Madan Mohan

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Madam Mohan –The Master of Ghazal in Films

In the '60s when Bollywood music world was studded with the gem of Music Directors like Naushad, S.D.Burman, Shanker Jaikishen, O.P.Nayyar, Roshan, etc the rise of debutant music director Madan Mohan is indeed commendable. For a person who came from Army backdrop and had no formal training in music, Madan Mohan deserves kudos for establishing his identity as a Master of Ghazals and making a formidable relation with Lata Mangeshkar. The duo gave some of the most sterling Ghazal in Bollywood like Jaanaa Tha Hamse Door……..(Adalat), Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha……..(Anpadh), Jo Hamne Dastaan Apni Sunaee aap kyon rohey..(Woh Kaun Thi), Ham Hain Mataay-e-Kuchao Bazar ki Tarah (Dastak) etc.

 

Madan Mohan's father Rai Bahadur Chunilal worked for British Government and his job was transferable. When he was transferred to Baghdad, Madan Mohan was born at Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan on June 25, 1924. Later the family shifted to Rawalpindi for a few years and then to Mumbai.

From the age of 1 year, Madan began displaying his love for music. Hence on his second birthday, his father gifted a small drum. As he grew his passion for music escalated. Later, when he came to Mumbai, his neighbor was famous music legend Jaddan Bai, mother of actress Nargis. Thus Madan frequent Jaddan Bai's house and learned music from her. However, Madan's father was against music but Madam was a rebel. He started participating in children's programs at All India Radio.

Madan Mohan got married Sheila Dhingra, niece of the freedom fighter, Madan Lal Dhingra in 1952. They had three children Sangeeta Kohli (Daughter), Sanjeev Kohli (Elder Son) and Sameer Kohli (Younger Son).

Madam Mohan participated in World War – II as Army Lieutenant

On the insistence of his father Madam Mohan was forced to take Army Training and join the British army in the year 1943. Though he did not like Army but he worked as An army lieutenant for nearly two years at Bangalore and even participated in World War -II

Madan Mohan quit the army and joined A.I.R.

After a brief stint as a lieutenant, Madam Mohan quite Army as his heart lay in Music. Hence he joined AIR at Delhi. Here he met top musical Ustads like Begum Akhtar, Roshanara Begum, Talat Mehmood, etc. But he left AIR as he noticed there was no scope to become a music director. So he returned to Mumbai.

Madan Mohan becomes Assistant of S.D. Burman

Madan Mohan got a chance to be an assistant of music wizard S.D. Burman. He assisted him in films like Munimji and Do Bhai (1947). Under Burman, Madan learned nuances of music composition and confidence to be an independent film music director.

1950

Madan Mohan makes his debut as Independent Music Director

In 1950, Madam Mohan in association with his friend Shekhar and a debutant director Devendra Goel united and decided to make a film Ankhen. Madam Mohan was so confident of his tunes that he won the hearts of distributors who agreed to buy the distribution rights of the film in their territories.

Madan Mohan approached Lata Mangeshkar for his first film

For his first film, Madam Mohan approached Lata Mangeshkar but Madan's rival poisoned Lata Mangeshkar against Madam Mohan hence she declined meeting him! But after the hit music of Ankhen, Lata agreed to sing in Madan Mohan's next film Madhosh (1951). Lata was so pleased with the music of Madan Mohan that she complimented Madan Mohan and apologized for not singing in his first film.

Madan Mohan become famous with AVM’s film Bhai Bhai

The success of Ankhen opened doors for Madan Mohan and he lived up to the producers demand. In J.B.H.Wadia's film Madhosh ( 1951) he composed a hit song in just 5 minutes. The song is Meri yaad men tum na ansu bahaana… sung by Talat Mehmood is a hit even today. The super hit film Bhai Bhai (1956) produced by AVM Productions made Madan Mohan famous. The movie had the super hit song Ae Dil Mujhe Bata De Tu kis pea aagaya hai… sung by Geeta Dutt.

The songs of Bhai Bhai were copied in the '90s

Readers would be surprised to know that two songs from Bhai Bhai were copied by 90's music directors. The Bhai Bhai song Sharabi Ja, Ja, Ja was copied by music composer Raamlaxman as Kabutar Ja Ja Ja in Maine Pyaar Kiya. And the other Bhai Bhai song Is Duniya Mein Sab Chor-Shor .. was copied by director Viju Shah into a national chartbuster song as Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast… in the film Mohra!!! 

Madam Mohan was flooded with offers in '50s

Soon Madam was flooded by films. The film Dekh Kabira Roya (1957) proved the biggest musical bonanza for Madan Mohan. The film had several hit songs like Hamse Aaya Na Gayaa…., Kaun Aayaa Mere Man Ke Dwaare………became chartbusters of the year and earned top positions in the Binaca Geetmala hit film song parade on Radio cyclone. His next film Gateway of India (1957) had the super hit song Do Ghadi Vo Jo Paas Aa Baithe….

