Laxmikant–Pyarelal

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Laxmikant–Pyarelal
orchestrator
, conductor
Years active1963 (1963)–1998

Laxmikant–Pyarelal were an Indian composer duo, consisting of Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar (1937–1998) and Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma (born 1940).[1] They composed music for about 750 Hindi movies from 1963 to 1998, working for almost all notable filmmakers, including

K Viswanath and Manoj Kumar.[2]

Early life

Laxmikant

Laxmikant
Birth nameलक्ष्मीकांत शांताराम कुडाळकर (Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar)
Born(1937-11-03)3 November 1937
Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India
(now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
Died25 May 1998(1998-05-25) (aged 60)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Years active1947–1998

Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar was born on the day of

Dipawali on 3 November 1937. Probably, because of the day of his birth, his parents named him Laxmikant, after the goddess Laxmi. 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.[citation needed] 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 films Bhakt Pundalik (1949) and Aankhen (1950). He also acted in some Gujarati films.[3]

Pyarelal

Pyarelal
Birth namePyarelal Ramprasad Sharma
Born (1940-09-03) 3 September 1940 (age 83)
British India
Years active1952–present
AwardsPadma Bhushan (2024)

Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma (born 3 September 1940) is the son of a renowned trumpeter Pandit Ramprasad Sharma (popularly known as Babaji), who taught him the basics of music. He started learning violin at the age of 8 and practised it 8 to 12 hours daily. He learnt to play violin from a Goan musician named Anthony Gonsalves. The song "My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves" from the movie Amar Akbar Anthony is regarded as a tribute to Mr. Gonsalves (the movie had music by Laxmikant–Pyarelal). By the age of 12, his family's financial condition had deteriorated, which in turn forced him to earn money by playing in studios. Pyarelal then used to frequent and play the violin in studios such as Ranjit Studios, to earn money for his family. Pyarelal's brother Gorakh Sharma played guitar for various songs composed by the duo Lakshmikant Pyarelal.

In an interview with Annu Kapoor recently, he has mentioned that he was quite an adept violinist and expert in western form of music. Pyarelal even thought to try his fortune in the West and wanted to become a regular orchestra player with a renowned group. Lakshmikant dissuaded him and then they started the amazing journey of music for Indian cinema.[4]

Music career

In their early days, Laxmikant–Pyarelal's music was very similar to

Mohammad Rafi agreed to sing for them in spite of low budgets, and Laxmikant–Pyarelal always remained indebted to them. In fact, all three, Lata, Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle have sung the highest number of songs in their career for Laxmikant–Pyarelal. They continued to give patronage to Mohammed Rafi, sometimes against filmmakers' wishes. They had a great rapport with Kishore Kumar as well. Kishore Kumar sang the most songs (402) for L-P among all male singers, followed by Rafi (about 388 songs).[citation needed
]

Laxmikant–Pyarelal hit the big time with Rajshri Productions' 1964 film

). Then came Lootera, a superhit musical non-star cast film, which is remembered only because of Lata Manageshkar's superhit songs with Laxmikant–Pyarelal.

|In 1966 L-P started cementing their place in Hindi film music. L-P's first musical hit film, with a big star cast,

Hum Sab Ustaad Hai (Songs: "Pyar Batate Chalo", "Ajanabi Tum Jane Pehachane Se"); in Mr. X in Bombay
(Songs: "Mere Mehboob Quayamat Hogi", "Chali Re Chali Re Gori", "Khoobsurat Haseena"); and in Shriman Fantush..(Songs: "Sultana Sultana Tu Na Ghabarana", "Yeh Dard Bhara Afasana").

In 1967, L-P consolidated their position in the Hindi film industry with a series of hits, one after another. Non star cast film Farz was L-P's first golden jubilee musical hit, followed by big star cast films such as Anita, Shagird, yet another Golden Jubilee hit, Patthar Ke Sanam, Night in London, Jaal and another evergreen musical hit Milan. L-P received their second Filmfare Trophy for Milan without any stiff competition.

The rise of Laxmikant–Pyarelal,

, Madan Mohla, Mohan Sahagal, V.Shantaram, Raj Kapoor, Yash Chopra, Manmohan Desai, Subhash Ghai and many more, started replacing their regular music directors and preferred Laxmikant–Pyarelal on a regular basis, and in return L-P have given outstanding music to justify the replacement among the big names.

One of the most important associations that the duo developed was with lyricist

Filmfare Awards
, except their very first award.

Actor Rajesh Khanna kept Laxmikant–Pyarelal as music director for 26 of his films.

Another great collaboration was with

Adha Din Adhi Raat, Loha and Anhonee etc. to name a few. L-P scored for a Nagarjuna (actor) "Telugu" Film Majnu (1987 film)
which remained a musical hit.

Style of music

Laxmikant–Pyarelal composed

Filmfare Best Music Director Award
for the year.

