Music Composer - Rajesh Roshan

Bearing the cross of an illustrious father's work is no mean task, but Rajesh Roshan is made of sterner stuff. The composer has managed to emerge from his successful father's shadow and carve a niche for himself in film music. Right from his first film, to sporadic instances of failure, to his remarkable comeback, Rajesh Roshan has never once flinched. His mammoth return with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai has goes to show that Rajesh Roshan will never run out of steam.

Thirty years ago, there were three music directors who had established a stronghold so tough that no other composer - new or old - could break through their monopoly. But proving the axiom that you can’t really stop a real talent. Rajesh Roshan, younger son of the late genius Roshan, broke through into this elite R.D. Burman / Kalyanji-Anandji / Laxmikant-Pyarelal. league with Mehmood’s Kunwara Baap. With his very first film, Rajesh Roshan topped the annual Binaca Geet Mala, the only countdown show of the time, with 'Saj Rahi Gali..', the hijra song sung by Mohammed Rafi, 'Main Hoon Ghoda Yeh Hai Gaadi..', 'Jai Bholenath Jai Ho Prabhu..' and 'Aa Ri Aaja Nindiya..' added to what was virtually an all-hit score.

The most refreshing feature of his songs was that Rajesh’s musical idiom was totally different from that of any other music composer, which included dad Roshan and Laxmikant-Pyarelal, under whom he had learnt his practical ropes. His second release was Julie (1975), produced by B. Nagi Reddy, the man who had been Columbus to his actor-brother Rakesh. This all-hit score bagged Rajesh Roshan his first Film-Fare award. 'Dil Kya Kare Jab Kisise..' sung by Kishore Kumar, became an instant hit and it created a wave of fresh love songs. Other nuggets from the film included 'Yeh Raaten Nayi Purani..', 'My Heart Is Beating..'and 'Julie, I love you..'.

Between then and 1982, Rajesh Roshan went from strength to strength with scores as varied, refreshing and, above all, invidualistic, as Swami, Priyatama, Doosara Aadmi, Inkaar (all 1977), Khatta Meetha and Des Pardes (1978), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Swayamwar (1980), Yaarana (1981), Khuddar and Kaamchor (1982). Then followed a low-key phase, when the Hyderabad-school of film making and Bappi Lahiri’s disco music held sway. But even in this period, Rajesh scored a hit with Jaag Utha Insan (1984) and Khoon Bhari Maang (1988).

In the 90's, when even the mighty Laxmikant-Pyarelal and the doughty Bappi Lahiri gradually lost their bearings, Rajesh has endured through films like Jurm and Bahaar Aane Tak (1990) — and after another dull phase, Karan Arjun and Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995), Papa Kahte Hain (1996), Koyla (1997) and now Laawaris and Daag, both of which climbed the charts. In an era when only a hit film’s score is noticed, Rajesh has also delivered impressive scores in such non-starters as Kaun Sachaa Kaun Jhootha and Dastak (1996), and Dandnayak and Main Solah Baras Ki (1998).

Then came the age of working with his brother Rajesh, who had emerged as a director of great stature. Rajesh had a fixation for the letter K, as he considered it a symbol of good fortune. This proved right in most cases, since most Rakesh Roshan films would have an element of appeal, along with a winner score, courtesy Rajesh Roshan. The two worked on memorable films like Kishan Kanhaiya, King Uncle and the top grosser Karan Arjun. The dampener, Koyla, also had some memorable melodies. Rajesh Roshan chose to did not by any means lie low, but he was preparing the best arms in the arsenal for the biggest of them all - Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai, the launch vehicle of nephew Hrithik, and one of his brother's most ambitious projects. Rajesh Roshan would have given it his all, for Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai made the biggest splash in 2000. The music of the film is still considered a watershed of sorts, and singer Lucky Ali was introduced into the playback singing fold. The composer also won Film-Fare award for Best Music, thus coming full circle.

Apart for his aversion to publicity, Rajesh is known in the industry for his soft-spoken nature. Laxmikant termed him The Last Of The Originals and Kavita Krishnamurthi terms him the most gentlemanly of all the composers. In his Juhu, Mumbai music room (where his father too composed his unforgettables). Rajesh rewinds and unwinds to Screen across his father’s harmonium which he continues to use.

