Docudrama remembers legendary musician Roshan

His career in Bollywood turned around after an early setback, writes Pranati A S.

Jo wada kiya woh nibhana padega

Roke zamaana chaahe roke khudaayee,

tumko aana padega

My grandfather would often recall listening to this song during his college days in Mulbagal, Kolar. In his own words: “A dargah in the neighborhood would play Hindi film songs during festivities.” This particular song remained on his mind and is often played in our household. 

I was surprised to know that this song and other hits such as ‘Rahen na rahen hum’, ‘Nighahen milane ko jee chahta hai’, ‘Hum intezaar karenge’, ‘Maine shayad tumhen’, and ‘Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi’ were composed by actor Hrithik Roshan's grandfather, Roshan. I was not aware of the legendary music composer until I watched The Roshans, a docudrama about his illustrious family, on Netflix last week.

Roshan Lal Nagrath was born in 1917 in Gujranwala, West Punjab (now in Pakistan). Although his family was in the contracting business, Roshan was drawn to music. He moved to Lucknow to learn the sarod from Ustad Allauddin Khan. He then joined All India Radio in Delhi, where he met his wife, Ira Nagrath, a radio singer. The couple married and moved to Bombay in 1948. They stayed in a garage owned by music composers-duo Husnlal and Bhagatram. 

Roshan’s first film was Kidar Sharma’s Neki Aur Badi (1949). The film’s music failed to make an impact, prompting Roshan to consider returning to Delhi. However, Sharma offered him his next film Bawre Nain (1950). Perhaps it was Sharma's trust in Roshan, the music of the film became a blockbuster.

His elder son, actor Rakesh Roshan, recalls an incident when lyricist and their neighbour Shailendra wrapped a stone in a piece of paper and threw it into their balcony, asking him to give it to his father. The paper contained lyrics. Roshan was impressed with the lines and immediately composed music for them. The song ‘Bahut diya dene wale ne’ featured in the 1962 film Soorat Aur Seerat.

‘Jo wada kiya woh’ which from romance film Taj Mahal was released in 1963. After hearing the song, music director C Ramachandran called Roshan and said, “What a song you’ve made; you’ve ruined my sleep.”

Roshan mesmerised everyone, including Raj Kapoor, when he composed ‘Laga chunari mein daag’ for the latter’s film Dil Hi To Hai.

Binaca Geet Mala’s countdown radio show was equivalent to today’s Filmfare awards, recalls his younger son and music composer Rajesh Roshan. Once, ‘Zindagi bhar nahin’, composed by Roshan, topped the list, surpassing ‘Chaudhvin ka chand’ by Ravi. Both the songs were sung by Rafi.

Roshan was a man of conviction. When his wife Ira commented who listens to qawwalis anymore after hearing one he had composed, he replied, “They will come looking for me.”

Roshan passed away at 50, but “his music is bigger than time”, says music composer Vishal Dadlani in the show. This sentiment has been captured beautifully in his song ‘Rahen na rahen hum mehka karenge…’ (‘Whether or not I am here, this fragrance will remain’).