With Adalat Madam Mohan became branded as ‘Master of Ghazals’  

Madan Mohan archived ultimate success in the film Adalat (1958). The move had all outstanding Ghazal like - Jaanaa Tha Hamse Door…….., Yoon Hasaraton Ke Daagh……, Unko Ye shikaayat Hai…….., Jaa Ja Re Jaa Saajanaa…….., so many great melodies in one movie. The song won the top position in Binaca Geetmala hit parade. The movie placed Madam Mohan among Top Music Directors of Bollywood and branded him as Master of Ghazals!

His other hit song in the '50s were Hum Pyaar Mein Jalne Walon Ka Chain Kahan Haai… (Jailor); Bairan Neend Na Aaye…. (Chacha Zindabad); tujhe kya sunau mein dilruba… (Aakhri Dao) ETC 

1960

Madan Mohan succeeded in 60’s with his brand of music 

In the '60s Madan Mohan faced a huge challenge from upcoming music directors Shanker Jaikishen and O.P.Nayyar but Madan Mohan won success with his brand of music. In the film Sanjog (1960) Madan Mohan had many hits songs like Vo Bhuli Daastaan Lo Phir Yaad Aa Gayi… Bhooli Huyi Yaadon, Chalaa Hai Kahaan, Badali Se Nikala Hai Chaand...  After this Madan Mohan gave another musical blockbuster (Anpadh 1962). The film had all hit Ghazals like Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha……..Hai Isi Me Pyar Ki Aabru……..Jiya Le Gayo Ji Mora Sanwariya….The film won Madan Mohan his First Filmfare Best Music Director Nomination but he lost to Shankar Jaikishan (Professor).

Madan Mohan again lost Filmfare award for Woh Kaun Thi?

The year 1964 was the most successful year in the life of Madan Mohan. It was the same year when Madam Mohan won his second Filmfare Best Music Director Nomination for his superlative music in Woh Kaun Thi? Each song was a real gem. Remember the songs – Jo Hamne Dastaan Apni Sunaee… Lag Jaa Gale Ke phir yeh hassen raat …. Naina Barse Rimjhim Rimjhim……… But alas the same year Laxmikant–Pyarelal stunned every music director with his extraordinary music in the film Dosti and went away winning Filmfare award.

Though Madam Mohan missed the award but he gave many musical hit films in 1964 like Main nigahe tere chehre se hatau kaise .. Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964) ;  Rang Aur Noor Ki Barat Kisse Pesh Karron (Ghazal -1964); Kar Chale Hum Fida Jaan-o-tan sathiyoon …( Haqeeqat), Phir Wohi Sham, Wahi Gham, Wahi Tanhai Hai… ( Jahan Ara), meri aankhon se koi neend liye jata hai….. (Pooja Ke Phool); Kabhi na Kabhi koi na koi toh aayega…….. (Sharabi) and Tu Mere Saamane Hai Teri Zulfen Hain Khuli…. (Suhagan).

1970  

Madan Mohan won his First National Best Music Director for 70's Dastak

Who can forget the classical Indian film musical chartbusters Baiyaan Naa Dharo…, Mai ri Main Kaase Kahoon… and Ham Hain Mataay-e-Kuchao Bazar ki Tarah… These gems from  Rajinder Singh Bedi's off-beat film Dastak won Madan Mohan his First National Best Music Director.

Interestingly the same year after Dastak Madan Mohan gave another musical chartbuster Heer Ranjha starring Raaj Kumar. All the songs were hit in this romantic film like Milo Na Tum To Hum Ghabaraye….. Meri Duniyaa Mein Tum Aayi …….or soulful songs like Do Dil Toote…….., and Yeh Duniyaa Yeh Mehfil Mere Kaam ki nahin……..

Next cane another hit film Hanste Zakhm (1973). The song Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho….rendered so effectively by Mohammed Rafi is still a huge hit. Other hit songs of the film were Betaab Dil Ki Tamanna Yahi Hai…, Tumhe Chahege Tumhe Pujege… Yeh Mana Meri Jaan Mohabbat Saza Hai….Of course Gulzar's Mausam (1975) with hit tracks like Chhadi Re Chhadi kasi… and the soulful ghazal Ruke Ruke Se Kadam….had put Madam Mohan in the front seat in the mid 70's.

Madan Mohan passed way before watching the success of Laila Majnu

Madan Mohan's career's biggest blockbuster was Laila Majnu (1976 film). The film had 8 songs and all were super hit. The song that took the nation by its feat was Lata Mangeshkar number Koi patthar se na mare mere diwane ko…The song was the number 1 song at the Binaca Geetmala annual list 1977 an unusual feat that Madan Mohan songs in his entire career.

The other hit songs of the film were Is Reshmi Paazzeb Ki Jhankar….Tere Dar Par Aaya Hoon…… Barbad-E-Mohabbat ki Dua…al Mohd Rafi hit songs. However, Madan Mohan was not alive to watch the success of Laila Majnu. He died before composing the songs on 14 July 1975 due to liver cirrhosis.