to Bollywood music, and she deserves all the respect and admiration that has been bestowed upon her by fans around the world.

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Lyrics Zindagi Pyar Ki Do Chaar Ghadi

Lyrics Zindagi Pyar Ki Do Chaar Ghadi

Lyrics in English | Zindagi Pyar Ki Do Chaar Ghadi | Anarkali-1953 | Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai Zindagi Pyar KiDo Chaar GhadiHoti HaiZindagi Pyar KiDo Chaar GhadiHoti HaiChaahe Thodi Bhi HoYe Umra Badi Hoti HaiChaahe Thodi Bhi HoYe Umra Badi Hoti HaiZindagi Pyar KiDo Chaar GhadiHoti Hai…………. Antakshari Songs from “Z” Taaj Ya Takht Ya DaulatHo Zamaane Bhar KiKaun Si CheezMohabbat Se Badi Hoti…

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Bollywoodirect remembers Jan Nisar Akhtar, the illustrious Urdu poet and Hindi film lyricist on his 105th birth anniversary today. Jan Nisar Akhtar was an acclaimed poet of Urdu ghazals and nazms, and a part of the Progressive Writers' Movement, who was also a lyricist in Hindi films. Jan Nisar Akhtar has worked with leading music composers including C. Ramchandra, O.P. Nayyar, N Dutta and Khayyam. In a career spanning four decades, he wrote nearly 150 songs. Notable among them were songs from his breakthrough film, A.R. Kardar’s Yasmin (1955), 'Aankhon hi Aankhon Mein' in Guru Dutt's C.I.D. (1956), "Aap yun faaslon se guzarte rahe" (Shankar Hussain), "Yeh dil aur unki nigahon ke saaye' in Prem Parbat (1974) 'Aaja re o mere dilbar aaja' in Noorie (1979) and his last song, "Ae Dil-e-naadaan", in Kamal Amrohi’s Razia Sultan (1983). He wrote and produced a film, Bahu Begum (1967), starring Pradeep Kumar and Meena Kumari. His poetry works include Nazr-e-Butaan, Salaasil, Javidaan, Pichali Pehar, Ghar Angan and Khaak-e-dil. The latter was a poetry collection for which he was awarded the 1976 Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters. He died in Mumbai, India on 19 August 1976, while he was still working on Kamal Amrohi's film, Razia Sultan. He was nominated posthumously for 1980 Filmfare Best Lyricist Award for "Aaja Re Mere Dilbar" from the film, Noorie.

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INFINITE SHADES OF GREY :  A tribute to Hemant Kumar on his 100th birthday

Monday, June 15, 2020

Flashback of my long meeting with Hemant Kumar 34 years ago

by

Raju Korti

After years of longing, I finally managed to catch up with legendary composer, singer and producer Hemant Kumar in 1984, just five years before he passed to leave an unfilled vacuum. He was well past his prime then but his composing and singing instincts were as impeccable. As a keen devotee of film music, thanks to those golden fifties, sixties and early seventies, I nursed an abiding regret of not being able to meet the man about whom I had read and heard so much. As I write this blog, there is a tangential satisfaction to that anguish that it is better late than never. I have no answer to why I didn't write about the intensive interaction I had with him all these years but as an apology of a consolation, I am happy that this blog coincides with his 100th birthday today (June 16).

