Sad songs, happy songs, and lively and festive songs have been integral to Hindi films. During the Golden Era of Hindi film music in the ’50s to ’60s and early ’70s, the industry produced most of the popular songs that are even fresh to this day. The main credit goes to this period’s talented crop of music directors. Here is my list of the most successful and genius musicians who contributed significantly to the popularity of Hindi films. And this is my grading of the music talent.
1. S.D.Burman (Guide)
2. C.Ramchandra (Anarkali)
6. Roshan (Barsat Ki Raat)
3. Naushad Ali (Baiju Bawara)
4. Shanker Jaikishan (Barsat, Shri 420)
5. O.P. Nayyar (CID)
7. Hemant Kumar (Nagin)
8. N.Dutta (Dhool Ka Phool)
9. Vasant Desai (Goonj Uthi Shenai)
10. Khayyam (Umrao Jaan)
11. Laxmikant Pyrelal (Upkar)
Oscar-award-winning music director A.R. Rehman does not belong to the pool of music directors of the Golden Era period, but he has been the most accomplished music director who, like Burman and C. Ramchandra, composed music in addition to being a music director.
Earlier than the Golden Era, several music directors were not only talented in their art but also laid the foundations of Hindi film music. These were stalwarts like Anil Biswas (Roti), Husanlal Bhagatram (Bari Behan), Khemchand Prakash (Mahal) and Gulam Haider (Khanzanki). He was credited with introducing Lata Mungeshkar in the Hindi film for her unique voice.
In the Punjabi film industry, two prominent names are Hansraj Behl (Bhangra) and Surdul Singh Kwatra (Kodde Shah.)
-by Promod Puri
Promod Puri.com 