Na Toh Carvaan Ki Talaash Hai- The Immortal Qawwali by Roshan

 

When we think of the film Qawwali, this 12-minute long Qawwali comes to our mind. This Qawwali is from the super hit film Barsat Ki Raat (1960). The other song of the film, especially the romantic title track Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi, is another immortal song composed by Roshan. 

There is a story behind this song,  that it was music director Khayyam wa signed on to compose the music for Barsaat Ki Raat (1960). But when R Chandra, the film’s producer and elder brother of its leading man Bharat Bhushan, insisted that the composer use the tune of the qawwali Na Toh But-Kade Ki Talab Mujhe, sung by the famed Pakistani duo of Mubarak Ali Khan and Fateh Ali Khan, Khayam refused to use the same tune, so he was replaced by Roshan, he had no qualms about using the tune.   

 This Qawwali was written by Sahir Ludhianvi and sung by Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey, Asha Bhonsle, Sudha Malhotra and even SD Batish lending his voice for a line or two. As the legend goes, the qawwali took 24 hours to record and is till date a musical milestone.

This film had another Qawwali 'Yeh Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq' sung by the same singers. This is also a  long qawwali run for 7 minutes. Apart from this 2 qawwali, there is also an immortal song"Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat" 

.The 1960s proved to be the golden age for Roshan and his music. His ability to mold folk music with Hindustani classical music became his trademark and resulted in successful movie musicals. During this time, Roshan gave hits such as  "Ab kya misaal doon" and "Kabhi to milegi, kahi to milegi" (Aarti, 1962), "Jo vada kiya vo nibhana padega", "Paao chhoon lene do", "Jo baat tujhmein hai" and "Jurm-e-ulfat pe" (Taj Mahal, 1963), "Nigahen milane ko jee chahata hai" and "Laaga chunari mein daag" (Dil Hi To Hai, 1963), "Sansaar se bhaage phirte ho" and "Man re tu kaahe" (Chitralekha, 1964), "Rehte the kabhi jinke dil mein" and "Rahen Na Rahen Hum" sung by Lata Mangeshkar and her hit duet, "Chuppa Lo Yun Dil Mein Pyar Mera" with Hemant Kumar. Devar (1966): "Aaya hai mujhe phir yaad woh zalim, guzara zamana bachpan ka"; "Baharon ne mera chaman loot kar"; "Duniya mein aisa kahan sab ka naseeb hai"and "Oh re taal mile", "Khushi khushi kar do vida" (Anokhi Raat, 1968). 

Song of Barsaat Ki Raat (1960)

ROSHAN- The Composer who had the Heart of a Poet

Not all music directors are created equal. Some have a passion for instruments, others for the perfect pitch, yet others for rhythm. A few, like Roshan, also had their focus on the words that their music would carry to the ears of the listeners.
He worked with a dizzying number of poets throughout his career, having started with Kidar Sharma. This included the more prolific writers of the time, as well as the lesser-heard poets: Sahir, Majrooh, Shakeel, Shailendra, D N Madhok, Kavi Pradeep, Neeraj, Kaifi Azmi, Khumar Barabankwi, Bharat Vyas and many more.
It would be impossible to showcase all the songs Roshan composed which had poetry that made the listener go ‘aah!’.Here are few of my favourite such songs.

