The journey of Musician duo Laxmikant Pyarelal in the Indian Film Industry is the longest and inspiring to many other musicians.
Laxmikant Kudalkar
Born in Mumbai on the auspicious occasion of Laxmi Puja of Diwali festival, got his name after goddess Laxmi. Born in a poor family, after his father’s demise, one of the family friends suggested he play mandolin and join any musical troop. This is because the Hindi film industry in India was growing rapidly and that was the golden era of the music in Bollywood.
At the age of 10, little Laxmikant lost his father and to support the family, he started taking violin lessons from Gopiram ji Bhagat, renowned musician of that time. To support the family, he had acted in 5 films as a child artist and also did dubbing for films. little Laxmikant was working very hard to earn money and also side by side taking mandolin lessons from Bal Mukund Indurkar.
Pyarelal Sharma
In Uttar Pradesh, India 7 years old Pyarelal Sharma was learning violin from his trumpeter father. The child was literally dedicated towards violin playing and used to do regular 8 to 9 hours of practice. It took him 3 years to learn the language of music. Further, he took pro violin lessons from his master, Anthony Gonsalves from Goa. As a tribute to his master, Anthony Gonsalves, the name was used in the popular song,” My name is Anthony Gonsalves,” in the 1978 hit film Amar Akbar Anthony.
Laxmikant got his first big chance given by legendary singer, Lata Mangeshkar. She took him to the great musician Shankar Jaikishan and told them that this boy plays a good mandolin.
Laxmikant Pyarelal worked with all great musicians of the golden era. The duo played mandolin and violin in many films. They also worked and orchestra and composed various background music for films
It took them 10 years to establish themselves as an individual music director in the film industry. Parasmani was their first film, in which they have composed music for all songs.
After Parasmani, Laxmi-Pyare never looked back and year after year started giving good melodious music. Worked in more than 500 films and composed more than 3000 songs, this duo’s work was unstoppable. Their dedication and sense of composing is outstanding that even if a film was not a success commercially, their songs were hummable and soothing to ears.
They never took their work for granted and earning money was a secondary thing to them. Their two films, Parasmani and Dosti are the biggest examples of passion and dedication.
For the film Dosti, the duo has won the filmfare award for best music director. The competition was tough. Both of these newcomers have been alongside great composers, Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, and Madan Mohan. Their first victory gave a clear message to the industry that these two young duo have something extraordinary in them.
Filmfare Awards winning years list:
1964:- Dosti
1967:- Milan
1969:- Jeene Ki Raah
Four awards in a row
1977:- Amar Akbar Anthony
1978:- Satyam Shivam Sundaram
1979:- Sargam
1980:- Karz
Laxmikant Pyarelal’s sense of using the instruments was impeccable. Be it the flute tune of the film Hero or the usage of violins in 98 percent of their songs.
Following Instruments have been used brilliantly in their compositions:
Violin
Dholak
Mandolin
Flute
Clarinet
Trombone
Trumper and
Guitar
Apart from this, they knew how to use the chorus effectively in a song.
EXPERIMENT WITH SOUND
During the 70s a couple of their film songs namely Bobby and Daag recorded in echo technique. This was their experiment which really sounded well. A couple of years later they used computerized techniques for the song Jumma Chumma De De from the movie Hum. Laxmikant Pyarelal did not typecast their music and always tried new variations in their compositions.
