LAXMIKANT-PYARELAL
Laxmikant-Pyarelal is a name that needs no introduction in the field of Hindi film music or Hindustani music. Laxmikant-Pyarelal (1963 – 1998) was/is a household name in every part of India from the mid-sixties till today. The name represents the archive of hit film music that was churned out non-stop right from 1963 until the turn of the century.
Laxmikant-Pyarelal entered in Hindi Film Music when, veteran and established composers Shankar-Jaikishan, Naushad, C Ramachandra, Roshan, Salil Chaudhary, Hemant Kumar, Madan Mohan, SD Burman, Kalyanji-Anandji and Chitragupta were active. But in the presence of all these big name young musicians, Laxmikant-Pyarelal made a place for themselves.
In 1964, when Laxmikant-Pyarelal's songs from "Parasmani", "Sati Savitri", "Sant Dyaneshwar", "Aya Toofan" etc. were reverberating across the country, "Dosti" was screened on the days of Diwali.
The songs of the movie Dosti became a sensation across the country. And is popular even today. Laxmikant-Pyarelal also proved that the songs from their previous films, "Parasmani", "Harishchandra Taramati", "Aya Toofan", "Sant Dyaneshwar" and "Sati Savitri" were not "flukes".
The LP Era Now Begins. The LP Era :: 1963 - 1998.
The music of “Dosti '' earned Laxmikant Pyarelal their first Filmfare Award against stiff competition. Raj Kapoor and Shankar-Jaikishan's 'Sangam' and Raj Khosla and Madan Mohan's 'Woh Kaun Thi'.
"Dosti" music put Laxmikant-Pyarelal at the top of Hindi film music. This position of Laxmikant-Pyarelal remained intact and continued for another 35 years.
"Dosti" gave 'name' and 'fame' to both Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Rajshri Films (Tarachand Barjatya). After this triumphant feat LP and success went hand in hand without any break or loss of continuity.
Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar was born in the year 1937 (November 2 / 3) on the day of “Lakshmi Pooja '' (Diwali). Maybe that's why his parents named him Laxmikant. His childhood was spent in dire poverty. Laxmikant's father died at a young age. Laxmikant ji started learning mandolin at the age of just 10 years. And became a champion in playing mandolin at the age of just 10 years.
Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma was born on 3rd September, 1940. He was the son of the famous trumpeter Ramprasad Sharma, whose musical knowledge was well known and extended beyond playing the trumpet. Like Laxmikant, Pyarelal's family's financial condition was very bad. Pyarelal ji learned violin and became an expert at the age of just 8. He took violin lessons from renowned violinist Anthony Gonsalves of Goa.Later the name Anthony Gonsalves was even used in the film Amar Akbar Anthony released in 1977 having LP's music as a tribute to Mr. Gonsalves. Pyarelal started playing the violin when he was eight years old and practiced the same 8 to 12 hours daily.
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Pyarelalji Playing VIOLIN for Music Director Naushad. |
Pyarelal also learned the art of writing / reading and implementing the music notations for the western classical, mainly Symphony. That is why we are noticing western classical touch in many of the songs composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
Both Laxmikant and Pyarelal have a strong bonding at Suresh Bal Kala Kendra, a music academy for children, run by the Mangeshkar family.
Passion for Music, comparable age and very poor financial background gave birth to a tight friendship between Laxmikant and Pyarelal. Undoubtedly the name Laxmikant-Pyarelal emerges from the house of Lata Mangeshkar.
Simplicity, commitment and the quality of unconquered versatility gave Laxmikant-Pyarelal the supreme staying power of 35 years in Hindi film music. The LP ruled Bollywood Music.
Both Laxmikant and Pyarelal were complete musicians. Both of them knew the art of film song compositions as well as the orchestra arrangements. Both of them were capable of extracting the "best" from the singers as well as from the musicians.
In particular Pyarelalji, other than his proficiency in conducting the orchestra, he was an adroit in eliciting impish rendering from the singers.
The act of song compositions of Laxmikant-Pyarelal, still remains a secret. No one could guess which is Laxmikant composition or which is Pyarelal composition. It was a complete team effort. All songs have an “LP” stamp. No THIRD person was involved.
Lata Mangeshkar has sung the maximum number of songs (712), full of variety, for composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
Asha Bhosle Laxmikant-Pyarelal close to 500 songs
Individually Mohammad Rafi Sahib and Kishore Kumar have sung around 400, full of variety, for composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
Lyricist Anand Bakshi and composer Laxmikant-Pyarelal300+ films and 1800+ songs with Laxmikant-Pyarelal / Anand Bakshi …
503 movies, 2845 songs, 160 singers and 72 lyricists.
- Composition of maximum popular/hit songs for Hindi film music.
-Dominance in Binaca Geetmala
—7 Filmfare trophies with a maximum of 25 nominations
“Dosti” 1964
“Milan” 1967
“Jeene Ki Raah” 1969
“Amar Akbar Anthony” 1977
“Satyam Shivam Sundaram” 1978
“Sargam” 1979
“Karz” 1980
- 35 films with Golden Jubilee
--75 films with Silver Jubilee.
—250 hit/semi hit films
Laxmikant-Pyarelal have worked with almost all Big Names of Producer / Film making units. V Shantaram, Raj Kapoor, Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Raj Khosla, K Vishwanath, J. Omprakash, Manoj kumar etc.
Laxmikant-Pyarelal's outstanding contribution to Hindi film music.
25 May 1998, Laxmikant passed away and the Laxmikant-Pyarelal "Dosti" broke.
Life After Laxmikant’s demise..
LIVING LEGEND Pyarelalji (Laxmikant-Pyarelal) is known for his symphony style orchestra arrangements, in many Hindi film songs. Pyarelalji has designed a symphony and German Musicians have excellently orchestrated it.
Lata Mangeshkar insisted Pyarelal to work on Symphony.
Pyarelal ji's Symphony 'Om Shivam' #1 & #2 in Leipzig, Germany was performed by the world class musicians of MDR Classic on 4th June 2016
The Chief Conductor Kristjan Jarvi conducted the Orchestra!!!
It was a proud moment for all the Indians, especially all of us who love LP & their music ! This is Pyarelal ji's first attempt at composing Symphony post World Music in 2012 which puts him alongside the greats of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and so many great music composers of the western world.
Pyarelal ji is still actively working on new projects, including symphony orchestra
Ajay Poundarik,
Atlanta (Georgia)
US.
19th April, 2023.
