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Once Upon a Time | Music
Kapoor’s films. That isn’t surprising, as
from Barsaat in 1949 to Mera Naam Joker in
1972, they composed music for many films
made by or starring the showman. Even
the partnership of Raj Kapoor, Shankar-
Jaikishan, Mukesh, Mangeshkar, Shailendra
and Hasrat Jaipuri worked together often.
Two’s The truth, of course, is that they had
numerous great soundtracks outside the
(musical) Raj Kapoor brand. Basant Bahar was a great
example of the use of classical music, and
company The music of Bazar was among the scores by Husnlal Raat Aur Din, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Dil
Bhagatram
Ek Mandir, Junglee, Professor and Jab Pyaar
Husnlal-Bhagatram: The younger brothers KIsise Hota Hai had melodious numbers.
of classical vocalist Pandit Amarnath, the Like Naushad, they were adept at both
younger Husnlal and Bhagatram also had classical raags and western orchestrations,
a penchant for Punjabi folk music. While often using the piano, accordion and brass
Hindi film music has seen some of the best compositions from duo music Husnlal played the violin, his brother played instruments. They also had a fondness
directors. Narendra Kusnur takes a closer look the harmonium. for the waltz style of composition, best
Initially, the duo did songs with Amirbai exemplified in ‘Dil Ki Nazar Se’ from
Over the years, the world of Hindi film interests clashed. Karnataki and Zohra Ambalewali, but later, Anari. This combination of Indian and
music has seen some fantastic songs created Interestingly, this concept of music director Suraiya, Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed western elements helped them create the
by music director duos. If some composers duos – or trio, if one includes Shankar- Rafi became regulars with them. They pathbreaking non-film album Raga Jazz
like Naushad, SD Burman, Madan Mohan, Ehsaan-Loy – is not common in the West. made their debut in 1944 with Chand, but Style.
OP Nayyar and RD Burman wielded the There have been teams like Rodgers- their biggest hits were Pyar Ki Jeet and Badi The duo had their share of differences too,
baton alone, there were also fantastic Hammerstein and Rodgers-Hart, but there, Bahen. The former had the Suraiya gem including some said to be over Shankar’s
partnerships when two musicians shared the music composer (Richard Rodgers) was ‘O Door Jaanewale’, whereas Badi Bahen preference of singer Sharda over Lata
their inputs to create magical melodies. in partnership with a particular lyricist had Mangeshkar’s ‘Chale Jaana Nahin’, Mangeshkar in some later films. Jaikishan
Though there wasn’t any hard-and-fast (Oscar Hammerstein II or Lorenz Hart). Suraiya’s ‘Woh Paas Rahe Ya Door Rahe’ passed away at the young age of 41.
rule, one of the music directors often played Though some Indian music directors worked and the Mangeshkar-Premlata song ‘Chup
the more creative part, creating the tunes more with specific lyricists, like Naushad Chup Khade Ho’. A career highlight was
and fitting them into the film’s structure. The with Shakeel Badayuni and Madan Mohan Rafi’s patriotic non-film song ‘Suno Suno
other would hire the musicians, and arrange with Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, they were never Ae Duniya Walon’, written after Mahatma
and produce the songs. But that again varied considered as permanent duos. Gandhi’s assassination.
from film to film. In the golden age of Hindi cinema music, The brothers reduced work after the mid-
Not everything was always rosy. At times and continuing right up to the late 1990s, 1950s, with newer composers and styles
arguments would take place, and though certain music director duos have been at the coming in, and they themselves began
they would begin in the interests of the film’s top of the popularity charts. Here, we select having differences. Husnlal suddenly passed
music, would lead to bitterness. Husnlal- five such duos, before talking in brief of the away in 1968 at the age of 49, and Bhagatram
Bhagatram, for instance, were known to 1990s and beyond. Though the output of two died five years later.
reduce work as a duo because of differences. of these duos has been much less than the
In the 1990s, Jatin-Lalit had some very other three, they have played their own role Shankar-Jaikishan: Many people instantly The stirring music of Junglee was among the hits of
successful work, but somewhere, their in the genre. identify Shankar-Jaikishan with Raj Shankar-Jaikishan
30 SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #16 | OCTOBER 2020 31