Binaca Geet Mala

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 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, L-P's first ever song "Hansta Hua Nurani Chehra" from Parasmani hit the "Binaca Geet Mala". After that, L-P'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 L-P.[citation needed]There are certain weekly Binaca Geet Mala programmes in which more than 13 out of 16 songs of LP were broadcast when LP were right on top of their career.[citation needed] BGM used to broadcast annual (Vaarshik) programme giving the orders of the top 32 songs of every year. In this programme also, L-P had the upper hand. Not only that, on average, there used to be at least 15 songs from L-P, also about 50% of the songs between top to tenth position. 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. The Binaca Geet Mala records show that Laxmikant–Pyarelal have completely dominated this musical programme.[citation needed]

Popular top songs

Year Film Song Singer(s)
1964 Dosti "Rahi Manwa Dukh Ki Chinta"
Mohammad Rafi
1967 Milan "Sawan Ka Mahina" Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
1968 Shagird "Dil Vil Pyar Vyar" Lata Mangeshkar
1969
Intaquam
"Kaise Rahu Chup"
1969 Aa Jaane Jaan
1969 Do Raaste "Bindiya Chamakegi"
1969 Jeene Ki Raah "Ek Banjara Gaaye, Jeevan Ke Geet Sunaaye" Mohammed Rafi
1971 Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli "Jo Main Chali" Lata Mangeshkar
1972 Shor "Ek Pyar Ka Naghma Hai" Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
1973 Manchali "O Manchali Kaha Chali" Kishore Kumar
1973 Bobby "Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho" Lata Mangeshkar, Shailendra Singh
1974
Roti Kapda Aur Makaan
"Mehngai Maar Gayi" Lata Mangeshkar, Jani Babu Quwal, Mukesh & Chanchal
1977 Amar Akbar Anthony "Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyaar"
Mohammad Rafi & Mukesh
1977 Dream Girl "Dream Girl" Kishore Kumar
1980 Sargam "Dafali Wale" Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
1980 Dostana "Salamat Rahe Dostana Humara" Kishore Kumar & Mohammed Rafi
1980
Karz
"Dard-e-Dil Dard-e-Jigar" Mohammed Rafi
1981 Ek Duuje Ke Liye "Tere Mere Beech Mein" Lata Mangeshkar & S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
1982 Prem Rog "Yeh Galiyan Yeh Chaubara" Lata Mangeshkar
1983 Hero "Tu Mera Hero Hai" Manhar Udhas, Anuradha Paudwal
1984
Utsav
"Saanjh Dale" Suresh Wadkar
1985 Sanjog "Yashoda Ka Nandlala" Lata Mangeshkar
1986 Naam "Chithi Aayi Hai" Pankaj Udhas
1986 Nagina "Main Teri Dushman" Lata Mangeshkar
1987 Mr India "Hawa Hawai"
Kavita Krishnamoorthy
1987 "Kaate Nahin Katte"
Alisha Chinoy
1987 Majnu (1987 film) "Idi Toli Raatri" in "(Telugu)" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
1988 Tezaab "Ek Do Teen"
Amit Kumar & Alka Yagnik
1988 "So Gaya Yeh Jahan" Nitin Mukesh, Shabbir Kumar & Alka Yagnik
1989 Chaalbaaz "Na Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai"
Kavita Krishnamoorthy
1989 Ram Lakhan "My Name Is Lakhan"
Mohammad Aziz, Anuradha Paudwal, Nitin Mukesh, Anuradha Sriram
1989 "Bada dukh dina" Lata Mangeshkar
1990 Kroadh "Bombay Bombay"
Mohammad Aziz
1991 Saudagar "Ilu Ilu"
Kavita Krishnamurthy, Udit Narayan & Sukhwinder Singh
1991 Hum "Jumma Chumma De De"
Kavita Krishnamurthy
1992 Khuda Gawah "Tu Mujhe Kabool"
Kavita Krishnamurthy
1993
Khalnayak
"
Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai
"
Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun
1993
Aashiq Awara
"Main Hoon Aashiq Aashiq Awara" Udit Narayan
1997 Poonilamazha "Aatu Thottilil"
K.S.Chithra
1998 Deewana Mastana "O Mummy Mummy O Daddy Daddy " Udit Narayan

In all, 174 songs of L-P appeared in Binaca Geet Mala finals.

Relationship with leading singers

Lata Mangeshkar played a major role in shaping up the careers of Laxmikant–Pyarelal. She sang the highest number of songs for them. Lata Mangeshkar and Laxmikant–Pyarelal shared a long, close and rewarding association. From 1963, through the next 35 years, Lata Mangeshkar and Laxmikant–Pyarelal were to chalk up around 712 songs together, the highest numbers of the song sung by her under any music directors, which accounted for one in every 10 Hindi film songs recorded by the Melody Queen, and one of every four songs composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal. Their work includes variety and range; there were chart-slammers and classics, and chaalu numbers as well as connoisseur choices. Laxmikant–Pyarelal dominates Lata's voice in Sati Savitri (1964), Lootera (1965), Intaquam (1969), Sharafat (1970), Abhinetri (1970), Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), Jal Bin Machhali Nritya Bin Bijlee (1971), Raja Jani (1972), Bobby (1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Ek Duje Ke Liye (1981)... all have different styles.

