Mumbai, March 7: Achieving fame in the music industry demands immense effort and resilience. Many artists have risen from poverty and struggle to carve out their unique identities. One such prodigious talent was Ravi Shankar Sharma, popularly known as Ravi in the entertainment world.
Remarkably, Ravi never received formal classical training. Instead, he gained his musical knowledge by listening to his father’s devotional songs. He learned to play the harmonium at a young age and became proficient in various instruments. Despite his passion for music, financial hardships forced him to work as an electrician in Delhi to support his family. Yet, his heart always remained with music.
Ravi’s journey was filled with challenges, but his dedication and hard work established him as one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable composers. Born on March 3, 1926, in Delhi, Ravi aspired to become a playback singer and make a name in film music. In 1950, he arrived in Mumbai with dreams in his eyes. The beginning was tough; he had no place to stay, spent days wandering studios, and nights sleeping at Malad railway station. This struggle continued for two years, but Ravi never lost hope.
His perseverance paid off in 1952 when fate turned in his favor. He met composer Hemant Kumar and got the opportunity to sing in the chorus for the film “Anand Math.” This marked the start of his journey as a music composer. A small beginning led to significant success.
In 1955, he began his music direction with the film “Albelia.” Following that, he created magical music for films like “Vachan,” “Narsi Bhagat,” “Delhi Ka Thug,” “Dulhan,” “Ghar Sansar,” “Mehndi,” “Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan,” “Nayi Rahein,” “Pehli Raat,” “Apna Ghar,” “Aanchal,” and the most famous, “Chaudhvin Ka Chand.”
Ravi’s unique approach involved writing the lyrics first and then composing the music, which made his songs melodious and memorable. He received a Filmfare Award nomination for “Chaudhvin Ka Chand.” He won Filmfare Awards for “Gharana” in 1961 and “Khandan” in 1965. Other successful films included “Nazrana,” “Pyar Ka Sagar,” “Modern Girl,” “Salaam Mem Saheb,” “Tower House,” “Chinatown,” “Aaj Aur Kal,” “Gehra Daag,” “Gumrah,” “Bharosa,” “Shehnai,” “Kajal,” “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.”
Many of Mahendra Kapoor’s hit songs were composed by Ravi. He provided music for over 50 Hindi films. After taking a break from film music from 1970 to 1982, he made a remarkable comeback with B.R. Chopra’s “Nikaah.” From 1984 to 2005, he composed music for Malayalam films under the name “Bombay Ravi.”
Ravi Shankar Sharma passed away on March 7, 2012, in Mumbai.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several 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.
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