Song of Bawra Nai 1950

Song of Malhar1951

Chandni Chowk, 1954

Barsat ki Raat, 1960, 

Song of  Aati 1962

Song of  Taj Maal 1963

Song of Chitralekha 1964

Song of  Mamta 1966

Song of AnokhiRaat 1968

Milestone Songs of Roshan

Roshan Lal Nagrath (14 July 1917-16 November 1967) the father of the actor and film director Rakesh Roshan and music director Rajesh Roshan and paternal grandfather of Hritik Roshan came to Bombay in 1949, became assistant of music composer Khawaja Khurshid Anwar in the film Singaar. He struggled until meeting Kidar Sharma, who gave him the job of composing for his film Neki aur Badi (1949).which was a flop,Kidar Sharma gave him another film Bawre Nain,the music of this film became hit and it opened door of success to Roshan 
His biggest strength was that he was very comfortable in mixing the folk music with the complex classical tunes. He use to make a fusion of folk and classical music and that too with ease. This was the speciality which belonged to Roshan only. It was his approach which made his music stand out from the others. In the 60’s, Roshan gave hits like,Barsaat Ki Raat, which featured hits like 'Na To Karavan Ki Talaash Hai..' and 'Yeh Hai Ishq Ishq..', Aarti ('Ab Kya Misaal Doon..'), Devar ('Baharon Ne Mera Chaman Lootkar..'), Bheegi Raat ('Kahin To Milegi..', 'Dil Jo Na Kehsaka..'), Chitralekha ('Sansaar Se Bhaagte Phirte Ho..', 'Man Re Tu Kahe Na..'), Taj Mahal ('Jo Wada Kiya Who Nibhana Padega.', 'Paon Choo Lene Do..'), Bahu Begum ('Hum Intezaar Karenge..' and 'Pad Gaye Jhoole..'), Dooj Ka Chand ('Mehfil Se Uth Jaanewalon..'), Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal ('Carvan Guzar Gaya..' and 'Dekhti Hi Raho Aaj Tum..' ), Dil Hi To Hai ('Nigahen Milane Ko Ji Chahata Hai..' and 'Laaga Chunri Me Daag..' ) and finally his swan song from Anokhi Raat ('Oh Re Taal Mile..' and 'Mere Beri Ke Ber..').
He did not achieve big commercial success as some of his peers, but for music lovers he was among the greatest, especially as regards his songs for the two titans Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar. His compositions were unmistakably identifiable with incredibly beautiful use of the flute and sarangi.
Roshan died at a young age of a sudden heart attack on November 16, 1967. The song Mehlon ka raja mila from Anokhi Raat, which was composed by him, was recorded posthumously. Here are my 15 favourite Roshan-Lata songs as my tribute to him on his Birth Anniversary.

Song from Bawre Nain 1950

Song from Malhar (1951)

Song from Anhonee 1952

Song from Anhonee 1952

Song from  Naubahaar. 1952

Song from Aji Bas Shukriya” (1958).

Song from Barsat Ki Raat” (1960)

Song from Aarti (1962)

Song from Taj Mahal” (1963) 

Song from Dil Hi to Hai 1963

Song from Chitralekha” (1964)

Song from Bheegi Raat” (1965)

Song from Mamta” (1966)

Song from Bahu Begum (1967)

Song from Anokhi Raat” (1968)

Immortal Songs of ROSHAN

On the 100th Birth Anniversary of Music Director Roshan I have selected few great songs of Roshan.
His biggest strength was that he was very comfortable in mixing the folk music with the complex classical tunes. It was his approach which made his music stand out from the others.Remember the song"Jo Wada Kiya Who Nibhana Padega" and "Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhulegi woh Barsat Ki Raat"
He came to Mumbai to pursue his career as a music director ,in 1948.He was given break by Kidar Sharma with Neki Aur Badi (1949),he got noticed by this great song " 'Khayalon Mein Kisike..'from Baawre Nain (1950).In the 50’s, Roshan gave hits like Malhar, Shisham and Anhonee and some of his songs were amazingly modern in tenor for those times, like, 'Taare Toote Duniya Dekhe..' from Malhar.
 In the 60’s, Roshan gave hits like,Barsaat Ki Raat, which featured hits like 'Na To Karavan Ki Talaash Hai..' and 'Yeh Hai Ishq Ishq..', Aarti ('Ab Kya Misaal Doon..'), Devar ('Baharon Ne Mera Chaman Lootkar..'), Bheegi Raat ('Kahin To Milegi..', 'Dil Jo Na Keh saka..'), Chitralekha ('Sansaar Se Bhaagte Phirte Ho..', 'Man Re Tu Kahe Na..'), Taj Mahal ('Jo Wada Kiya Who Nibhana Padega.', 'Paon Choo Lene Do..'), Bahu Begum ('Hum Intezaar Karenge..' and 'Pad Gaye Jhoole..'), Dooj Ka Chand ('Mehfil Se Uth Jaanewalon..'), Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal ('Carvan Guzar Gaya..' and 'Dekhti Hi Raho Aaj Tum..' ), Dil Hi To Hai ('Nigahen Milane Ko Ji Chahata Hai..' and 'Laaga Chunri Me Daag..' ) and finally his swan song from Anokhi Raat ('Oh Re Taal Mile..' and 'Mere Beri Ke Ber..').

He died  on 16 th November 1967 at the age of 50, leaving behind a wife, two sons and two daughters,the two sons are Rakesh Roshan and Rajesh Roshan.

Song from Baawre Nain (1950)

Song from Barsaat Ki Raat, 1960

Song from Aarti 1962

Song from Taj Mahal, 1963

Song from Dil Hi To Hai, 1963

Song from Chitralekha, 1964

Song from Anokhi Raat, 1968

Song from Mamta  1966

Song from Devar 1966

Song from Bahu Begum 1967

Remembering ROSHAN the Music Director on his 99th Birth Anniversary

ROSHAN  (14 July 1917 – 16 November 1967)

Roshan was born in Gujranwala now in Pakistan.In 1948, He came to Mumbai to find work as a Hindi film music director and became Assistant of Music Composer Khawaja Khurshid Anwar in film Singaar. He struggled until meeting Kidar Sharma, who gave him the job of composing for his film Neki aur Badi (1949). While this film was a flop, Roshan emerged as a player on the Hindi film music scene with the film Baawre Nain, released the following year..

