Shyam Sundar Gaba ( born Eric Roberts), the music director from Punjab under whom Mohd. Rafi made his debut in Lahore as playback singer In 1941 in the duet Soniye Nee, Heeriye Nee with Zeenat Begum in the Punjabi film Gul Baloch (released in 1944); the very year in which Rafi was invited by All India Radio, Lahore station to sing for them.(C) Thanks to this site (A) and Pankaj Raag’s Dhuno Ki Yatra, we now know Vinod was born Eric Roberts in a Punjabi Christian family, converted from Hindus, in Lahore in May 1922. He learnt music from the famous music director Pandit Amarnath (the elder brother of the duo Husnlal Bhagatram). As per prevailing norm of those days, he adopted the name Vinod to make it look more appropriate. He was a highly talented music director in Punjabi films in Lahore, who moved over to Bombay with Roop K Shorey team and composed music for several Hindi films. Though a highly talented person, the fickle film industry did not allow him the commercial success and fame he deserved. He died young in 1959 in poverty, which may be another reason why we do not get to hear more about his music. (A) He started his career by giving music in Punjabi films. ‘Sohni Kumharan-39’, ‘Laila Majnu-40’, ‘Jagga Daaku-40’ and ‘Gul Baloch-44’ are the known films with music by Shyam Sundar, It was the last one ‘Gul Baloch’, in which he introduced the legendary singer Mohd. Rafi to the music world by giving him a duet with Zeenat Begum – ‘sohniye ni heeriye ni teri yaad ne bahut sataaya’. Earlier it was Shyam Sundar who accompanied K.L.Saigal ji for a programme in Lahore, where Mohd. Rafi had come with his brother and sang Punjabi songs without mike due to electricity failure and got appreciation from Shyam Sundar and Saigal sahib as well. Shyam Sundar called Mohd. Rafi to Bombay and gave him the chance to sing his first film song mentioned above. Later Shyam Sundar signed Mohd. Rafi for a duet with G.M.Durrani in ‘Village Girl (Gaaon ki Gori)-1945’- ‘’aji dil pe ho kaabu to dildaar ki aisi taisi’’. Mohd. Rafi himself claimed this song to be his first song for Hindi films, although a song from ‘Pehle Aap-1944’ having music of Naushad was released first, as is evident from the record number too. (B) Although his career lasted for just about 15 years (1939-1953) and he composed music for just 24 films (4 Punjabi and 20 Hindi films), the list of hit or popular songs by him is very long and he composed some of the most memorable songs of that era.(B) Shyam Sundar will always be remembered for perfect planning of instruments and wonderful orchestration for composing songs and also for his choice of singers. For his extraordinary compositions Shyam Sundar gained respect from other MDs of his times as well. Every time Shyam Sundar’s name came up in O. P Nayyar’s presence, the reaction would be worth watching. His hands would hold his earlobes and his tongue would come out, trapped between his teeth. Then his head would oscillate a few times. A perfect method to salute his senior and a genius composer. Shyam Sundar also had good relations with Anil Biswas, Husnalal-Bhagatram and of course Madan Mohan. (B) Memories of two of his compositions become alive, when in 1982, malika-e-tarannum Noorjehan visited India and a show was organised at Bombay in her honour. There Lata sang ‘saajan ki galiyaan chhod chaley’ (Bazaar-1949) on stage, followed by ‘baithi hun teri yaad ka lekar ke sahaara’ (Village girl/Gaaon ki gori-1945) by Noorjehan. These songs got a great applause from the audience. (B) Shyam Sundar’s family lives in Delhi and his grandson Vijay Gaba is running a stationary shop after becoming handicapped in a paralytic attack. Shyam Sundar’s grandsons have no interest in old songs, although he will always be remembered by music lovers across the world for his various melodious compositions even after 60 years of his death. (Thanks to Mr. Girdharilal Vishwakarma ji and Mr.Bhim Garg ji for valuable information) (B) The famous songs for which he composed music include 1. Jab kisi ke rukh pe zulfen aa ke lahrane lageen by Talat Mahmood from Anmol Ratan (1950), lyrics DN Madhok; 3. Yaad anewale phir yaad aa rahe hain by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar from Anmol Ratan; 3. Shikwa tera main gaaun by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar from Anmol Ratan; 4. Dilli se aya bhai Pingu from Ek Thi Ladki (1949), lyrics Aziz Kashmiri, Actor Singer Honey O Brien (the lady who also danced to Ek bewafa se pyar kiya in Awara); 5. Ab haal-e-dil ya haal-e-jigar kuchh na poochhiye by Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar, from Ek Thi Ladki; 6. Ghatkari matwari kari ghir ayi by Zeenat Begum from Ek Thi Ladki; 7. La re lappa la re lappa laye lakhda by Lata Mangeshkar from Ek Thi Ladki (the signature song of Vinod); 8. Ankhiyan mila ke ankhiyon ki need chura ke aa by Sulochana Kadam from Mukhdaa (1951), lyrics by Aziz Kashmiri; 9. Thumak thumak chali kamini by Asha Bhosle and GM Durrani in Ek Do Teen (1953), lyrics Aziz Kashmiri (Asha Bhosle seems to be consciously singing in Lata Mangeshkar style. SD Burman and OP Nayyar would be happening to her a few years later to evolve her own style. GM Durrani was the prime singer of 1940s and a role model of Rafi. Ironically Rafi’s ascendancy directly brought GM Durrani’s fall, but you do occasionally get his songs in 50s. Another feature of this song is that it distantly reminds you of DV Paluskar’s Thumak chalat Ramchandra.); 10.O Arabpati ki chhori dil le gayee by Talat Mahmood and Geeta Dutt in Makhichoos (1956), lyric Pt Indra Pandit (a fun and light hearted duet lip-synched by Mahipal and Shyama); (A) Source: (A) Forgotten Composers, Unforgettable Melodies (2) – Vinod songsofyore/forgotten-composers-unforgettable-melodies-2-vinod/) (B) Shyam Sundar – A Genius Composer - Dr. Sandeep Rai apnaarchive.wordpress/2012/10/29/shyam-sundar-a-genius-composer/ (C) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohd._Rafi (M.L. Dhawan (25 July 2004). His voice made him immortal. Spectrum (The Tribune). Retrieved 28 April 2007; and Hall Of Fame: Saatwan Sur. Retrieved 28 April 2007.)
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 07:25:44 +0000
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