The document discusses the unsung heroes of old Hindi film music - the musicians and arrangers who played a key role in creating the iconic film songs but received little recognition. It notes that while the music directors got credit, it took a team including arrangers, lyricists and large orchestras to develop the basic melodies into fully orchestrated pieces. Some of the prominent arrangers discussed include Pyarelal, Sebastian D'Souza, and Kersi Lord. The document aims to shine overdue light on these behind-the-scenes musical talents who were integral to the magic but whose contributions went largely unacknowledged.

1. The Unsung Heroes of old hindi film music
By Ashwin Panemangalore

2.  What makes the old hindi film song , more sought
after than most other current popular hindi music
forms ?
 Why do old songs get copied, remixed and played
over and over again though over 5 decades have
passed since they were created ?

3.  Haunting melodies
 Delectable rhythms
 Wealth and variety of instruments
 The spectrum of sound
 Large library of compositions
 Classic lyrics
 Immortal singers
It is said that people went to see a movie only for the songs
and not the story

4.  Who were the creators of those magnificent works of
performing art which have become immortal over time
?
 The music directors
 The singers
 The lyric writers
 Anybody else ???
 SongsvideosBol Meri Taqdeer Mein Kya Hai Mukesh
Lata Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962) Shankar
Jaikishan.mp4

5.  Common myth - the music director was the sole
creator of all the music under his title
 The facts- the director was told the story and the
situation in the film for which the song and the
music had to be created
 The director played a suitable mukhda ( basic
theme) on his harmonium for the song
 The director was the common interface for all
matters

6.  Some of the directors also created the antara
 In short the director provided a part of the melodic line
 The lyricist wrote a suitable lyric for the situation
 The musicians, the assistant director (arranger) and the director
would contribute to extending the melody
 The arranger and the musicians then took over to create the whole
body of song
 How did they go about it ?

7.  Creating the song from the basic melodic line is like creating a piece of
architecture from a pencil sketch That requires a band of engineers ,
draftsmen, craftsmen, technicians…
 The songs of the golden era created in Bombay are like the classic
architectural wonders that have become synonymous with the city for
their intrinsic, timeless beauty.
 Enlarging the extended melodic lyric into a full body of sound required
the imagination, knowledge and skills of the arranger which meant
 Creating up the introductory music
 Determining the background music behind the singers voice
 Creating the fills and the countermelodies
 Creating the coda ( ending line)

8.  Setting the rhythms end to end
 Selecting the instruments of different kinds which he felt best should be used for
each part
 Writing the score for each instrument and section ( set of instruments like violins
or flutes to create ensemble passages ) of the orchestra
 Discussing each part with the musicians along the way as they set about the
creation
 In other words he enlarged the mukhda into a fully orchestrated piece creating a
feel and mood suitable for the storyline as narrated by the producer
 i.e creating the monument from the outline sketch
 Taking trials step by step and making corrections ( also meant rewriting the
score ) till it was accepted by all ( producer, director and actor)

9.  The orchestra comprised an array of Indian, Western, Latin and other
instruments of brass, reeds, strings and rhythms
 Hence a vibrant mix of Indian, western, classical and jazz musicians
 Western- Strings -violins, violas, cellos, double bass, guitars of various types,
mandolins,
 Brass- trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, french horns, tubas,
 Reeds-Saxophones of different types, clarinets, flutes, oboes,
 Piano, vibraphone, xylophone, drums
 Indian- sitars, sarangi, sarods, bansuri, tabla, dholaks, large dhols, and various
percussion instruments
 Latin- maracas, scratchers, timbales, bongos, congas, accordions
 Special instruments such as the Solovox, Clayvioline, Moog Synthesiser,
Glockenspiel, Celtic Harps and the tar shehnai were used sometimes for effect
This is unique in music history of that time No other popular music orchestra had
such a variety and were of this size anywhere worldwide

10.  A sizeable contingent of music arrangers ( assistants) , Indian classical
Western classical and jazz musicians actively contributed to this
creation
 Very, very few of the arrangers and musicians have been credited
either by the producers, or music directors
 Many of them have passed away-unsung, unrecognized and
unrewarded …..Some in penury
 ….as we unrealizingly continue to listen, enjoy and share this music
around the globe…and through generations

12.  Western music whether jazz or popular music always credits the
arrangers, the musicians, sound engineers and others in the
recording documentation
 PicturesElla Fitzgerald album detail.docx
 Well known arrangers and musicians have had books written about
them
 Indian film music did nothing of this sort except recognizing the
sound recordist
 PicturesOrchestras