I will never forget the long, searching look Hemant Da gave me when we met. Dressed in white pyjamas and a long kurta, his six-plus feet lanky frame towered above my diminutive 5-plus feet. Having recovered from an acute heart condition, he looked pale, drawn and weak. Apparently, he was incredulous that someone who had just stepped into his thirties could even think of talking to a veteran who was been-there-done-that. I had to pull myself together before I lent credence to his apparent misgivings. He was accompanied by playback singer Aarti Mukherjee (of 'Saara mora kajra chhudaya tune' fame) who did not take any part in the three-hour conversation except occasional nods and smiles. "Hemant Da, they always talk about the two faculties that you straddled so brilliantly -- as a composer and a singer. So who's better between the two?" I asked him. "I can't put my finger on any one of them. Both are an inseparable parts of my musical instincts. Although, I began as a short story writer, my mind was into music. So I quit Engineering despite vehement opposition from my father. Mind you, one of my short stories won critical literary acclaim when I was barely sixteen but I was prepared to chuck that talent for Rabindra Sangeet." Hemant Da's predilection towards his passion was right on target as within a year he became a singer for All India Radio, his deeply baritone vocals tailor-made to take on the depth of Tagore's compositions. "In those days, my singing hero was Pankaj Mullick and I use to ape him so well that I was nicknamed Chhota Pankaj. But beyond this hero worship, I regret I could not get my teeth into rigorous classical music. It is a regret I will carry to my grave," he said. Having followed Hemant Da's career closely, I could see that the lack of adequate classical music -- by his own admission -- was no handicap, especially in films. In the early forties, his contemporary was King Talat Mehmood whose chaste Urdu diction and rendition of ghazals had made him a darling of the masses. Mohammed Rafi, who later went on to become the premier singer of the industry, was just struggling to gain a toehold while Mukesh had just got going. Kishore Kumar was nowhere on the scene. As someone carrying the stamp and legacy of Rabindra Sangeet, Hemant Da found himself at variance with the genre of film songs. That, however, wasn't a handicap as he had the prime examples of Sachin Dev Burman and Salil Choudhury, both Dadas in every sense of the word. Another Dada was in the making to join this exalted company. "It was in the early forties that I hitched onto the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), a Left-leaning  body which had composer and song writer Salil Da as one of its mainstays. I was in the midst of some musical greats and it was particularly satisfying that Rabindra Sangeet was a common chord that ran through us," Hemant Da recalled. "I wasn't doing badly at all, composing for Bengali films, but when Filmistan made Anandmath in 1951 and I was asked to compose its music, I decided to explore Mumbai, the Mecca of film music. The film was a moderate success but a then raw Lata's Vande Mataram struck perfect patriotic notes and made people sit up and take notice. Then came Shart where I did my own bidding with Na ye chaand hoga." "But wasn't this a turning point for you? Dev Anand happened," I asked him. "Na ye chaand hoga was just the platform. Ye raat ye chaandni (Jaal), Chup hai dharti chup hai chaand sitaare and Teri duniya mein jeene se  (House No 44), Hai apna dil to awaara (Solva Saal) and Na tum hame jaano (Baat Ek Raat Ki) happened because Burman Dada was convinced I could fit on Dev Anand's lips," Hemant Da reminisced, pointing out that in the years to come, he steered himself with his own talent through Naagin, Duniya Jhukti Hai, Bees Saal Baad, Bin Badal Barsaat, Kohra and Anupama. The interesting aside here is this was the same Burman Dada who before being a guide to Hemant Da was contemplating to quit and go back to Calcutta because the scene in Mumbai didn't appeal to his Bengali ethos. Such was Hemant Da's unflinching belief in the potential of Rabindra Sangeet that in those days he was considered as only next to Mullick in the intricacies of that genre ahead of seniors like Burman Dada and Salil Da. This hierarchy was also with its anomalies. Burman Da understood little or nothing of Hindi. He needed to understand the mood of the song and its words written in Bengali before he could employ his compositional genius. Hemant Da was in comparison much more comfortable, having come from the Hindi hinterland of Benares. He was also very much in tune with the musical philosophy of Salil Da and although it didn't show much in his (Hemant Da's) compositions, he had as much flair and understanding of the symphonies, notably among them being Bach. Naagin made Hemant Da a household name. For many, that was no big surprise as composer Ravi who he assisted for many years, told him that given his talent, it was time he started going his own way. The film's feet-tapping music with a string of Lata hits as also his solos and duets, was a revelation as against the three-hour visual atrocity on the viewers. People rather went to 'hear' the movie than 'see' it. The film won him a Filmfare Award. But Hemant Da preferred to dwell on mid-1955 when he sang four solos for the legendary Uttam Kumar. It was the beginning of an enduring friendship and their chemistry showed they were the most poplar singer-actor combination holding an unchallenged sway for almost a decade. Hemant Da lapsed into nostalgia as I mentioned to him that period when he was composing for a lot of Bengali and Hindi films while jealously guarding his roots in Rabindra music. "I was at the peak of my career then as a composer and singer. The best was I was singing for maestros like Nachiket Ghosh, Robin Chatterjee and Salil Choudhury. Some of my songs were remakes or improvisations of the Bengali original. I also hobnobbed with production. Bees Saal Baad, Kohra and Khamoshi were produced by me. Neel Akasher Neeche was directed by Mrinal Sen and went on to bag the President's Gold Medal after an unsavoury controversy." Bees Saal