Mumbai, June 24: Madan Mohan, a legendary composer in Hindi cinema, crafted melodies filled with pain, love, poetry, and sweetness. His songs continue to resonate with the younger generation today. Often referred to as the “Prince of Ghazals,” a fascinating aspect of his musical journey is the recurring presence of words related to eyes, such as ‘nain,’ ‘nazar,’ and ‘nigah,’ in many of his memorable songs, which have become his signature over time.
Born on June 25, 1924, in Baghdad, Iraq, Madan Mohan’s father, Rai Bahadur Chunnilal Kohli, served in the government there. The family returned to India a few years later. From a young age, Madan Mohan showed a keen interest in music. He would spend hours listening to recordings and could easily memorize melodies. While studying in Mumbai, he got the chance to participate in children’s programs at All India Radio.
At his family’s insistence, Madan Mohan joined the army and served as a Second Lieutenant during World War II. However, he found little satisfaction in military life. After the war, he left the army to pursue a career in music. He began working at All India Radio in Lucknow, where he met prominent artists like Begum Akhtar, Talat Mahmood, and Ali Akbar Khan, which deepened his understanding of music.
In 1950, he received his first significant opportunity as an independent composer with the film ‘Aankhen.’ Interestingly, the title of his debut film was ‘Aankhen,’ and references to eyes and gazes appeared in many of his later famous songs.
Throughout his long career, Madan Mohan composed hundreds of songs, but a few made him immortal. Notable tracks include ‘Aap Ki Nazaron Ne Samjha,’ ‘Naina Barse Rimjhim,’ ‘Teri Aankhon Ke Siwa,’ ‘Nainon Mein Badra Chhaye,’ ‘Hai Unki Woh Nigahen,’ ‘Tumse Nazar Mili Dil Ko Khabar Mili,’ and ‘Main To Tumse Nain Milake Haar Gayi Sajna.’ His melodies touched the hearts of many.
His most successful collaboration was with Lata Mangeshkar, who often remarked that Madan Mohan’s tunes were not only beautiful but also challenging. Together, they produced countless songs, including ‘Lag Ja Gale,’ ‘Naina Barse,’ ‘Aap Ki Nazaron Ne Samjha,’ and ‘Rasm-e-Ulfat.’ Legendary singers like Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mahmood, Manna Dey, and Kishore Kumar also lent their voices to his compositions.
Madan Mohan created memorable music for films like ‘Woh Kaun Thi,’ ‘Mera Saaya,’ ‘Haqeeqat,’ ‘Dastak,’ ‘Heer Ranjha,’ ‘Hansate Zakhm,’ and ‘Mausam.’ In 1971, he was honored with the National Film Award for his work in the film ‘Dastak.’
In his later years, Madan Mohan’s health deteriorated. He suffered from severe liver disease due to excessive alcohol consumption. He passed away on July 14, 1975, at the young age of 51.
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