Sr.	FILM TITLE	YEAR OF RELEASE	Sr.	FILM TITLE	YEAR OF RELEASE
1	Kunwara Baap	1974	58	Kaash	1987
2	Julie	1975	59	Khudgarz	1987
3	Ginny Aur Johnny	1976	60	Yaadon Ki Zanjeer	1987
4	Udhar Ka Sindoor	1976	61	Dariya Dil	1988
5	Zindagi	1976	62	Dharam Yudhh	1988
6	Charandas	1977	63	Jungle Ki Beti	1988
7	Doosra Aadmi	1977	64	Kubzaa	1988
8	Ek Hi Raasta	1977	65	Khoon Bhari Maang	1988
9	Inkaar	1977	66	Maar Dhaad	1988
10	Jai Vijay	1977	67	Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni	1989
11	Khatta Meetha	1977	68	Kala Bazaar	1989
12	Mama Bhanja	1977	69	Aasman Se Ooncha	1989
13	Priyatama	1977	70	Bahar Aane Tak	1990
14	Swami	1977	71	Kishan Kanhaiya	1990
15	Yahi Hai Zindagi	1977	72	Jurm	1990
16	Des Pardes	1978	73	Daddy	1991
17	Dillagi	1978	74	Do Pal	1991
18	Ek Baap Chhe Bete	1978	75	Jeewan Data	1991
19	Muqaddar	1978	76	Karz Chukana Hai	1991
20	Swarg Narak	1978	77	Shiv Raam	1991
21	Tumhari Kasam	1978	78	Swarg Yahan Nark Yahan	1991
22	Vishwanath	1978	79	Vishnu Deva	1991
23	Baaton Baaton Mein	1979	80	Kasak	1992
24	Duniya Meri Jeb Mein	1979	81	Khel	1992
25	Janta Hawaldar	1979	82	Lambu Dada	1992
26	Kala Patthar	1979	83	Ye Raat Phir Na Aayegi	1992
27	Mr Natwarlal	1979	84	Aansoo Bane Angaarey	1993
28	Aakhiri Insaaf	1980	85	Aapatkaal	1993
29	Aap Ke Deewane	1980	86	Gunaah	1993
30	Do Aur Do Paanch	1980	87	King Uncle	1993
31	Lootmar	1980	88	Prateeksha	1993
32	Man Pasand	1980	89	Zakhmon Ka Hisaab	1993
33	Swayamwar	1980	90	Insaaniyat	1994
34	Unees Bees	1980	91	Karan Arjun	1995
35	Sannata	1981	92	Sabse Bada Khiladi	1995
36	Shaka	1981	93	Chhota Sa Ghar	1996
37	Yaarana	1981	94	Dastak	1996
38	Hamari Bahu Alka	1982	95	Papa Kehte Hain	1996
39	Johnny I Love You	1982	96	Ghulam-e-Mustafa	1997
40	Kamchor	1982	97	Kaun Sachcha kaun Jhootha	1997
41	Khuddar	1982	98	Koyla	1997
42	Shriman Shrimati	1982	99	Tarazu	1997
43	Waqt Waqt Ki Baat	1982	100	Udaan	1997
44	Rishta Kaagaz Ka	1983	101	Dand Nayak	1998
45	Inteha	1984	102	Hafta Vasooli	1998
46	Jaag Utha Insaan	1984	103	Jaane Jigar	1998
47	Aakhir Kyon?	1985	104	Keemat	1998
48	Babu	1985	105	Khote Sikkey	1998
49	Ek Daku Shehar Mein	1985	106	Kudrat	1998
50	Telephone	1985	107	Main Solah Baras Ki	1998
51	Ulta Seedha	1985	108	Mere Do Anmol Ratan	1998
52	Anubhav	1986	109	Yugpurush	1998
53	Bhagwan Dada	1986	110	Daag	1999
54	Ek Aur Sikandar	1986	111	Laawaris	1999
55	Ghar Sansar	1986	112	Trishaqti	1999
56	Maqqar	1986	113	Ye Hai Ghar Ki Mahabharat	199?
57	Dil Tujhko Diya	1987	114	Kaho Na Pyar Hai	2000

RAJESH ROSHAN

Filmography