Baad and Kohra forged a wonderful relationship with Biswajeet. After almost an hour, Hemant Da was coming to the perception that for a youngster, I had done my home work fairly well as I mentioned his one song after the other in the course of the meeting. A faint smile creased his face when I mentioned to him that in the bevy of beauties that he sang, my favourites happened to be the 1955 Sardar Malik beauty filmed on Prem Nath 'Mai garibo ka dil hoon watan ki zubaan' (Aab-e Hayat) and a duet with Geeta Dutt from Detective (1958) 'Mujh ko tum jo mile ye jahaan mil gaya' (Fabulous use of Hawaii guitar). He had a word of lament for Mukul Roy, Geeta's brother and the composer of that dulcet duet. "He was such a talented music director and understood the nuances of film music so well but it beats me why his career didn't pick up." In an era when he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Shankar Jaikishen, OP Nayyar, C Ramchandra, Naushad, Madan Mohan, Roshan, Hemant Da did not even once go in for lavish orchestrations. His accompaniments were minimal and the song carried itself on the weight of its sweetness. Hemant Da was particularly delighted when I pointed out how sublime Lata sounded in 'Chhup gaya koi re door se pukar ke' in that obscure film Champakali (1960). He seemed touched when I said it could give Madan Mohan's 'Chaand maddham hai' (Railway Platform/1957) a stiff competition. "I think Burman Dada's influence rubbed off on me. Even when it came to the choice of singers. I remember how he had singled me out to sing for Dev Anand when everyone else felt that my voice wouldn't suit his persona. See how Burman Da stood vindicated. In my career as composer, my choices have been guided by the demands of the song per se rather than factors like who was lip-synching the song and how many instruments I must employ to embellish it." "You tuned so well with Burman Dada and sang 12-13 songs for Dev Anand. What happened thereafter? I asked him. Hemant Da paused a little but the gentleman in him came to the fore. "I don't know what happened after Baat Ek Raat Ki. He never called and I didn't ask. I didn't think too much about it and got busy with my own work." Was it that on Burman Dada's exacting scale Hemant Da's voice had lost its baritone edge? Unlikely, as you know that the quality of his voice was still replete with the same refined sensitivity. I can vouch as I heard him in flesh and blood. "I used Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar sparingly even at the peak of their careers. For that matter, I sang my own song only when it was absolutely called for. I shared a great working rapport with them and I was devastated when I lost two dear younger brothers -- Rafi and Uttam Kumar -- in a span of just one week. They were giants. Why didn't I work with them more? I loved Rafi's Dil ki aawaaz bhi sun (Humsaaya), Manna's Piya maine kya kiya (Us Paar), Mukesh's Woh tere pyaar ka gham. Even an otherwise exuberant Kishore was polite when he teamed up with me. He knew exactly what I wanted to deliver in Kashti ka khamosh safar hai (Girl Friend). I have memories of Rafi walking up to me and wanting to know the pronunciation of some Bengali words before he sang those songs. He was one singer who knew how to use the mike well -- like when to sing from the throat and when to sing from his navel." For all his modesty, Hemant Da could run a quick temper at times and did not hesitate to mince words. He revealed how he had warned Guru Dutt against the latter's penchant for changing his singers and composers at the last minute, citing the example of the 1962 classic Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam that had adultery as its theme. "I agreed only after Guru gave me an undertaking saying that only I was equipped to handle the music since it was set in the backdrop of Bengal." History was made before it was written. For a man on whom the Government of India issued a stamp posthumously in 2016 and had won a spate of awards and recognition, including two national Awards, Hemant Da didn't make much of this memorabilia. He never mentioned any of his songs when asked about his favourites. Having refused Padmashri in the 1970s, he also shunned Padma Bushman which was three years after I met him. More than three decades after his death music companies keep releasing his albums, repackaging his old songs. There are dime a dozen who copy Rafi, Kishore, Mukesh and don't admit so but I personally know many who take a great delight in unabashedly conceding that they love to imitate Hemant Da's style but are nowhere near. Close your eyes and hear the Kishore Kumar composed 1964 beauty from Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein: 'Raahi tu mat ruk jaana, toofan se mat ghabrana Kabhi to milegi teri manzil Kahin door gagan ki chhaon mein..' It may have been incommoded by KK's own 'Jin raaton ki bhor nahi hai' but has in sharp contrast hope and tranquility that make the song a quintessential Hemant Kumar from a school of music that qualifies to be a university of its own. PS: It needed a Hemant Kumar song for a film to be qualified as 'haunting'. And since the man was too modest to speak about his own songs, I will labour over my favourite HK solos and duets which I am sure might raise eyebrows for skipping songs which have hit higher popularity charts. Partly, my choices are influenced because you don't get to hear them much. So here I go. 1) Mai garibo ka dil hoon watan ki zubaan (Aab-e-Hayat/1955/Solo) 2) Mujh ko tum jo mile, ye jahaan mil gaya (Detective/1958/With Geeta Dutt) 3) Aa neele gagan tale pyaar hum kare (Baadshah/1954/With Lata) 4) Baharo se pucho nazaaro se pucho dil kyo deewana mera ho gaya (Fashion/1959/With Lata) 5) Nai manzil nayi raahen naya hai karvaan apna (Hill Station/1957/With Lata) 6) Raahi tu mat ruk jaana (Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein/1964/Solo) 7) Dekho wo chaand chup ke karta hai kya ishaare (Shart/1954/With Lata) 8) Zindagi kitni khubsoorat hai (Bin Badal Barsaat/1963/Solo HK version) 9) Jab jaag uthe armaan to kaise neend aaye (Bin Badal Barsaat/1963/Solo) 10) Ye nayan dare dare, ye jaam bhare bhare (Kohra/1964/Solo)

