Roshan (music director)

Roshan Lal Nagrath (July 14, 1917 – November 16, 1967), better known simply by his first name "Roshan", was a famous Bollywood film music composer. He is the father of the actor and film director Rakesh Roshan and music director Rajesh Roshan, father-in-law of actress Pinky Roshan, and grandfather of Rakesh and Pinky's son, superstar film actor Hrithik Roshan.

Roshan was born in Gujranwala, Punjab, British India (now part of Punjab in Pakistan). He began music lessons at a young age, and later attended Marris College (Bhatkhande College of Music in Lucknow) under the training of Pt.S.N.Ratanjankar (Principal of the university). In the early 1940s, Roshan joined All India Radio and worked for them as a composer.

In 1948, Roshan came to Mumbai to find work as a Bollywood music director. He struggled until meeting Kidar Sharma, who gave him the job of composing for his film "Neki aur Badi" (1949). While this film was a flop, Roshan emerged as a player on the Bollywood music scene with the film "Baawre Nain", released the following year.

In the early 1950s, Roshan worked extensively with singers Mukesh and Talat Mahmood. "Malhar", "Shisham", and "Anhonee" were some of the movies that he scored during the '50s. It was during this time that he composed one of the greatest bhajans ever heard in Hindi films, "Aeiri main to prem diwani mera dard na jane koyi" sung by the queen of melody, Lata Mangeshkar for the movie Naubahar. He was not very successful commercially-speaking, yet garnered enormous respect from his colleagues. He also gave Indeewar and Anand Bakshi their first breaks in the industry as lyricists; these two would later become two of the most sought-after songwriters in Mumbai in the late 1960s.

The 1960s proved to be the golden age for Roshan and his music. His remarkable ability to meld folk music with Indian classical music became his trademark and resulted in many a successful score. During this time Roshan gave the Hindi movie industry some unforgettable hits, such as "Na To Karavan Ki Talaash Hai" and "Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat" ("Barsaat Ki Raat", 1960), "Ab Kya Misaal Doon" and "Kabhi to milegi, kahi to milegi" ("Aarti", 1962), "Jo Vada Kiya Vo Nibhana Padega" , "Paao Chhoon Lene Do" and "Jurm-e-ulfat pe" ("Taj Mahal", 1963), "Nigahen Milane To Jee Chahata Hai" and "Laaga Chunari Mein Daagh" ("Dil Hi To Hai", 1963), "Sansaar Se Bhaage Phirte Ho" and "Man Re Tu Kaahe" ("Chitralekha", 1964), and "Oh Re Taal Mile" and "Khushi khushi kar do vida" ("Anokhi Raat", 1968). He also composed some unforgettable melodies for the movie Mamta (1966) like 'Rahen na rahen hum' and 'Rehte the kabhi jinke dil mein'.

The most notable quality of his music was the melody. He had his own style of music and never compromised with the quality of his music. Nor did he ever play to the gallery. He is especially remembered for the music which he rendered for qawwalis.

Roshan had been suffering from chronic heart trouble for over 20 years. He died of a heart attack on November 16, 1967 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India, leaving behind a wife, three sons and a daughter.

Awards

*1963 Filmfare Best Music Director Award for Taj Mahal

External links

*
* [http://www.downmelodylane.com/roshan.html Biography at downmelodylane.com]