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India's Greatest Composers of Film Music

Topic started by Nithin (@ nc.pr.mcs.net) on Sun Jun 7 15:36:55 EDT 1998.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Strangely last night, I was going to open this topic and it is a reflection of the amount of time I have spent listening to film music in India and the deep admiration I developed for various composers. I stopped short, since I was not sure if there was another similar thread archived and if Ravi would start asking unnerving questions. So, I gave priority to some other thread. But, after seeing the baseless new thread foiled upon us by a certain Mr. Keeeeee, I thought why not put my bit and share my musical 'enthusiasm' and invite my friends in the thread to help one another know more about composers whom we may have not heard. I am ranking composers of India, who are in least doubt world-class geniuses. The criteria employed is: consistently ingenious songs, prolificity, timelessness and priceless contribution to the storehouse of India's great art. Here, we go.

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Responses:

• From: Nithin (@ nc.pr.mcs.net) on: Sun Jun 7 16:38:41 EDT 1998
  
  Dear Friends:
  
  Please allow me to begin:
  
  Rank Composer Achievement
  
  1. MSViswanathan Timeless melodies, high
  of predictability, as someone claimed one of the very MD's to have employed almost all the great carnatic ragas, proponent of the mridangam, favored the use of Indian instruments over western instruments when the song demanded it, have generated even greater songs even after the advent of that unparalleled genius IR.
  
  2. Isaignani Illaiyaraja I would claim IR is the best composer of this world, but second to MSV, only for the reason that MSV's melodies are more Indian and somehow gets our soul, while Raja conquers our minds and heart, because of his effortless churning out of songs from the ocean of music. Raja's prolificity, variety and originality has no comparison in this world.
  
  3. Salil Chowdhury The best melody maker of this world, however as not been as prolific and with a wider variety than MSV. Salil could be called the pioneer in composing magnetic interludes, many shades more sophisticated than SD Burman, however Illaiyaraja will always remain the emperor of interludes. Salilda as affectionately called by his loving fans is perhaps the only composer who had a complete mastery of hindustani, carnatic, Indian folk and western classical and used these to such original effect in whichever language he composed music.
  
  4. S D Burman A original original of film composers of India and who has given some of the finest hindustani melodies.
  
  5. G Devarajan Just as MSV, G Devarajan created countless classics for Malayalam movies and can be called as the only composer who used in most of his songs only Indian instruments.
  
  6. R D Burman While RDB did not have have a very wide repertoire in terms of rhythm, can be called the father of catchy songs and a revolutionary composer of soul-touching tunes.
  
  7.Shankar-Jaikishen Prolific composers, who rolled out tunes as if they were factory workers. The duo can be considered on par with any of the afore-listed composers.
  
  8. Ravindra Jain Many, many folk music based classic film songs and whose contribution to popular Indian music is no less than that of SDB or RDB. Excellent interludes and great dramatic melodies.
  
  9. Laxmikant Pyarelal Their one song is Nagin ,which is in a Tamil movie too (Ore Jeevan Ondre Ullam - 'Neeya') will best explain how much complete and perfect their hits are.
  
  11.M K Arujunan Another classic composer on the lines of G Devarajan, songs that are beyong compare, his melodies based on Carnatic ragas evokes all kinds of invaluable feelings and moods in you.
  
  10. V Kumar Oops, I forgot. This gentleman a great afficionado and critic of Illaiyaraja, himself was no less talented, who gave the Tamil movie goers great songs, though few in number, that is why I think V Kumar, who did not do that many movies would rank somewhere here.
  
  12. Any of the following composers can take the 12th position and complete our circle. KV Mahadeven, Rajan Nagendra, Vijay Bhaskar, Madan Mohan, Vasant Desai, V Dakshinamoorthy, A T Ummer, Hridayanth Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar, Rajesh Roshan, Kalyanji Anandji. While these geniuses have had more films than perhaps Naushad, C Ramachandra, A M Raja, these greats have not come out consistently more songs than the afore 11 listed, according to me, however, these composers still stand out for their distinct sounds, quality and timeless songs.
  
  If you see some composer really conspicous by their absence, please excuse me folks, but that someone is really in a different class altogether, only time can tell, what we should call that class act.
  
  Please note, this write-up is purely based on my awareness of these composers and their work. I may be wrong, because while for me IR is the greatest, I sometimes have happiness that India has just not been the mother ofr only IR but also even greater melody magicians, who may not be as talented, as brilliant, as original, and with a wider repertoire as IR but they had that Indianness about them to elevate them on par if not a higher level than our Isaignani.
  
  
  
• From: G. Varghese (@ 142.194.172.208) on: Sun Jun 7 21:17:33 EDT 1998
  
  Ravindran has composed great music (classical -based light music) for several Malayalam movies
  like HIS HIGHNESS ABDULLA, BHARATHAM, etc. I have no hesitation in including him in any list of top
  composers of film music. Another name for the list would be M.B.Srinivasan.
  
  
• From: S.Suresh (@ dwarpal.wipsys.soft.net) on: Mon Jun 8 00:53:37 EDT 1998
  
  Hi,
  
  Good topic Nithin.
  
  I agree with you. I too think that MSV-TKR combination is the best in Tamil music as far as great melodies are concerned. I would rank IR the best when it comes to verstality, orchestration, creativity etc. Bt when it comes to the pure tune, MSV just comes out ahead.
  