100 BEST SONGS OF LAXMIKANT PYARELAL
1.Mere Dil Main – Parasmani
2.Mera to Jo Bhi Kadam Hai – Dosti
3.Bol Gori Bol – Milan
4. Suraj Re Jalte Rehnna – Raja Harishchandra
5. Kabhi To Miloge – Sati Savitri
6. Bahut Din Beete – Sant Gyaneshwar
7. Khoobsurat Haseena – Mr. X in Bombay
8. Hum Pyar Kiye Jayenge – Aaya Toofan
9. Tera Mera Naya Pyar Hua Hai
– Aaya Toofan
10. Aapne Kya Kaha – Aaya Toofan
11. Choda Hai Zamana – Aaya Toofan
12. Kya Teri Zulfein Hain – Hum Sab Ustad Hain
13. Ajnabi Tum Jane Pehchane Se – Hum Sab Ustad Hain
14. Ke Inse Ram Bachaye – Hum Sab Ustad Hain
15. Hum Sab Hain Bhai – Hum Sab Ustad Hain
16. Janu na Janu – Boxer
17. Main Woh Nahi Hu – Boxer
18. Khudaya – Boxer
19. Do Nain – Boxer
20. Khamosh Zindagi Ko – Naag Mandir
21. Chala Wo Chala – Naag Mandir
22. Ek Manzil Ek Safar – Naag Mandir
23. Dil Aye Dil – Laadla
24. Aankhon Ki Duniya – Laadla
25. Ye Dard Bhara Afsana – Shreeman Funtoosh
26. Sultana – Shreeman Funtoosh
27. Tum Meri Zindagi Ho – Dillagi
28. Mere Dil Pe Chal Rahe Ho – Dillagi
29. Payal Ki Zhankar – Mere Laal
30. Baje Mridang – Chota Bhai
31. O Dilwalo – Lootera
32. Aaya Holi Ka Tyhoor – Daku Mangal Singh
33. Neend Kabhi Rehti Thi – Aasra
34. Tum Kaun Ho – Aasra
35.Shokhiyan Nazar main – Aasra
36. Rahi Hu Albela – Chaila Babu
37. Dhadka hai Dil – Jaal
38. Aaj Dil pe Koi – Milan
39. Mera Yaar Bada Sharmila – Milan Ki Raat
40. Raat Mere Sapne main – Milan Ki Raat
41. Kareen Aa Yeh Nazar – Anita
42. Tum Bin Jeevan – Anita
43. Mujhe Bhool Jana – Taqdeer
44. Jab Bahar Aaye – Taqdeer
45. Ye Daaman – Baharo Ki Manzil
46. Yeh Kaisa Gham Saina – Pyasi Shyam
47. Dilruba Yaad Karoge – Pyasi Shyam
48. Tumhi se hui hai – Mera Dost
49. Dil main Aeji Dil Main – Meri Bhabhi
50. Aayi Baharon Ki Shaam – Wapas
51. Teri Haseen Nigah Ka – Devi
52. Aankhe Sharab Ki – Mann Ki Aankhe
53. Ruth Bekarar Hai – Maa Aur Mamta
54. Mujhe Pyar Karne Ka Haq Nahi – Darpan
55. Bujha Do Deepak – Darpan
56. Tim Chamke Re Tara – Suhana Safar
57. Shaam Dhale – Pushpanjali
58. Parda Uthne Wala Hai – Bachpan
59. Ched Mere Humrahi – Mastana
60. Taro Main Sajke – Jal Bin Machli Nritya Bin Bijli
61. Maine Chand Dekha Hai – Woh Din Yaad Karo
62. Yaad Ye Rakhna – Lagan
63. Jaadugar Teri Naina – Man Mandir
64. Chal Premnagar Jaayega – Jeet
65.Pukaro Mujhe Phir Pukaro – Buniyaad
66. Main dhoond Raha Tha – Mom Ki Gudiya
67. Itne Din Tum Kahan Rahe – Haar Jeet
68. Jo Unki Tamanna – Inteqam
69. Geet Tere Saaz Ka – Inteqam
70. Aayi Baharon Ki Sham – Wapas
71. Resham Ki Dori – Sajan
72. Meherbaan Mehboob – Aansu Ban Gaye Phool
73. Oh O Suno To Jani – Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool
74. Chori Se Saiya Ne – Shart
75. Aaj Raat Jadu Sa – Shart
76. Do Din Ki Zindagi – Satyakam
77. Hume Tumse – Chahat
78. Raat Dulhan Bani – Chahat
79. Dil Ki Baatein – Roop Tera Masatana
80. Bach Ke Kahan Jaoge – Kahani Hum Sab Ki
81. O Gori Prem Karle – Gai Aur Gori
82. Vada Bhool Na Jana – Jalte Badan
83. Haye Ek Ladka – Kacche Dhage
84. Chal Aage Badh – Keemat
85. Mara Vade Ne Tere – Gehri Chaal
86. Nazar Ka Ye Paigaam – Barkha Bahaar
87. Koi Pyar Se Tohe Dekhe – Nirdosh
88. Qusoor Teri Nazro Ka – Nirdosh
89. Jeena Marna Hai – Suraj Aur Chanda
90. Purab Disha Se – Suraj Aur Chanda
91. Jane Chaman – Dulhan
92. Kab Tak Chupega – Nirman
93. Hum Kashmakashe Gham Se – Free Love
94. Naino Main Sajan Baste – Paise Ki Gudiya
95. Khoobsurat Tu Sanam – Jurm Aur Saza
96. Naam Hamara – Prem Shastra
97. Ud Chala – Lafange
98. Tere Baghair – Anari
99. Is Kadar Aap Humko – Apne Rang Hazaar
100. Maine Kuch Khoya Hai – Mere Sajna