Jai's Diary: Adieu to Ram Laxman

Jai's Diary: Adieu to Ram Laxman: Today, the world bid adieu to one of the most prolific music composers of our times - Vijay Patil, who composed popular music under the name of Ram...

Adieu to Ram Laxman

Today, the world bid adieu to one of the most prolific music composers of our times - Vijay Patil, who composed popular music under the name of Ram Laxman . Vijay Patil along with his partner Surendra Hendre, started composing under name of Ram Laxman in 1975 for Dada Kondke. 'Pandu Hawaldar' was the debut film of both Dada as well as Ram Laxman which was a silver jubilee. Despite composing extensively for Dada Kondke, Ram Laxman never stuck to a camp. Even after the death of Hendre in 1976, Vijay Patil stuck to the name Ram Laxman and continued composing in Marathi and Hindi . In Hindi his remarkable contributions undoubtedly come in late nineties with Rajshri's blockbuster and Salman Khans debut film 'Maine Pyar Kiya' (1990) whose music is popular even today and created a history at the box office, followed by ;Pathhar ke Phool' again a Salman starrer and debut film of Raveena Tandon. The musical graph of Ram Laxman touched the peak with Rajshri's 'Hum Apke Hain Kaun ? 'a Salman- Madhuri starrer whose box office collections and popularity broke all records. Ram Laxman's association with Rajshri would continue with Salman Starrer ' Hum Saath Saath Hain' whose music again became very popular. Overall, Ram Laxmans music contributed greatly to careers of super stars like Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit launching careers of Salman Khan and Raveena Tandon as well as the legendary Dada Kondke. 

Who can forget the melodious rendition as 'Gunche lage Hain Kehne' by Shailendra Singh in Mithun Chakraborty starrer 'Tarana' or 'Sultana Sultana' by Usha Mangeshkar in the same film. Some of Ram Laxman's noteworthy music went un noticed due to the failure of the films at the box office but his musical score therein remains one of Ram Laxman's  finest works in his career - like Mahesh Bhatt's 'Saatva Aasman' which starred Pooja Bhatt and Vivek Mushran . Nearly all numbers in the film are memorable - be it  'Tum Kya Mile Jaaneja ' or ' Where is the time to hate' which also remain Latajis remarkable renditions in the early nineties or Poornima's 'Tum Tum ho ke nahin'. Another film that boasts Ram Laxmans memorable music in 90s is suspense thriller '100 days' again a Madhuri starrer that boasts peppy numbers like 'Lele Dil ', a duet of Lataji with Amit Kumar, performed on screen by Javed Jaffri and Madhuri Dixit with and romantic numbers like ' Sun Beliya' by late S P Balasubramaniam. Then there's a Rishi Kapoor - Manisha Koirala starrer ' Anmol' that released alongside 'Deewana' in 1993 but failed at box office but had a lilting Lataji Number ' Bataon tum kaun ho ' that reminds you of 'Jab Jab Phool Khile' s ' Yeh Samaa '. Vijay Patil could virtually play any instruments and his strength in composition was his precision to figure out the range in which a particular song should be composed to bring out the best of the play back singer . No wonder then Lataji  sounded seventeen when she sang 'Dil Deewana' in 'Maine Pyar Kiya' for Bhagyashree Patwardhan when Lataji was seventy one and naughty at eighty in 'Hum Aapke Hain Kauns' 'Didi tera dewar deewana' for Madhuri! While the Hindi world scenario remained pre-occupied with Lata and Ashaji, some music directors composed specifically for Usha Mangeshkarji and had special liking for her singing . Prominent amount them were Rajesh Roshan, Jaidev and RD Burman as also Ram Laxman . Some of Ushaji's memorable numbers like Sultana Sultana came from Ram Laxman as also songs from Dada Kondkes 'Pandu Hawaldar' or his hindi flick ' Aage ki soch' or 'jhaalya tinhi saanja' from Dada Kondkes marathi flick ' Tumcha Amcha Jamla' also debut film of Anjana Mumtaz. A striking feature of ram Laxmans music was also excellent use of rythms especially for Dada Kondke films be it song like ' aage ki soch' or ' dhagala lagli kal' by Mahendra kapoor and Usha Mageshkar from a Dada Kondke film ' Bot laavin tithe Gudgulya' (1978) which rocked discotheques in late nineties or softer rythms as in Pathar ke Phool which reminds one of late sixties or more specifically O. P. Nayyars music.

Overall, we lost a musical gem, a legend today. Vijay Patil had spiritual inclination and followed the Nagkanya cult. It may not be a mere coincidence that he passed away just a few days after her holiness Gururani Nagkanya Yogini (Nargis ) passed away. Rest in Peace Vijay Patil aka Ram Laxman.( 1942-2021). Your music shall forever remain with us.

Bhushan Sarmalkar , 23.05.2021.

Happy New Year  !👍

   
    The Hindu new year of Shalivahan Calender began yesterday on Chaitra Padva, known as Gudhi Padva in Maharashtra. But this year, like last year, it was largely overshadowed by the gloom cast by the dark clouds of a pandemic on the near future. The times aren't exactly good . We all have lost someone near or dear or atleast an acquaintance to this pandemic that seems to be recurring in form of waves. But then this is the time of new year , a time when the blossoms of the spring take shape of fruits. The time of plenty. So, lets then  offer prayers, collectively, in remembrance of those near and dear ones or acquaintances or the poor souls who lost their lives to the pandemic that cut short their journeys of their aspirations, their pursuits to leave the mortal world, so that they may rest in peace and shine in our memories like eternal stars, as  also for the well being of those who are  still holding their ground against the havoc unleashed by  the dreaded virus and others who are struggling feebly to come to terms with the loss of their near and dear ones, with a hope that the prayers may bear fruits and the dark clouds of gloom may disappear . On the New Years Eve, here's wishing you all 'A Very Happy New Year' , Have Good Health so that you may prosper ! I know there are tears waiting to trickle down at the corners of the eyes of many of us . But the greater concern is the hope, that at times, seem to stand on the threshold limits . Please don't let that hope die ! Successes never come decorated on a platters . Each success story is a story of triumph of the undying spirit over adversities . So, lets do our bit towards helping those risking their lives and attempting to script a success story - a story of triumph in the world wide war against a pandemic . Stay safe ! Take care !

JAI, Mumbai, 15.04.2021.