Baawre Nain established Roshan as Music director at par with other famous music directors of that era.The movie had 9 songs and almost ll the songs were hit.The song"Khyaalon Mein Kisike Is Tarah" became immortal song.This song was sung by Geeta Dutt ( then she was Geeta Roy) and Mukesh, both newcomers as playback singers. The voice of Geeta Dutt sounds so refreshing and different from what we are used to. Mukesh, just breaking out of K L Sahgal’s influence.

In 1951 his film "Malhaar" released It was produced by Singer Mukesh.Each song, led by the remarkable “Bade Armaanon Se Rakha Hai Sanam Teri Qasam, Pyaar Ki Duniya Mein Yeh Pehla Qadam” is a gem.

 Roshan was undoubtedly helped by the lyricists, debutant Indeevar and Kaif-Irfani- who penned sheer poetry, including “Dil Tujhe diya tha Rakhne ko, Tune Dil ko Jala ke Rakh Kiya” and “Tara Toote Duniya Dekhe”. Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, needless to mention, made them immortal in their voice.
He was not always commercially successful. He gave Indeewar and Anand Bakshi their first breaks in the industry as lyricists; these two would later become two of the most sought-after songwriters in Mumbai from the late 1960s onwards.

In 1952 his another gem of a movie"Naubahaar" starring Ashok Kumar and Nalini Jaywant released,again its music became very popular,Another immortal song “Ae ri main to prem deewaani” is a traditional Meera Bhajan which is adapted as a lyrics by Satyendra Athaiyya. It is sung by Lata and it is picturised on Nalini Jaiwant and Ashok Kumar.Most of the songs were sung by Lata Mangeshkar, one by Rajkumari and one by Talat Mahmood. Whether it was the vivacious “Unke bulawe pe dole mera dil” or the tenderness of “Dekho ji mera jiya churaye liye jaaye” or the devotion and pathos of “Ai ri main to prem diwani” (which Lata has included in her best ten list) or the restlessness and anguish of “Woh paas nahin majboor hai dil, hum aas lagaye baithe hain”, Lata has shone like a dazzling star.
In the 50s Roshan gave many musical hits likr Shesham and Anhonee,the song "Main Dil Hoon Ek Armaan Bhara" is a classic from Talat Mahmood This is a song sung by Talat Mehmood and picturised on Raj Kapoor. It is a rare combination of singer and actor, but the song itself is quite well known 

The 1960s proved to be the golden age for Roshan and his music. His ability to mould folk music with Hindustani classical music became his trademark and resulted in movies scores. During this time Roshan gave hits such as Na to karavan ki talaash hai from Barsat Ki Raat and Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat (Barsaat Ki Raat, 1960),Ab kya misaal doon and Kabhi to milegi, kahi to milegi (Aarti, 1962), Jo vada kiya vo nibhana padega, Paao chhoon lene do and Jurm-e-ulfat pe (Taj Mahal, 1963), Nigahen milane ko jee chahata hai and Laaga chunari mein daag (Dil Hi To Hai, 1963), Sansaar se bhaage phirte ho and Man re tu kaahe (Chitralekha, 1964), and Oh re taal mile andKhushi khushi kar do vida (Anokhi Raat, 1968).

 He composed some melodies for the movie Mamta (1966) with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, 'Rehte the kabhi jinke dil mein',Rahen Na Rahen Hum sung by Lata Mangeshkar and her hit duet, Chuppa Lo Yun Dil Mein Pyar Mera with Hemant Kumar.^[1] Devar (1966): "Aaya hai mujhe phir yaad woh zalim, guzara zamana bachpan ka"; "Baharon ne mera chaman loot kar"; "Duniya mein aisa kahan sab ka naseeb hai".

Roshan in my opinion was a very under-rated music director who got his due recognition very late. He created some of the most outstanding scores. His biggest strength was mixing of Folk Music with classical music, this approach made him different from other music directors. In1963 Filmfare Best Music Director Award for Taj Mahal.

Roshan had been suffering from chronic heart trouble for over 20 years. He died of a heart attack in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, on 16 November 1967 aged 50, leaving behind a wife, two sons and two daughters. Besides immediate family, Roshan left great admirers of extended family—Nagrath and Khokha family