  My rating for TFM:
  
  1. MSV- TKR combination
  Excellent melodies. They also had a wide variety. Lot of songs which touch your heart and move you
  
  2. IR :
  No need for me to give a detailed explanation
  
  3. K V Mahadevan :
  Again a master of pure melody. Listen to the songs he composed for A P Nagarajan's mythologies.
  
  Hindi :
  1. Roshan :
  Gave some outstanding melodies. Based mostly on Indian Classical music, the amount of melody he generates is unbelievable. The albums to check out are , "Bawre Nain", "Taj Mahal" "Barsat Ki Raat", "Malhar", "Bahu Begum". My personal favourite in HFM
  
  2. MadanMohan :
  One more master of melody. He was called the Ghazal King. Composed some mind blowing songs for Lata. Albums to look for, "Woh Kaun Thi", "Dekh Kabira Roya", "Mera Saaya", "Haqeeqat" "Mausam"
  
  3. Salil Chowdary :
  Read Nithin's post Above
  
  4. R D Burman :
  He was the one who changed the times with his fresh tunes. His father, S D Burman, a great in his own right, changed with the times. His son changed the times. The fact that even after his death he remains an inspiration to a wide variety of MDs including IR, ARR, Anu Malik, Jatin-Lalit proves that he is an all time great.
  
  Telugu
  
  1. K V Mahadevan :
  
  TFM's loss was Telugu's gain. The number of songs delivered by KVM in Telugu which are outstanding is countless. Many of these songs have the capacity to touch you deep down in your heart. No wonder he had such an outstanding innings in telugu Film Music.
  
  2. S. Rajeshwar Rao :
  
  Again a master melody maker. I cannot forget the song "Evvaru Nerparramma E Kommaku". He had taken Bilahari and translated it into a light melody. His music for films like Malleswari are acknowledged classics.
  
  3. Ghantasala :
  
  Some of the music given by Ghantasala is really great. He was a great singer. Further he was able to compose some very good songs.
  
  There have been others in Telugu like Pendyala, Satyam (who used to borrow material but also used to come up with some surprisingly good melodies). I havent listened to them excessively, so cannot give my opinion.
  
  In my opinion, Telugu Film Music has given more melodies that have touched my heart than Tamil. I am referring to the times of KVM and Rajeshwar Rao. Later IR gave some great songs.
  
  My top listing for Indian MD's (Honestly, I should not be calling it "Indian MD's since I havent heard other languages. I have read somewhere else also that Devarajan was a terrific composer. So this only includes Tamil, Telugu and Hindi). The criteria being the melody of the tune composed.
  
  1. MSV-TKR
  2. K V Mahadevan
  3. IllayaRaja
  4. S. Rajeshwar Rao
  5. Roshan
  6. Madan Mohan
  7. Salil Chowdary
  8. Ghantasala
  9. RD Burman
  10. S D Burman
  
  If other criteria like creativity, experimentation, orchestration, versatality are taken into account, then IR will rank first.
  
  
• From: Ravi (@ envy.cs.umass.edu) on: Mon Jun 8 01:21:15 EDT 1998
  
  Nithin: If someone starts a stupid topic, that doesn't give you the right to do what you want. :-). A very similar topic has been discussed already w.r.t TFM: http://newtfmpage.com/forum/3310.5.html
  If your aim is not to limit your discussion to TFM, then this is not the place for the topic.
  
  
• From: Viswa (@ webgate6.mot.com) on: Mon Jun 8 04:17:52 EDT 1998
  
  Nithin, Varghese, Suresh :
  Good to see a comprehensive listing of great composers of IFM (Indian Film Music). I'd like to bring to your notice, some more eminent names that are (unfortunately) not as talked about as the others :
  
  * Pankaj Mullick : A great name in the 1940s, who has given us many of the immortal hits of K. L. Saigal. The song "Piya milan ko jAnA", sung by himself is an all-time great, that still figures in the PurAni film sangeet programme on Srilanka Broadcasting Co. (Incidentally, the starting note of this song was lifted in a song in the movie "ThenmAvin konbathu")
  
  *Anil Biswas : Again, a composer of the 50s, who has produced some gems like "Zindagi DEnE wAle". He was last seen as MD for the popular teleserial "Hum Log" on DD.
  
  * Bhupen Hazarika : A versatile composer from Assam, who produced those haunting melodies in "Rudaali". His work in Assamese films have been very noteworthy, though are very little known in other parts of the country.
  
  
  
• From: fan of rahman (@ 194.78.104.93) on: Mon Jun 8 08:44:16 EDT 1998
  
  i think you people forgot Anu Malik......
  
  
• From: Ramki (@ dante.cs.wmich.edu) on: Mon Jun 8 11:17:19 EDT 1998
  
  Nithin this topic should be discussed in RMIM and not here. This is only for and about TFM.
  Please dont make it hard for the page maintainers
  to remind you people about this often.
  Thanks
  
  
• From: Prakash Balakrishnan (@ gate4.ca.us.ibm.com) on: Mon Jun 8 17:55:58 EDT 1998
  
  Top 10 Tamil MDs..
  
  1. MSV & Ramamoorthy
  2. MSV.
  3. KVM
  4. G.Ramanadhan
  5. IR
  6. ARR
  7. V.Kumar
  8. A.M.Raja
  9.Shankar - GanEsh
  10. Deva.
  
  Adhu eppadi IR-a 5-la podalam???? appdinu sandaikku varadheenga IR RasigargaLE...
  idhu ennoda Top 10 List..
  
  
• From: Ravi (@ envy.cs.umass.edu) on: Mon Jun 8 18:21:20 EDT 1998
  
  PB: If you want to talk about best TFM MDs please go to the link I have given above.
  
  

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