Rajesh Roshan – The Everlasting Music Director

Hindi Cinema bores the testimony of some of the greatest music directors of the country. Music has been integral in Bollywood movies and add on to the fame of cinemas. Therefore along with the director and actors, music director also plays a fundamental role in bringing box office success to a film.

Music never dies. A movie is remembered sometimes only because of its music. I mean usually we find ourselves downloading songs of a particular movie or passing time listening to radio. Music is something that stays on with the audience even if they have forgotten about the story of a movie, and the credit goes to the music director.

One such incredible director is Rajesh Roshan. Now one must be thinking why particularly talk about Rajesh Roshan. It is because on May 24th, 2015,  he celebrates his 60^th birthday and there cannot be a better occasion to write about him and probably spend some time listening to his compositions for he has a long record of beautiful songs.

Rajesh Roshan comes from a family of a strong film background. He is the son of Hindi film composer Roshan and is the younger brother of the actor/director Rakesh Roshan and also uncle to the actor and heartthrob of the nation Hrithik Roshan. Rajesh Roshan was given his first big break by Mehmood for the movie Kuwanra Baap. Then he was given opportunity by Dev Anand in his three back to back films Des Pardes, Man Pasand and Lootmaar, which became big success at the box office. Then there was no looking back. He went on composing melodious tunes for numerous movies like Doosra Admi, Muqaddar, Swami, Khatta Meetha, Swarg Narak, Do aur Do Paanch, Inkaar, Jurm, etc.  For the movie Julie, Rajesh Roshan received the prestigious Filmfare award.

Rajesh Roshan has given memorable music for movies directed by his brother Rakesh Roshan. Both of them worked together for movies like Kaam Chor, Jaag Utha Insaan, Khoon Bhari Maang, Khel, Kishan Kanhaiya, Kaala Baazar, King Uncle, Karan Arjun, and Koyla. He scored music for the movie Kaho Na Pyar Hai with which Hrithik Roshan made his debut in Bollywood as an actor. The music of this movie helped Rajesh Roshan again receive his Filmfare award. The story does not end here and the saga continues with movies like Koi Mil Gaya, Krish, Krish 3 and Kites.

Rajesh Roshan started working from 1974 and continues to work till date. It is because of this he got an opportunity to work with almost all the good singers. To name a few, starting from singers like Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mageshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Mukesh, Yesudas, Amit Kumar, Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Alka Yagnik, Hariharan, Lucky Ali, Mohit Chuhan, Sunidhi Chauhan to new generation singers like, Monali Thakur, Zubeen Garg, Vishal Dadlani, Kailash Kher, etc, Rajesh Roshan has created beautiful music along with such singers.

His song Mungda Mungda still remains the greatest hits in the collection of cabaret songs in Bollywood. He was the first director who made Amitabh Bachchan sing. With changing time he has created music which is loved by the present generation. Words will fall short to describe the beauty of his music. His contribution to Bollywood has been immense and we just hope that in future also he continues to create such magic on screen.

This article will be incomplete without listing out few memorable numbers composed by him.

1) A song from the movie Kunwara Baap marking the debut of the music director.

2) Rajesh Roshan received Filmfare award for his music composition in the movie Julie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-woNniQJZPQ

3)A hit cabaret number from the movie Inkaar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnvpxAByMyg

4) A melodious track from the movie Baaton Baaton Mein