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Lyrics Ye Zindagi Usi Ki Hai

Lyrics Ye Zindagi Usi Ki Hai

Lyrics Ye Zindagi Usi Ki Hai (English) | Anarkali-1953 | Lata Mangeshkar Aa…Aa…Ye ZindagiUsi Ki HaiJo Kisi KaHo GayaPyar Hi MeKho Gaya Ye ZindagiUsi Ki HaiJo Kisi KaHo GayaPyar Hi MeKho GayaYe ZindagiUsi Ki Hai……… Antakshari Songs from “Y” Ye BahaarYe SamaaKah Raha HaiPyar KarKisi Ki Aarzoo MeApne Dil KoBekaraar Kar Ye BahaarYe SamaaKah Raha HaiPyar KarKisi Ki Aarzoo MeApne Dil KoBekaraar…

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Lyrics Dekh Tere Sansaar Ki Haalat

Lyrics Dekh Tere Sansaar Ki Haalat

Lyrics in English | Dekh Tere Sansaar Ki Haalat | Nastik-1954 | Kavi Pradeep Dekh Tere Sansaar Ki HaalatKya Ho Gayi BhagwaanKitna Badal Gaya Insaan (2)Suraj Na BadlaChaand Na BadlaNa Badla Re AasmanKitna Badal Gaya Insaan (2)…………. Aaya Samay Bada BedhangaAaj Aadmi Bana LafangaKahin Pe Jhagda Kahin Pe DangaNaach Raha Nar Ho Kar NangaChhal Aur Kapat Ke Haathon ApnaBech Raha ImaanKitna Badal Gaya…

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Lyrics Gore Gore O Baanke Chhore

Lyrics Gore Gore O Baanke Chhore

Lyrics in English | Gore Gore O Baanke Chhore | Samadhi (1950) | Lata Mangeshkar, Amirbai Karnataki Gore GoreO Baanke ChhoreKabhi Meri Gali Aaya KaroGori GoriO Baanki ChhoriChaahe Roz Bulaaya KaroGore GoreO Baanke ChhoreKabhi Meri Gali Aaya KaroGori GoriO Baanki ChhoriChaahe Roz Bulaaya Karo………… Antakshari Songs from “G” Roz Roz Mulakaat Achchhi NahiPyar Me Aisi Baat Achchhi NahiThoda Thoda…

[bollywoodirect]

