Forgotten composers

Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies (9): Lachhiram

Music Director Lachhiram March 30, 2014

Who is not aware of Tu shokh kali main mast pawan, tu shamm-e-wafa main parwana or Dhalti jaye raat kah de dil ki baat? The songs are among all time greats of Rafi. But many lovers of old film music may not be aware or might have forgotten the name of Lachhiram. A very awkward […]

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Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies (8): Avinash Vyas

Aviash Vyas August 20, 2013

Guest article by Ashok M Vaishnav (Many talented music personalities from regional films/languages enriched Hindi film music. Some achieved great name and fame in Hindi films, especially those from Bengal, such as SD Burman, Hemant Kumar and Salil Chaudhary, or in the Vintage Era, RC Boral and Pankaj Mullick; or from Marathi, such as C […]

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Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies (6): Pardesi

Thumbnail image for Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies (6): Pardesi May 22, 2012

Since I started this series, readers have been suggesting names of various composers. Some have been covered; others would follow in due course. But no one has mentioned the name of Pardesi so far. I am not surprised; no one fits the theme Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies better than Pardesi. Pardesi who? I do not […]

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Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies (5): Sardar Malik

Thumbnail image for Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies (5): Sardar Malik March 21, 2012

Sardar Malik was not counted among the top five composers, which place was occupied by Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan, C Ramchandra, OP Nayyar and SD Burman. He would not be counted among the top dozen, some people might have difficulty in including his name even in the top twenty music directors of the Golden Era. Google […]

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Forgotten Composers, Unforgettable Melodies (3) – C Arjun

Thumbnail image for Forgotten Composers, Unforgettable Melodies (3) – C Arjun October 27, 2011

I have not forgotten the Forgotten Composers, Unforgettable Melodies. It so happens that in a unique coincidence birth anniversaries of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, and death anniversaries of Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar fall in a narrow band of two and a half months between July 31 to October 13. They are the […]

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Forgotten Composers, Unforgettable Melodies (2) – Vinod

Thumbnail image for Forgotten Composers, Unforgettable Melodies (2) – Vinod August 13, 2011

The song La re lapaa la re lappa layee rakhda from Ek Thi Ladki (1949) always intrigued me. Its words (of mukhda) carried no meaning to me. Today I know it is based on a traditional Punjabi folk song, and these words indeed have some meaning. Then, the music director Vinod. Who was he? What […]

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Forgotten Composers, Unforgettable Melodies (1) – Daan Singh

Thumbnail image for Forgotten Composers, Unforgettable Melodies (1) – Daan Singh June 20, 2011

A tribute on his passing away  I saw a small news item tucked away deep inside the Times of India’s today’s edition stating that music director Daan Singh passed away at his Jaipur home of liver ailment at the age of 78 on Saturday June 18. If you are not a keen reader or aware […]

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Chitragupta – Magic Maker with Lata Mangeshkar

Thumbnail image for Chitragupta – Magic Maker with Lata Mangeshkar August 13, 2010

When I try to compile the most melodious, the most beautiful songs of Lata Mangeshkar, the following songs invariably come to my mind: Song Film Kare kare badra ja re ja re badra Bhabhi (1957) Na to dard gaya na dawa hi mili Kali Topi Lal Rumal (1960) Sajna sajna kahe bhul gaye re pukar […]

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