Full Name RAVI SHANKAR SHARMA, better known by his first name RAVI....

I always thought the name was Ravishankar Sharma. ....Can't remember where or if I read it, but older Hemanta Mukherjee movies list him as assistant and sometimes singer and lyricist as well.

In any case, I got thinking about his music in general.

Well-connected into the BR Chopra family, Ravi must have the distinction of the best business relations with producers/directors from the North and the South. On the one hand, we had movies by Devendra Goyal, Ramanand Sagar, OP Ralhan, SD Narang, Lekhraj Bhakri, and even Subodh Mukherji (to say nothing
of BR Chopra), and on the other, we have AVM, Gemini and Vasu Films...

He was never listed along with our top-notch music makers, and yet, I think he has several good songs to his credit. It is rare to find a Lata-Ravi gem (although there do exist quite a few). Asha was more the likely candidate....

My framework of Ravi songs is set in the following categories:

1. A soft Hemanta Mukherji-inspired Lata solo
(TOWER HOUSE, EK SAAL (love the songs), MEHERBAAN, KHAANDAAN,
CHAUDAHVEEN KA CHAAND, BHAROSA, DO BADAN, CHIRAAG KAHAAN ROSHNI KAHAAN)

2. The swing song by Asha (there are several)
(DILLI KA THUG tops the list; there are others. My favourite song in this category is "Ye Bahaar Yeh Samaa, Ye Jhoomti Jawaaniyaan"
from DILLI KA THUG).

Having said all this about DILLI KA THUG, we should probably include
BOMBAY KA CHOR, although I am quite sure the songs therein are more
dominated by Kishore.

3. The unmistakable Ravi duet
(DILLI KA THUG, MODERN GIRL, TOWER HOUSE, and some rare ones e.g.

Ye Rang Bhare Baadal, ye Udtaa Huaa Aanchal (TU NAHI AUR SAHI)

and an old favourite:

Ye Haseen Raat, Ye Bahaar Ye Samaa,
Aise Mein Huzoor Mukhko, Le Chale Kahaan
Baadalon Se Door, Aur Bhi Hai Ek Jahaan
Chalo Hum Dikhaayen Kyaa Hai, Zindagi Wahaan (Geeta Bali's GIRL'S HOSTEL)

Then there is the Lata-Hemant duet, perhaps a category all by itself.
Topping the list here is "Muskuraatee Hui Chaandni" (ALBELI). One is
given to wondering if the melody is indeed Ravi's. He will probably
never live down the tyranny of other people's guesswork - the bane of
an assistant's professional existence.

Other Lata-Hemant songs that quickly became my favourites from that
age were "Bedard Zamaana Tera Dushman Hai to Kyaa Hai" (MEHNDI),
"Ye Jhoomte Nazaare" (NAi RAHEN),"Kal Ke Chaand, Aaj Ke Sapne",
and " Kahan Teri Manzil Kaha hai Thikana " song el " Supreme from the same movie..
(NAi RAHEN - isn't this a Chitragupta movie?).

4. The Rafi solo
(DO BADAN, BHAROSA, WAQT, RAAKHI, MEHRBAAN, KHAANDAAN, BAHU BETI,
CHAUDAHVEEN KA CHAAND, KAUN APNAA KAUN PARAAYA, USTAADON KE USTAAD,
AAJ AUR KAL and several others). Among the most popular ones here other than "Chaudvin ka chand"
was also "Husn Waale Teraa Jawaab Nahi" (GHARAANA) and "Zara sun haseen'(Kaun apna
Kaun paraya)" Yeh Wadiyan Yeh fizayen ( Aaj aur Kal)

There are several great ones in this category. I am particularly fond of two songs from BAHU BETI:

- Sab Nein Shaamil Ho Magar, Sab Se Judaa Lagti Ho
Sirf Humse Nahi(n), Khud Se Bhi Khafaa Lagti Ho

- Jiyo To Aise Jiyo, Jaise Sab Tumhaara Hai
Maro To Aise Ke Jaise, Tumhaara Kuchh Bhi Nahi(n)

And the three solid solos from "Do Badan", "Naseeb mein jiske" , "bari duniya mein aakir'
and " Raha gardishon mein hardam"....


5. The qawaali

Other than the ones in "Chauduvin ka Chand " Ranking in quantity only after Roshan, his qawaali compositions were simply not in that class. On second thoughts, there may have been
a few qawwaalis in the '70s by Rahul Dev, and also Khaiyyaam. Somewhere
in that timeframe, I lost count.


6. The Asha solo with a soft touch

When I think of Ravi's music, this is the style that comes to mind.
Many of the great songs in the category are now victims of archival
amnesia.


Some personal favourites:



. Mausam Hai Jawaan Noor Mein Khoye Hain Nazaare (TOWER HOUSE)

. Jeene Ka Agar Andaaz Aaye, To Kitni Haseen Hai Zindagi
Marne Ke Liye Jeenaa Ho Agar, To Kuchh Bhi Nahi(n) Hai Zindagi
(YE ZINDAGI KITNI HASEEN HAI)

. Raat Hai Chup Aur Phizaa Khaamosh Hai (USTAADON KE USTAAD)( Ravi sings with Asha )

. Sapnon Ki Dor Bandhi, Palkon Ka Paalna (GHAR SANSAAR)

. Raat Raat Bhar,
Jaag Jaag Kar,
Intezaar Karte Hain
Hum Tumse Pyaar Karte Hain (Pyar ka sagar)

. Raat Bhar Gardish Mein Saaqi, Aaj Paimaanaa Rahe (WANTED)
Subah Tak, Shaayad Na Phir Ye, Rang-E-Maikhaana Rahe

. Aaj duniya badi suhaani hai(NARTAKI)

I do also like songs from AAJ AUR KAL and WAQT, but they are quite
readily available.


Although we do not associate Ravi with the classical music form, he dropped one on us just like that, and what a performance that was! To this day, Asha's "Jeevan Jyot Jaley" (GRIHASTHI) remains one of the best classical performances for a movie song.

And so forth.



(Author :Sami Mohammed)

Sami ji ...thanks for the informative note. For me..Choo lene do nazuk honton ko..from kajal...is sublime. I dont know it is Ravi who sang that song with Asha..from ustadon ka ustad... will upload it. i have the whole picture...But Ravi really is the most under rated music director ever.. i agree.

Filmography

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Vachan
Albeli
Prabhu Ki Maya
Ayodhyapati
Narsi Bhagat
Devar Bhabhi
Dilli Ka Thug
Ek Saal
Ghar Sansaar
Mehndi
Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan
Jawani Ki Hawa
Dulhan
Nai Raahen
Apna Ghar
Chaudhvin Ka Chand
Ghar Ki Laaj
Ghooghat
Nai Maa
Pehli Raat
Tu Nahi Aur Sahi
Trunk Call
Gharana
Modern Girl
Nazrana
Pyar Ka Sagar
Wanted
Salaam Memsahab
Apna Banake Dekho
Bombay Ka Chor
China Town
Girls Hostel
Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai
Raakhi
Tower House
Aaj Aur Kal
Bharosa
Gehra Daagh
Grihasti
Gumraah
Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya
Mulzim
Nartaki
Pyar Ka Bandhan
Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya
Ustaadon Ke Usaatd
Ye Raaste Hain Pyar Ke
Door Ki Aawaz
Shehnai
Aadhi Raat Ke Baad
Aakash Deep
Kaajal
Khandan
Bahu Beti
Sindbad Alibaba AladeenWaqt
Das Laakh
Do Badan
Phool Aur Patthar
Sagaai
Ye Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai
Aurat
Hamraaz
Meharbaan
Nai Roshni
Aankhen
Do Kaliyan
Gauri
Man Ka Meet
Neel Kamal
Aadmi Aur Insaan
Anmol Moti
Badi Didi
Doli
Ek Phool Do Mali
Paisa Ya Pyar
Samaj Ko Badal Dalo
Ganga Tera Pani Amrit
Padosi
Umeend
Babul Ki Galiyan
Dhadkan
Naag Panchami
Dhundh
Sone Ke Haath
Ghatna
Mehmaan
Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka
Mere Sartaj
Vandana
Aadmi Sadak Ka
Amanat
Premika
Chingaari
Sanjh Ki Bela
Jogi
Nikaah
Aaj Ki Aawaz
Mujhe Shaqti Do
Hum Do Hamare Do
Tawaif
Daku Bijlee
Dehleej
Ye Preet Na Hogi Kam
Aawam
Ghar Ka Sukh
Manu The Great
Mera Suhaag
Vaishali
Aulaad Ki Khatir.....in 1990

110 film in all....

Ravi has composed for many films produced by South Indian banners - Ghoonghat, Gharana, Grihasti, Aurat, Samaj ko badal dalo (Gemini), Meherban, Do kaliyan (AVM) Bharosa, Khandaan (Vasu films). So his trips to Madras were frequent. In fact he mentions that he was close to the late Sivaji Ganesan.

Ravi has now diverted to Malayalam films. He has composed music for 14 Malayalam films in the last six-seven years. Ten were super hits. Those who have heard songs of Panchagni and Nakashatangal would vouch for the gifted composer's compositions......

Ravi never imagined he would compose for Malayalam films. "I went to do one film and did the next one immediately," he says. More films followed - Vaishali, Oruvelakkam veeru gatha, Sargam and more awards - State and national. Ravi does not mind venturing into other languages provided he gets good producers.

For someone who was not formally trained in music, Ravi has indeed come a long way........

Looking back at his efforts he feels satisfied. "When I composed years ago I never thought that I would get the recognition and popularity even after so many years. Even in the programmes like Saregama or Antakshri people are singing old songs,"............

The person in the above picture doesn't look like Ravi.
I think, it is Naushad's picture.

Hari Ram

THE PICTURE YOU HAVE LOADED IS OF
NAUSHAD AND NOT OF RAVI
SORRY FOR CORRECTING
THANKS AND BEST REGARDS...RAHIM KHATRI

Indeed it is Naushad........My Mistake guys..........i have changed the photograph now.....

The picture you have posted is that of Film Director B R Chopra and not Ravi or Naushad.

Prabhakar

Yash chopra
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B.R.Chopra
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Ravi
Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

I think Prabhakar has made a mistake.

That pix is certainly of composer Ravi. Reeth, you didn't have to put together that 'collage', it's quite obvious from the first pix itself that it's Ravi, and no one else.

Noorie

Just in case......