Remembering C. Ramchandra, one of Hindi cinema's great music directors, on his 35th death anniversary. Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar (12 January 1918 – 5 January 1982) was a renowned music composer. In the composer's role, he mostly used the name C. Ramachandra, though he also used the names Annasaheb (in the movies Bahadur Pratap, Matwale, and Madadgaar), Ram Chitalkar (in the movies Sukhi Jeevan, Badla, Mr. Jhatpat, Bahadur, and Dosti), and Shyamoo (in the movie Yeh hai duniya). Further, he often sang and acted in Marathi movies under the name R. N. Chitalkar. For his career as an occasional playback singer he used only his surname Chitalkar. Chitalkar sang some renowned and unforgettable duets with Lata such as Kitna haseen hai mausam in film Azad or Shola Jo bhadke in Albela. Ramachandra provided harmonium accompaniment for Minerva composers Bindu Khan and Habib Khan. He debuted as music director in Tamil movies with Jayakkodi and Vana Mohini. He received public notice as a good composer in Bhagwan Dada's "Sukhi Jeevan", and established a long association that culminated with the musical box office hit "Albela". Influenced by Benny Goodman, Ramachandra introduced in his compositions the alto sax in combination with guitar and harmonica. He also included whistling in one of his famous songs, Aana meri jaan Sunday ke Sunday in film Shehnai. He used a combination of a bongo, an oboe, a trumpet, a clarinet and a sax for the song Shola Jo Bhadke in film Albela. He sang the title song "Shin Shinaki Boobla Boo" with Lata Mangeshkar, which included rock rhythms. He provided the musical score for the scat song "Ina mina dika" in "Aasha". Perhaps C. Ramachandra's biggest success as a music composer was the 1953 movie Anarkali starring Beena Roy in the title role and Pradeep Kumar. The songs that he composed for this movie are today legendary. Songs of this movie like "Yeh Zindagi Usiki Hai", "Mujhse Mat Poochh Mere Ishq Main Kya Rakha Hai", "Mohabbat Aisi Dhadkan Hai", "Jaag Dard-e-Ishq Jaag" etc. went on to become huge hits and were also highly acclaimed as masterpieces. Anarkali also perhaps saw the famed composer-singer combine of Ramachandra and Lata Mangeshkar at their best ever together. A film critic in London who watched the movie is said to have remarked that the heroine sang like an angel without knowing that the angel was actually Lata giving playback for the actress. Similarly, C. Ramchandra's compositions in V. Shantaram's 'Navrang' (Adha hai chandramana, raat aadhi, Tu chhupi hai kahan, Shyamal shyam varan, Are ja re hat natkhat) and V. Shantaram's 'Stree' (O' nirdayi priyatam, aaj mad-hava sath dole) were also quite popular and are still remembered. The highly popular patriotic song "Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo", which was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and penned by poet Pradeep, was a composition of Ramachandra, it was later performed live, by Lata Mangeshkar, in the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru at the Ramlila grounds, in New Delhi on Republic Day, 26 January 1963. It is said Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru became so sentimental that tears rolled down his cheeks. On 27 Jan 2014 Lata Mangeshkar was felicitated by Shri Narendera Modi CM of Gujarat State at Mumbai to commemorate 51st Anniversary of this song. Lata once again sang this patriatic song on staze in front of thousands of her fans. Live TV Coverage on NDTV 24X7 & CNN IBN Ch. Ramachandra similarly provided a memorable musical score accompanying a competition between two dancers whose roles were played by Padmini and Vyjayanthimala for the song Kannum Kannum Kalanthu lyrics penned by Kothamangalam Subbu, sung by P. Leela and Jikki in the Tamil movie Vanjikottai Valiban. He remade the song in Hindi as "Aaja To Aaja" from Raj Tilak written by P. L. Santoshi where Asha Bhosle and Sudha Malhotra rendered their voice. Ramachandra provided music compositions for a few Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Bhojpuri movies besides Hindi movies. In 1953, he also produced with "New Sai Productions" three Hindi movies: "Jhanjhar", "Lehren", "Duniya Gol Hai". In the late 1960s, Ramachandra produced two Marathi movies, "Dhananjay" and "Gharkul". He also acted in them and composed music for them. C. Ramchandra died on 5 January 1982 in Mumbai. Ramchandra wrote his autobiography in Marathi in 1977. Mumbai based troupe Musicolor, which is promoting vintage music, presented an exclusive tribute programmes featuring the gems of C Ramchandra at Dinanath Mangeshkar auditorium on 22 January 2010.

[bollywoodirect]

