When we talk of music directors who have their own distinctive style, the name of Rajesh Roshan springs instantly to mind. Rajesh Roshan has made an indelible mark in hindi film music with his compositons, giving us over 50 years of melodious music. Let’s take a look at some of his beautiful numbers. An attempt has been made to include some not so often mentioned songs which are gems from his repertoire.
1. Aa ri aa ja nindiya tu le chal kahin (Kunwara Baap) 1974
This song never fails to tug at the heartstrings. The situation in the film is heart-breaking enough and Rajesh Roshan’s music and Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lyrics give the emotional goose bump inducing emphasis to it. Actor-filmmaker Mehmood had given an eighteen-year-old Rajesh Roshan his first break as a composer with this film.
2. Yeh raatein nayi purani (Julie ) 1975
Although best known for Preeti Sagar’s lilting My heart is beating and Kishore Kumar’s soulful Dil kya kare, this dulcet solo of Lata Mangeshkar written by Anand Bakshi sounds fresh and fragrant whenever we hear this album. Julie was Rajesh Roshan’s second film for which he won his first Filmfare Award.
3. Johnny ko
maine toh jaana hai aaj (Ginny aur Johnny ) 1976
A lilting
song from this ace composer for Mehmood again. A sweet song that touches a
chord every time we hear it. Sung by Kishore Kumar and a very young Vijeyta
Pandit, this song is a gem that has gone unnoticed by many Rajesh Roshan fans.
4. Pal bhar mein
yeh kya ho gaya (Swami ) 1977
Swami was the first
Basu Chatterjee film for which Rajesh Roshan held the baton of music director. This
went on to be a long and beautiful association, creating mellifluous music for
all of us to treasure in six more films that came later which were Priyatama, Khatta
Meetha, Dillagi, Baton Baton Mein, Man Pasand and Humari Bahu Alka.
Swami has very soulful songs, from Yesudas’ Ka karun sajni to Kishore Kumar’s Yaadon mein woh. However, I chose this Lata solo because of the complete blend of her voice into the feeling of falling in love, drenched with the monsoon as a backdrop. Amit Khanna’s lyrics spark the magic further. The taar shehnai and the santoor seal the deal.Sheer magic.
5. Tumse mila tha pyaar (Khatta Meetha) 1978
Woh khwahishein ajeeb thi
Sapne ajeeb the…
A beautiful duet sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore
Kumar, penned by Gulzar. One more from the Basu Chatterjee- Rajesh Roshan team.
This was filmed on Rakesh Roshan and Bindiya Goswami, one of many songs that
Rajesh Roshan has composed for his brother to enact on screen. A delightful
film which is remembered as much for the dialogues, acting and direction, as it
is for the music. A song filled with nostalgia which makes us take a look at
what we were years back and what we dreamt of.
6. Main kaun sa
geet sunaaoon (Dillagi) 978
One more gem from the Basu Chatterjee- Rajesh Roshan
duo, penned by Yogesh. Lata Mangeshkar makes magic in this melodious solo, the
calmness is further heightened by the use of the flute. This song has been
filmed on the steps of a ghat (I am unsure of the exact location, but I believe
this was near Mysore) and one can feel the cooling down of the day in the late evening
with a refreshing breeze from the water in the tune of the song. The unlikely
romance between Dharmendra as SwarnKamal - a newly appointed Sanskrit professor in a Girls college- and
Hema Malini as Renu -a
strict Chemistry lecturer further enhances the charm of this
Rajesh Roshan masterpiece.
7. Main akela
apni dhun mein magan (Man Pasand) 1980
I feel that the music
of Man Pasand never got its rightful due because people were quick to shrug it
off as the remake of My Fair Lady. What needed to be noticed was that Rajesh
Roshan and Amit Khanna worked under a stringent framework of the original and
yet they managed to give Man Pasand a unique Indianness in the composition as
well as the lyrics. Main akela apni dhun mein magan is meant to replace
‘I’ve grown accustomed to her face’ of the original. It goes beyond that
by being a song that is immortal in its magic now. Listen to this song and you will realise the magic that Amit Khanna’s words have created:
Mere sapno ka sach ho jana, sach ho jana
Meri manpasand ban jana,
Inse mujhe kya hai haasil phir bhi
Ye hai meri aadat mein shamil ….
And the magic of Rajesh Roshan with Kishore Kumar serenading
you as the words and tune gently define how musicologist Pratap (Dev Anand) has
begun to fall in love with the flower girl Kamli (Tina Munim). This is one of
the most exquisite solos of Kishore Kumar for Rajesh Roshan.
These were just seven of my selected gems from Rajesh Roshan. Would love to hear from you in the comments below about your favourite Rajesh Roshan songs!
