The beauty of the old film music is the treasure of supreme composers who competed to provide one compelling tune after another. Every composer was brilliant in his/her own way. I rate Anil da and Naushad very highly for the supreme impact they had on the film music- apart form the melodic content of their songs. In terms of melody alone, even they would have to fight hard to stay above this man from Maharashtra, who for those 5 golden years from 50-55, was close to being the Numero Uno among the composers. He was thwarted in that bid only because Naushad created a different dimension altogether in film music.

I know little about the Chitalkar who came to the film world with hopes of becoming a hero. I know little of the man who got a few breaks as an Assistant Director and then made himself an Asst Music Director. In fact, I dont know anything of Chitalkar the man. But as a composer, as the man who brought out the gold in Lata Mangeshkar's voice, as the man who was revered by almost all the young composers of the day, as the man who brought in unheard, heart tearing melodies- this C.Ramchandra I know. Not personally of course- I was born some 20 years after C.Ranchandra had almost faded from the music horizons. But in those five years, when he rules as the Melody King, he created enough to give sleepless nights to music conneisseurs who cannot get over some of his tunes without a good sob.

What was there about the man ..? How could he compose such tunes ? They were nothing short of genius. The orchestrization were mostly utterly simple- just a table playing in the background, and a few violins. But what a deadly effect they had. Just listen to 'Dheere se aaja i' closely. Just ONE violin is playing in the background. Music directors of today- just listen to these numbers. They are an apt education on what melody is and how to compose. Believe me,they are the best possible lessons that can be hadon melody.

I am amused by all this hypeover the Lata-Madan combo.There was not one Lata paiting in those days which could be said to be ordinary- for, all the composers of the time were of such standards that anything below average was unthinkable. But the Lata pairing with Anna,as he was popularly called,was at a different dimension altogether. It is popularly said that there existed something more than just a professional relationship. And there also came a time when they discussed marriage also. But that is one for those who want to know the persons - me,I amsatisfied to live withtheir mmusic. And what music they gave? What compositions flowed from CR and what renditions by Lata. Most fit enough to set the Amazon ablaze ! I expand more on this divine pairing through the list of my faaaavourites:

1. Tum kya jano tumhari yaad me : Their ultimate creation. And one of the perfecct numbers created in Hindi films. The pathos in Lata's voice is almost touchable. The melody haunts you - never to let up. Beautiful words, a simple but beautifully arranged tune, and superbly rendered.This was in 'Shin shina ki boobla boo'and their partnersip reached a new high with this.After this, how could there be a looking back ?

2.Katate hain dukh main din : 'Parchaian' is considered by many to be CR's best ever. I reserve my judgement till the next song. But this song - no, no words , no adjectives can describe the beauty of this melody. 'Ulfat ki thokron se, aakhir na bach saka dil'. Magnificent usage of the violin to bring out the pathos. In all, an emotionally fulfilling number.

3.Ab woh ratein kahan : About a year ago, I had never heard this song. Now, I cant survive without a regular dose of this divine melody. One of the awesome creations of this mercuric pair. What a song! It haunts me all the time. Lata is totally bewitching here and CR's composition...cant describe it more. Its DIVINE !!

4. Dil hai luta hua dhuan : Another fantastic number. I have used up most adjectives in describing the above three songs. But this song deserves a share of them also. A magnificent composition and less typically, it is more on the higher vocal octaves. This range CR did not use very often. But here, he has and done it to perfection. Lata is again near divine as she cries
Ab na kisi ko mujhse pyar, ab na kisi ka intezaar..
A spectacular composition.
5. Balma bada naadaan re: "Dheere se aaja ri" is perhaps the most celebrated lullaby of all times. While I love that number, I rather preferred the lullaby as rendered by CR than Lata. It, somehow, appealed to me more. But anyway, my Lata favourite from Albela is this beautiful semi-classical number which has Lata at her sweetest and Geeta Bali, too, at her cutest. A magical composition with the orchestrization in particular being typically Ramchandrian. The violin usage is CR's hallmark. I have already mentioned its beautiful usage in "Katate hain dukh me din". Here too, that single violin creates an aura of sheer melody and beauty. A classic.
6. Yeh zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya : Do I need to say anything about this ever popular number ? Just say- its a classic...