Asha Bhosle recorded almost 494 songs for Laxmikant–Pyarelal. Their collaboration lasted almost 35 years, 1963–1998. They gave Asha multiple hits and made Asha Bhosle one of the most sought after singer of the 1970s with chart toppers like "Hungama Ho Gaya", "Dhal Gaya Din", "Koi Shahari Babu', "Ek Haseena Thi" etc.

Singer Mohammed Rafi has sung as many as 379 songs under Laxmikant–Pyarelal. This is the highest number of songs sung by Mohammed Rafi with any of the music directors in Hindi film music. Songs from Dosti, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Mere Hamdam Mere Dost, Jeene Ki Raah, Dharam Veer, Amar Akbar Anthony and Sargam etc. have the dominance of Rafi. Mohammed Rafi played a very important role in the Music Duo's career. Laxmikant–Pyarelal started their career with a song of Rafi in the film Parasmani (1963). Rafi Sahab sang for L-P for free and blessed them that - "This music Duo may work together to their last breath." Therefore, Laxmikant–Pyarelal always respected Rafi till the end and Rafi sang his last song- "Tere Aane Ki Aas Hai Dost..." under direction of L-P, which was recorded on 31 July 1980 in Mahboob studio at 10:00 PM. Shortly afterwards Mohd. Rafi died at 10:25 PM.

Laxmikant–Pyarelal also produced some memorable songs rendered by Kishore Kumar, 402 songs, the second highest numbers of songs sung by Kishore Kumar under any of the music directors in Hindi film. Namely "Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi", "Pyar Batate Chalo", Mere Naseeb Main", "Ye Dard Bhara Afsana", Vaada Tera Vaada", "Yeh Jeevan Hai", "Mere Dil Main Aaj Kya Hai", "Mere Diwane Pan Ki", "My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves", "Aap Ke Anurodh Pe", "Ik Ritu Aaye", "Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai", "Ruk Jaana Nahin", "Om Shanti Om" and many more hits.

Laxmikant–Pyarelal kept a balancing act between Kishore Kumar (402 songs) and Mohammed Rafi (379 songs). During the peak wave of Kishore Kumar after Aradhana, it is Laxmikant–Pyarelal who gave highest numbers of songs to Mohammed Rafi. In 1977, L-P brought back the glory of Mohammed Rafi through "Amar Akbar Anthony" and "Sargam".

Laxmikant–Pyarelal also worked with

Roop Kumar Rathod
. L-P always wanted to engage the voice of Talat Mahmood so they specially composed a very melodious song "Mohabbat Ki Kahaniyan" in 1971 for the film Wo Din Yaad Karo in which Lata accompanied Talat.

On 7 May 2011, the event house Kakas Entertainment arranged a show called Maestros, by Pyarelal, in which they revived old songs with singers such as,

Sudesh Bhosle and many other Bollywood singers.[5]

Laxmikant–Pyarelal are the only composers who assembled the legendary singers

Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar together, for the song "Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar Kya Kare" in Amar Akbar Anthony
.

After Laxmikant's death

After Laxmikant's death, Pyarelal has done some work independently. Yet, Pyarelal always used the name 'Laxmikant–Pyarelal' for all the future compositions. When the playback singer Kumar Sanu turned music director, he approached Pyarelal to arrange music for him. Pyarelal was approached to assist in the music of Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om song "Dhoom Tana". In 2009 Pyarelal won the Sachin Dev Burman International Award for Creative Sound and Music at the Pune Film Festival.[6] Pyarelal has done a show with Kakas Entertainment called Maestros: A musical Journey of Laxmikant–Pyarelal.[5]

Awards

After Laxmikant–Pyarelalji made their debut as a music director duo in 1963, they were nominated for Best Music at the Filmfare Awards almost every year. Many times, they were nominated for 3 or more films in a particular year. At the same time, L-P narrowly missed the awards for musical hits like Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Intaqam, Do Raaste, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Shor, Daag, Bobby, Ek Duuje Ke Liye, Prem Rog, Utsav, Sur Sangam, Farz, Shagird, Tezaab, Hero and Mr. India.

Laxmikant–Pyarelal received won 7 awards and 25 nominations.

Achievements

Discography

References

  1. ^ "How did Laxmikant-Pyarelal end Shankar-Jaikishan era in Bollywood? Happier, cheaper music". ThePrint. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Review: Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal by Rajiv Vijayakar". Hindustan Times. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  3. .
  4. ^ Correspondent, Our. "Biography of music composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal out in November". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Top singers, 100 musicians at Laxmikant-Pyarelal concert - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com.
  6. ^ "Archive News". The Hindu.
  7. ^ "100 Best Soundtracks". Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.

External links