14. Anthony Gonsalves
 Anthony Gonsalves was a skilled western classical violinist and the teacher
of Anil Biswas, Pyarelal and R D Burman
 He revolutionised the music of the hindi film with his new approach
 He arranged for Naushad, S D Burman, Salil Chowdhury, OP Nayyar
 He changed the way music in films was conceived He created notation for
Indian music in Sa Re Ga Ma
 Got a scholarship for study at Syracuse, returned and then went into
seclusion
PicturesAnthony G

15. SongsvideosAayega Aane waala - YouTube.mp4
PicturesAnthony GAyegaaanewala.jpg
SongsvideosSathi haath badhana Asha Bhosle Mohd Rafi Film Naya
Daur ...1.mp4
SongsvideosHum Aap Ki Ankhon Mein - Mohammed Rafi, Geeta
Dutt, Pyaasa ....mp4
SongsvideosUDAN KHATOLA lata chorus - YouTube.mp3
SongsvideosTA_RA_REE_ARA_REE_ARA_REE-
_YE_SAWAN_RUT_TUM_AUR-RA.mp4

16. Pyarelal
 of Laxmi-Pyare fame A western classical music violinist
 He wanted to venture abroad like his friend Zubin Mehta
but was dissuaded
 He is the only arranger who is recognized alongside the
music director
 Arranged for Kalyanji Anandji before venturing out with
Laxmikant who was a mandolin player and a colleague
PicturesPyarelal

17. Sebastian D’Souza & Dattaram Wadkar
Worked for Shankar Jaikishen
Sebastian was a western classical violinist and
bandleader
Dattaram was an Indian classical percussionist
Together have arranged 1000 songs in 125 films over
two decades
Their blend of arrangements are unparalleled
PicturesSebastian

18. Sebastian D’Souza & Dattaram Wadkar
Hariyali aur raasta
Hariyali Aur Rasta
SongsvideosYE HARYAALI AUR YE RAASTA-LATA -HASRAT -SHANKER
JAIKISHAN -1962-COMPLETE WITH TITLE MUSIC - YouTube.mp4
SongsvideosBol Meri Taqdeer Mein Kya Hai Mukesh Lata Hariyali Aur
Rasta (1962) Shankar Jaikishan.mp4
Aa ja sanam
SongsvideosAaja Sanam Madhur Chandani - Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Chori Chori
Song - YouTube1.mp4
Yeh raat bheegi bheegi
SongsvideosYeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi (HD) - Chori Chori (1956) - Nargis - Raj
Kapoor.mp4
Mera naam chin chin choo
SongsvideosMera Naam Chin Chin Choo - Howrah Bridge - Geeta Dutt -
YouTube.mp4

19. Manohari Singh and Basu Chakraborty
Manohari Singh was the most versatile reedman in the music industry
Played clarinet, flute, alto saxophone Played western classical, jazz and
Indian music with equal skill
Started with Salil Chowdhury and S D Burman and arranged and
played for R D Burman for his entire career
Basu Chakraborty was a western classical cello player Arranged for R
D Burman
This orchestra used much more brass ( trumpets, trombones,
saxophones) and was jazz influenced
PicturesR D Burmans orchestra

20. Manohari Singh and Basu Chakraborty
Mere Sapno ki Rani
Songsvideosmere sapno ki rani superhit S D Burman Aradhana
[Mp3Truck.Net].mp3
Meri nazar hai tujhpe
Songsvideosmeri nazar hai tujh pe the burning train -
RDBurman[Mp3Truck.Net].mp3
Sholay sound track
SongsvideosSholay Original Theme Music.mp4
PicsPicturesmanohari.jpg

21. The Lord family
Cawas Lord, Kersi Lord, Buji Lord
An omnipresent set of musicians in the industry Self taught
Cawas the father played all the western and latin rhythmic
instruments and bagpipes
Buji played drums
Kersi was the most dynamic member of this family He played from the
late 40s from age 16 and was active till he passed away this October
2016
Kersi played vibes, accordion and percussion instruments Later he
brought in the Moog Synth and the Glockenspiel to enlarge the sound
spectrum He moved with the times as he continued to create
52 years and over 5000 songs
As musicians were denied due credits let alone proceeds of royalties he
formed a Cine Musicians Association to get a fair deal

22. The Lord family
Kersi Lord
Kersi received a belated Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2010
A young producer from Assam Rudradeep Bhattacharjee made this
documentary on the family’s contribution to cinema called
The Human Factor the film
SongsvideosTHE HUMAN FACTOR (DOCUMENTARY) - TRAILER #2
- YouTube.mp4
SongsvideosRoop Tera Mastana - Aradhana - Sharmila Tagore, Rajesh
Khanna - Super Hit Romantic Song.mp4
SongsvideosMain zindgi ka saath nibhata chla gaya- HUM DONO-
1961.mp4
Pics
PicturesLord family