There are oh, so many more magical compositions that thetwo gave us. The melodies that they gave will live on for ages and ages to come. Some of them, though, already lie hidden behind Gramaphone Co of India's sealed doors. Films like "Jhanjhar", "Khazana", "Nirala", "Yasmin" etc which saw the combination reach its zenith, are never released by the HMV. We have to be satisfied by the rare offering of the odd song it makes once in a blue moon..Here are some more fantastic songs of this magic combo :

Jo mujhe bulake chale gaye. mujhe yaad unki sataye kyon (Patanga)
Aankhon me sama jao, is dil me raha karna (Yasmin)
Ae darde mohobbat aa tujhk, seene se lagake pyar karoon
Kaise aaoon jamuna ke teer (Devta)
Ae pyar teri duniya se hum (Jhanjhar)
Tinak tin tani, do din ki zindagani (Sargam)
Mujhse mat pooch mere ishq me kya rakha hai (Anarkali)
Dil ki duniya basake sanwariya tum na jane kahan kho gaye (Amar deep)
O nirdayee preetam (Stree)
Main jagoon sari rain , sajan tum so jao (Bahurani)

I think talking of the Lata numbers with C.Ramchandra constitutes almost the entire gamut of C.Ramchandra as a composer. Though he did provide some unforgettable numbers with other singers, it is his combination with Lata that left a deep impression on the listeners. Their combination was an elevated one- one that rose above the commonplace and at times, attained the status of sheer magic.
C.Ramchandra himself was a fine singer. He had an effortless style of delivery and was more adept at the faster numbers that he made. Songs like "Shola jo bhadke", "Bholi soorat dil ke khote", "Dhane dhane pe likha hai khane wale ka naam", "Kitna haseen hai mausam" had his voice rendering the song.

Mohd Rafi was not exactly CR's favourite, but he sung too of the greatest duets you will ever get to hear in films - with Lata "Bhool jayen sare gham, doob jayen pyar me" and "Hum ko tumhara hi aasra, tum hamare ho na ho" in "Nadiya ke paar". Both duets of the very best class. and as for solos, I know one - and that one is amongst the very finest numbers of Rafi - "Yeh hasrat thi ki is duniya me bas do kaam kar jate". A mind boggling number wonderfully sung by Rafi. Our dear HMV never releases this song and once when it appeared on CD - Rafi sings for Raj Kumar- it was mixed up with some insipid and lifeless songs which people rave about today. I cannot digest the fact that "Yeh duniya yeh mehfil" is a great song. It is one of the worst songs of Madan Mohan and Rafi sounds absolutely terrible. Listen to "Yeh hasrat thi" and listen to any other song. You will be able to find the difference between a great song and a dumb one.

Other memorable numbers of CR include the Lata-Asha duet "O chand jahan woh jayen", Asha-Manna Dey's "Tu chupi hai kahan" and "Mere jeevan me kiran banke bikharne wale", Asha-Mahendra Kapoor's "Adha hai chandrama raat adhi" and more. But his core remained with Lata. The life in his music died when Lata walked out of his life. Somehow, that spark of his earlier compositions was sorely missing in his later ones. And as with some other great composers of the day, CR faded away from the music scene leaving the music lovers a host of haunting melodies to cherish.

My 10 All-Time Favorite C.Ramchandra Songs

1. Ab woh raatein kahan(Lata)	2. Tum kya jano(Lata)
3. Katate hain dukh me din(Lata)	4. Dil hai luta hua jahan(Lata)
5. Yeh hasrat thi ki is(Rafi)	6. Apni nakami se mujhko(Talat)
7. Yeh zindagi usi ki hai(Lata)	8. Kise maloom tha ek din(Lata & Talat)
9. Dil ki kahani kehna(Lata)	10. Udhar se tum chale aur hum(Lata & Rafi)

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