Mumbai, March 2: The Hindi film industry has gifted us many remarkable artists, and among them is the legendary composer Ravi Shankar Sharma, affectionately known as Ravi. Born on March 3, 1926, in Delhi, Ravi never received formal training in classical music. Instead, he learned the nuances of melody by listening to his father’s devotional songs.
Ravi was a natural talent who did not require a guru. He taught himself to play the harmonium and gradually mastered several other instruments. To support his family financially, he worked as an electrician, but his heart always belonged to music. In 1950, he made the bold decision to move to Mumbai, aspiring to become a playback singer and make a name in the world of film music.
Arriving in Mumbai with dreams in his eyes, he faced a challenging start. With no place to stay, he spent his days wandering studios and nights sleeping at Malad station. For two years, he struggled but never lost hope. In 1952, fate smiled upon him when he met composer Hemant Kumar, who offered him a chance to sing in the chorus for the song “Vande Mataram” from the film “Anand Math.” This marked the beginning of his journey as a composer.
His modest beginnings led to significant success. In 1955, he debuted as a music director with the film “Albelia.” Following this, he composed music for several notable films, including “Vachan,” “Narsi Bhagat,” “Delhi Ka Thug,” “Dulhan,” “Ghar Sansar,” “Mehndi,” “Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan,” “Nayi Rahein,” “Pehli Raat,” “Apna Ghar,” “Aanchal,” and the iconic “Chaudhvin Ka Chand.”
Ravi had a unique approach; he would first write the lyrics before composing the music, resulting in many of his songs being melodious and memorable. He received a Filmfare Award nomination in 1960 for “Chaudhvin Ka Chand.” His success continued with films like “Gharana,” “Nazrana,” “Pyar Ka Sagar,” “Modern Girl,” and “Salaam Mem Saheb” in 1961. By 1962, songs from “Tower House” and “China Town” had audiences dancing.
Over his career, Ravi composed music for over 50 films, including “Aaj Aur Kal,” “Gehra Daag,” “Gumrah,” “Bharosa,” “Shehnai,” “Kajal,” “Khandan,” “Waqt,” “Do Badan,” “Aurat,” “Hamraaz,” “Aankhein,” “Do Kaliyan,” “Neel Kamal,” “Aadmi Aur Insaan,” “Anmol Moti,” “Badi Didi,” “Doli,” “Ek Phool Do Maali,” “Dhadkan,” “Dhund,” “Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka,” “Amanat,” and “Aadmi Sadak Ka.”
However, from 1970 to 1982, Ravi took a break from film music. He made a remarkable comeback in 1982 with B.R. Chopra’s film “Nikaah,” which featured popular songs. From 1984 to 2005, he also composed music for Malayalam films under the name “Bombay Ravi.” He won Filmfare Awards for “Gharana” and “Khandan.” Most of the hit songs sung by Mahendra Kapoor were composed by Ravi. He passed away on March 7, 2012, leaving behind a rich legacy in music.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment