Legend of Madan Mohan’s Untold Tales - Part III

In our last issue you read how Madan Mohan quit his army job and joined A.I.R.(All India Radio) as an programme assistant at the Lucknow broadcasting station. It was here that his dream to pursue his passion of becoming music directed took wings as he came in contact with some of the stalwarts of musicians of the era. Music wizards like Ali Akbar Khan, Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Ramnarain, Begum Akhtar, Vilayat Khan, Roshanara Begum, Talat Mehmood and the late Fayyaz Khan were some of the legends that Madan mingled with and learned the basics and fundamentals of Hindustani Sangeet. Later he was shifted to Delhi station of All India Radio but he quit the job as it was restricted to table work. He then came to Mumbai. 

Listen to Madan Mohan Songs on Raaga.com

In the course of time Madan Mohan developed differences with his father who was angry with him because he had quit his army job. Meanwhile his father also married another woman, after his mother expired. Hence Madan distanced himself from his father. Though his father was an owner of Bombay Talkies, Madan did not take his reference in Bollywood and struggled in Mumbai. 

Listen to Madan Mohan Songs on Raaga.com

He began with doing tit bits role to survive. He also sung in few movies but his real time came when he got the opportunity to assist the great music director S.D.Burman. Burmanda was so impressed by Madan Mohan’s potential that he predicted that one day Madan will surely make a name. The time came after a lot of struggle with Nargis starrer ADALAT (1958). The movie had some mind-blowing gems of melodies like Jaanaa Tha Hamse Door…, Yoon Hasaraton Ke Daagh…, Unko Ye shikaayat Hai…., Jaa Ja Re Jaa Saajanaa…, Zameen Se Hamein Aasmaan Par... The movie was a commercial hit and made Madan Mohan a star music director. 

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The highpoint of the movie is that the movie had some amazing ghazals sung by Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar. In fact after the success of this movie Madam Mohan was tagged as Monarch of Ghazal. A title he justified till his last movie LAILA MAJNU. Remember the Mohd. Rafi ghazal Barbad-E-Mohabbat ki Dua… Though Mohd. Rafi was his favorite singer but it was Lata Mangeshkar with whom he shared a sacred relationship of brother and sister and also a professionally one. 

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Interestingly in his tally of 700 songs, his best compositions are with Lata Mangeshkar. Remember Aap Ki Nazaron Ne Samjha..., Jo humne dastaan apni sunaee Aap Kyon Roye, Betaab Dil Ki Tamanna Yahi Hai…, Hai Isi Mein Pyar Ki Abroo…, Hum Pyar Mein Jalnewalon Ko…, Jana Tha Hamse Door…., Lag Ja Gale ke phir…, Na Tum Bewafa Ho.... Nainon Mein Badra Chhaye… and of course his last memorable number with Lata didi and the most hit Koi Patthar Se Na Maare Mere Deevaane Ko…

The song became a national craze and was such a hit that it become number one song in the Binaca Geetmala hit parade for the year 1977 out beating the great Laxmikant pyarelal’s hit song Parda Hai Parda….( Amar Akbar Anthony) and O meri mehbooba mehbooba mehbooba tujhe… (Dharam Veer) both the songs came at second and third position respectively. 

Madan Mohan died July 14, 1975 at the age of 51 due to liver cirrhosis.

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