Musician of yesteryears faces his own music
http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03sep08/national.htm#6
When Ramlal Choudhary gave music to the Mohammed Rafi song 'Takdeer Ka Phasana Gaakar Kisse Sunaaen'(to whom should I tell my sorrowful fate) four decades ago, little did he know that the words would one day come back to haunt him in real life.
Today, at the age of 81, the former Bollywood music director, who composed such hits as 'Pankh Hoti To Udd Jaati Re Rasiya O Zaalima', does not know when he would be able to eat his next meal.
Poverty has even forced his 65-year-old British-born wife to find work.
"I am not asking for much. If the Government cannot provide me two meals a day, I request it to provide at least one meal," says a bitter Choudhary sitting in an old cot in a tiny room which is his house in Khetwadi area on the grant road.
Choudhary is angry that he is forgotten in the land to which he gave the best of his life. "They distribute awards every year and give financial help to artisans. Is my contribution to music any lesser than theirs or are they deaf that my music is not reaching their ears?" asks choudhary clad in a faded T-shirt and lungi.
He and his wife Rita lives on the Rs 700 he receives from the Maharashtra Government. Sometimes, royalty comes from overseas, but this happens only occassionaly and it is not sufficient to live comfortably. Rita was forced to work part-time in a charity organisation. But the amount she earns is meagre.
In his golden days, Chouhary used to smoke three packets of cigarettes. But, today, he has to think twice before even smoking a beedi. He lived in the posh Colaba in South Mumbai in his hey days.
Choudhary composed songs for superhit films like 'Sehara', 'Husnbaano','Geet Gaaya Pattharon Ne','Navarang','Nakaabposh' and 'Naaglok'.
He came to Mumbai in 1944 and got a job in Prithviraj Kapoor's Prithivi Theatre Group as an assistant to music director Ram Ganguly. With Ganguly, he played the flute in 'Dekh Chaand Ki Aor' Sung by Shamshaad Begam and Shailesh 'Jindaa Hoon is Tarah Ki Ghame Zindagi' sung by Mukesh 'Raat Ko Jo Chamake Taare' sung by Shamshaad Begam and Mukesh and 'Kaahe Koyaliyaa Shor Machaae Re', sung by Shamshaad Begam.
As a full-fledged music director, he first landed with producer P L Santoshi's Raj Kapoor-Vaijayantimala starrer 'Tangaawalla' in 1950. He recorded six songs for this film. Unfortunately, the movie was never released. In between, he played continued to play the flute and shehani in various films.
In 1952, he got a second chance as music director for the baal hardeep produced film, 'Husnbaano'.It was a hit film and established Choudhary as a music director.
'Yaa Nabeeb Salaam Lai Jaa' and 'Pyaar Karane Ka Ayaa Jamaana' became hit songs.
Then came producer-director V Shantaram's 'Sehara'.It was a superhit film. 'Pankh Hoti to Udd Jaati Re O Rasiya Jaalimaa' sung by none other than Lata Mangeshkar, 'Takdeer Ka Phasaana Jaakar Kise Sunaaen' sung by Mohammad Rafi, 'Tum To Pyaar Ho Sajana' rendered by Mohammad Rafi and Lata and other songs brought Choudhary international fame.
One more feather was added to his cap with V Shantaram's 'Geet Gaaya Pattharon Ne' released in 1965. Mr Choudhary recorded 'Tere Khayalo Mein Hum' sung by Asha Bhosale, 'Saanson Ke Taar Par' and 'Dhadakan Ki Taal Par' sung by Asha Bhosale and Mahendra Kapoor were all popular numbers of those days.
Thereafter, the singer of yesteryears says, he found himself out of the industry due to the machinations of some powerful music directors and renowned producers.
He, then, decided to produce his own film. With a partner, Charles, he started the film, 'Tyagi' under the banner, 'Panna pictures.' but after some time, the partner left him stranded. Choudhary lost about Rs 60,000 in the project and a whisper campaign started in the industry that as producer, Choudhary could not do justice to his films. He got no more films.
Choudhary has to his credit, playing Shehnai in 'Aag', 'Mughal- e-Aajam' and 'Navrang'. In 'Sehara', Sandoor exponent Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and in 'Geet Gaaya Pattharon Ne'- flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chourasiya worked under him. Laxmikant Pyarelal have worked with him as assistants in 'Maaya Macchinder'. Kalyanji Ananadji also worked with him in 'Naaglok' under his direction.
Many prominent singers like Lata, Asha, Usha Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur, Kishori Amonkar, S P Balsubrahmaniam, K J Yesudas and Hemant Kumar have sung under his direction.
Choudhary, who stopped getting work five years ago, is now left to humming his own tune, 'Takdeer Ka Phasana Gaakar Kisse Sunaaen.' (UNI)
Edited by *dolly* - 18 years ago
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