By Dr. Souvik Chatterji

Rafi Sahab is remembered on his death anniversary on 31st July 2020. Laxmikant Pyarelal faced the greatest challenge in establishing their career in Bollywood films in the 1960s. There were a number of reasons for that.

Firstly a huge number of legendary composers were dominating Bollywood films in the 1960s ranging from Shankar Jaikishan to Naushad Ali, Madan Mohan Kohli to Roshanlal Nagrath, C Ramchandran to OP Nayyar, Salil Chowdhury to SD Burman, Vasant Desai to Kalyanji Anandji, to name a few. The list just goes on. Most of these legends were specialists in their own area. LP had to compose music having identity of their own which was very difficult. They faced the acid test in the early 1960s and late 1960s and became famous. Rafi Sahab was one of the biggest contributors in the careers of LP in the 1960s. The article speaks about the contribution of Dharmendra, LP and Rafi Sahab and also Jeetender, LP and Rafi Sahab in the 1960s.

Here is the list of the films in which LP composed music in the 1960s.

1963

1. Harishchandra Taramati
2. Parasmani

1964

3. Aaya Toofan
4. Dosti
5. Mr X In Bombay
6. Sant Gyaneshwar
7. Sati Savitri

1965

8. Boxer
9. Hum Sub Chor Hain
10. Lootera
11. Shriman Funtoosh

1966

12. Aasra
13. Aaye Din Bahar Ke
14. Chhota Bhai
15. Daaku Mangal Singh
16. Dillagi
17. Laadla
18. Mere Lal
19. Naag Mandir
20. Pyar Kiye Ja
21. Sau Saal Baad

1967

22. Anita
23. Chhaila Babu
24. Duniya Nachegi
25. Farz
26. Jaal
27. Milan
28. Milan Ki Raat
29. Night In London
30. Patthar Ke Sanam
31. Shagird
32. Taqdeer

1968

33. Baharon Ki Manzil
34. Izzat
35. Mere Hamdam Mere Dost
36. Raja Aur Rank
37. Sadhu Aur Shaitaan
38. Spy In Rome

1969

39. Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool
40. Anjana
41. Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke
42. Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke
43. Do Bhai
44. Do Raaste
45. Inteqaam
46. Jeene Ki Raah
47. Jigri Dost
48. Madhavi
49. Mera Dost
50. Meri Bhabhi
51. Pyaasi Sham
52. Saajan
53. Satyakam
54. Shart
55. Wapas

1970

56. Aan Milo Sajna
57. Abhinetri
58. Bachpan
59. Darpan
60. Devi
61. Himmat
62. Humjoli
63. Jawab
64. Jeevan Mrityu
65. Khilona
66. Maa Aur Mamta
67. Man Ki Aankhen
68. Mastana
69. Pushpanjali
70. Sharafat
71. Suhana Safar

LP and Rafi Sahab combination stormed Bollywood with the films Parasmani in 1963 and Dosti in 1964. Rafisahab’s songs “wo jab yaad aye” in Parasmani and songs “chahunga mai tujhe”, “rahi manwa dukhki chinta”, “janewalon zara”, etc. in Dosti rocked Bollywood. LP received the first filmfare award in 1964 for their composition of music in the film Dosti.

For Dharmender LP composed music in 1966 in the film Aye Din Bahaar Ke. Rafi Sahab’s song “mere dushman” became smash hit. In 1967, LP composed music in the film Farz of Jeetender. All the songs of Rafi Sahab like “mast baharon ka mai aashiq”, “tumse o haseena”, “baar baar din ye aye” became smash hits.

In 1968, LP composed music in Dharmender’s films Baharon Ki Manzil, Mere Humdum Mere Dost and Izzat. In the film Izzat, Rafi Sahab’s song “loote dil pe diya jalta nahi hum kya karen” was a masterpiece. Mere Humdum Mere Dost had super hit songs of Rafi Sahab including “najaa kahin ab na jaa”, “chalkaye jam”, “huyi sham unka”, to name a few. In Baharon Ki Manzil all the songs were sung by Lata as they were picturized on Meena Kumari.

In 1969, LP composed music in Dharmender’s films Satyakam and Aya Sawaan Jhumke. Rafi Sahab’s songs like “majhi chal”, “ayaa sawan jhumke”, and other songs became super hit. LP composed music in 1969 in Jeetender’s films Jeene Ki Raah, Dharte Kahen Pukarke and Jigri Dost. All the films became super hit. One of the reasons for the success included the splendid music. Rafi Sahab’s songs in Dharti Kahe Pukarke included the title song “dharti kahe pukarke”. Jigri Dost had fast numbers of Rafi Sahab like “mere desh me pawan chale purwayi”, “raat suhaani jag rahi hai”, “dil me kya hai”, “phool hai baharon ka”, to name a few. Jeene Ki Raah fetched LP the other filmfare award in 1969. Rafi Sahab’s were smash hits like “aane se uski aye bahar”, “aa mere humjoli aa”, “ek banjara hai”,“chanda ko dhundte” to name a few.

In 1970, LP composed music in Dharmender’s film Jeevan Mrityu. Rafi Sahab’s song “jhilmil sitaron ka aangan hoga” became a runaway hit. LP composed music in Jeetender’s films Humjoli, Himmat and Jawab. Rafi Sahab’s songs in the film Humjoli became bumper hit like “dhal gaye din”, “tik tik tik”, “haye re haye”, “chal shuru ho ja”, to name a few. All the songs of Himmat became bumper hit like “hai shukr kit u hai ladka”, “maan jayiye maan jaiye”, “das gayi nagin ki zulf teri”, to name a few. In Jawab, both of Rafisahab’s songs “chali kahan hansti gaati” and “kis karan jogan jog liya” became hit.

By the early 1970s LP emerged as a leading composer in Bollywood music. So they started composing music in the films of Rishi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor and every prominent stars of the 1970s and 1980s. But their launching pad was made with the combination of Rafi Sahab in the films of Dharmender and Jeetender. All these songs and films should be restored.

Dr. Souvik Chatterji, the author of this article

This blog was published on Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 11:48 am and Last modified on Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 11:54 am and is filed under Meri Awaaz Suno. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.