Remembering Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar from the famous music director duo Laxmikant–Pyarelalon his 19th death anniversary. Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar, was born on the day of Laxmi Puja (Diwali), on 3 November 1937. Probably, because of the day of his birth, his parents named him as Laxmikant, after the goddess Laxmi and god Vishnu. He spent his childhood amidst dire poverty in the slums of Vile Parle (East) in Mumbai. His father died when he was a child. Because of the poor financial condition of the family, he could not complete his academic education either. Laxmikant's father's friend, a musician himself, advised Laxmikant and his elder brother to learn music. Accordingly, Laxmikant learned to play the mandolin and his elder brother learned to play the tabla. He spent two years in the company of the well-known mandolin player Hussain Ali. He began organising and performing in Indian Classical Instrumental Music concerts to earn some money. Later, in the 1940s, he also learned mandolin from Bal Mukund Indorker and violin from Husnalal (of the Husanlal Bhagatram fame). Laxmikant began his film career as a child actor in the Hindi films Bhakt Pundalik (1949 film) and Aankhen (1950 film). He also acted in some Gujarati films. When Laxmikant was about 10 years old, he once played mandolin in a Lata Mangeshkar concert in Radio Club, Colaba. Lata was so impressed that she talked to him after the concert. Laxmikant and Pyarelal met at Sureel Kala Kendra, a music academy for children, run by the Mangeshkar family. After she came to know about their financially poor backgrounds, Lata recommended their names to music directors like Naushad, Sachin Dev Burman and C. Ramchandra. Similar financial backgrounds and age made Laxmikant and Pyarelal very good friends. They used to spend long hours at the recording studios, sometimes getting work for each other and even playing together whenever they got the opportunity. Pyarelal often used to frequent the Bombay Chamber Orchestra and the Paranjoti Academy, where he would perfect his skills in the company of Goody Seervai, Coomi Wadia, Mehli Mehta and his son, Zubin Mehta. Laxmikant–Pyarelal were not content with the payments being made to them for their music, so they decided to go to Madras (now Chennai). But, it was the same story there. So, they returned. Once Pyarelal decided to leave India and go to Vienna to play for symphony orchestras, just like Zubin. However, he stayed back at Laxmikant's insistence. Some of Laxmikant–Pyarelal's colleagues at this time included Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Santoor) and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute). Later, Shivkumar and Hariprasad also ventured in Hindi Cinema as Shiv-Hari. Laxmikant–Pyarelal worked with almost all reputed music directors (with the exception of O. P. Nayyar and Shankar-Jaikishan) of the 1950s. In 1953, they became assistants to Kalyanji-Anandji and worked with them as assistants till 1963. They worked as music arrangers for many music directors including Sachin Dev Burman (in Ziddi) and also for his son Rahul Dev Burman (in his first film Chhote Nawab). Laxmikant–Pyarelal and R D Burman remained very good friends, even when Laxmikant–Pyarelal started giving music independently. R D Burman played mouth organ for all songs of Dosti. Laxmikant once made a guest appearance playing role of himself as a Composer of Song "Dil Ki Baat" in Teri Kasam (1982), which had music by R D Burman. Laxmikant–Pyarelal composed Indian classical music as well as Western music. Due to his flaming style of music, he earned the nickname Laxmikant "Pyromaniac" Pyeralal. But they were most popular for their folk tunes and semi-classical music. In Shagird, they created Rock-n-Roll-style foot-tapping melodies. The film Karz is worth specially mentioning here where LP successfully, gave disco-like music, in this film they had experimented with a ghazal "Dard-e-dil Dard-e- jigar" by westernising it. The song is strongly remembered even now, and the duo received the Filmfare Best Music Director Award for the year. Although not as a rule, Laxmikant mostly looked after vocals and Pyarelal used to take care of orchestration. Both had vast knowledge of various music genres, musical instruments and orchestra management. LP dominated the Weekly Hindi Film songs Countdown programme Binaca Geet Mala, the most popular musical radio programme of its time. Its first broadcast was in 1953 by Radio Ceylon and its host was the Ameen Sayani. The Binaca Geet Mala ranked the most popular Bollywood film songs according to sales in select shops in select cities. In the third quarter of 1963, LP’s first ever songs Hasta Hua Nurani Chehara form Parasmani hit the “Binaca Geet Mala”. After that LP’s songs were regularly and prominently aired on “Binaca Geet Mala”. There used to be sixteen songs in each of the weekly “Binaca Geet Mala” programme, more than half the numbers of the songs were of LP. There are certain weekly Binaca Geet Mala programmes in which more than 13 out of 16 songs of LP were broadcast when LP were on right on top of their carrier. BGM used to broadcast annual (Vasrshik ) programme giving the orders of the top 32 songs of every year. In this programme also LP were having upper hand. Not only that, on an average, there used to be at least more than 15 songs used to be of LP, that too about 50 % of the songs in between top to first ten positions. The Binaca Geet Mala records shows that Laxmikant-Pyarelal have completely dominated this musical programme. In all Laxmikant-Pyarelal have 245 numbers of Binca Geetmala Final Songs…(The songs compiled at the end of every year, to measure the popularity)..The highest numbers of the songs by any music directors appeared in Binaca Geetmala Finals. Apart from Laxmikant-Pyarelal have the highest numbers of the TOP songs for 11 years. Like बॉलीवुड डायरेक्ट Bollywoodirect #bollywood