23. Frank Fernand
Trumpet, clarinet and violinist Played both western classical and jazz Was part of Victor
Paranjoti and Mickey Correa’s groups
Worked with Anil Biswas, SJ, Roshan,Ravi, Kalyanji Anandji Later became a film
producer
Played on the first National Anthem song released by Jawaharlal Nehru
Barsaat
SongsvideosHawa Mein Udta Jaye (Eagle Jhankar) Barsaat(1949))HD_with GEET
MAHAL.mp4
Johnny Mera Naam
SongsvideosO Mere Raja - Johny Mera Naam (1970) 1080p HD.mp4
China Town
SongsvideosBaar_Baar_Dekho_-_China_Town_-_Shammi_Kapoor_Shaki.mp4
Pics
PicturesFrank Fernand

24. Chic Chocolate
India’s greatest trumpet player called India’s Louis Armstrong Led
some very accomplished bands… natural talent
Arranged for Madan Mohan and C Ramachandra Later became a
music director
Albela
SongsvideosShola jo bhadke - YouTube1.mp4
Bhai Bhai
SongsvideosAye dil mujhe bata de Geeta Dutt Film Bhai Bhai Music
Madan Mohan - YouTube1.mp4
Pics
PicturesChic Chocolate
I

25. John and Joe Gomes
Brothers who played clarinet and alto sax and led their own bands
Arranged for C Ramachandra and changed the traditional approach
to the music to introduce jazz and rock ‘n roll
Eena Meena Deeka
SongsvideosIna Mina Dika (Female) (HD) - Aasha Songs - Kishore
Kumar - Vyjayantimala - Asha Bhosle - Filmigaane.mp4
Pictures
PicturesCR+

26. Sonny Castelino
Sunny Castelino
Versatile piano, saxophone and guitar player
Arranged for Shankar Jaikishan when they started out and made a big
hit with ‘Awaara’
Was wayward in his habits and moved to O P Nayyar with ‘Mitti Mein
Sona’
Disappeared thereafter
Awaara
SongsvideosGhar Aaya Mera Pardesi - Awaara (1952) 1080p HD -
YouTube (2).mp3
Mitti mein Sona
SongsvideosPoocho na humen hum unke liye Asha Bhosle film Mitti
main sona 1960 md OP Nayyar - YouTube.mp4

27. Y S Mulky
Versatile piano and accordion player
Arranged for several art film directors and did background scores for
Salil Chowdhury
SongsvideosAndhiyara Gehraya - Anupam Kher Rohini Hattangadi -
Saaransh.mp4
Enoch Daniels
Popular accordion player Arranged for Khayyam and others
SongsvideosKabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein - Female - Full Song - Kabhi
Kabhie.mp4

28. The Exceptions
Some music directors were schooled in written music and had in depth
knowledge of both western and Indian music forms They were
The Exceptions
There were some music directors who had studied music and were able
to score and arrange besides composing the tune and coordinating
N Dutta
SongsvideosLaal laal gaal..jaan ke hain laagu..Mr X- Mohammad
Rafi- MajroohSultanpuri- N Dutta..A Triute.mp4
Vanraj Bhatia
SongsvideosTitle Music-36 Chowringhee Lane.mp4

29.  In terms of creative effort, Manohari Singh said that the share
in the creation should go 50% to the arranger and musicians,
and 50% to the singer, lyricist and music director
 Leading American singers like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald
had bands accompanying them The arrangers, musicians and
even the recording engineer and the studio names were credited
 That has never happened in Hindi film music
 So you have never been told about the vital hidden half

30. Musicians
PicturesOther Musicians
Leslie Godinho
SongsvideosO Haseena Zulfon Wali Teesri Manzil 1966 YouTube -
YouTube1.mp4
SongsvideosLeslieGodinho.mov

31. My sources
 ‘Behind the Curtain’ by Gregory Booth (from NZ)
 ‘Hindi film songs and Cinema’ by Ann Morcom (from the UK)
 ‘Global Soundtracks’ by Mark Slobim (from the US)
 My interviews and chats with Manohari Singh, Kersi Lord , Joe D’Souza (
Sebastian’s son ) Johnny Fernandes ( Chic Chocolate’s sil ), Joe and John Gomes
 Recommendation
 Watch ‘The untold story of Music arrangers’ from a Pakistani
 https://youtu.be/3B5khEAjQLE
 ‘The Human Factor” on the Lord family on Netflix
 The Anthony Gonsalves documentary circulating privately
 Read Jayson Beaster -Jones (from the US )
‘The Cosmopolitan meditations of Hindi Film Song’

32. The purpose of this presentation is to unveil a small part of this neglected half of
the music you cherish