Whatever the critics
and hates may say, they can't claim to have done half as much hardwork as HR
has done and is still doing.
He had started his career producing serials at the age of
16, Andaz being the most famous. He's back now producing a big-budget film
Khiladi 786, along with a couple of others. Now almost 40, this guy has been
working endlessly in mainstream from last 23 years or so, and since he produced
those serials at that age, surely, from much before that.
Himesh Reshamiya, one of the most popular, most famous, most
criticized and most hated music composers is a reason for inspiration. He made
serials, composed for them to get into music. Born to a composer Vipin
Reshamiya, who was the first to introduce electrical instruments in India and
has worked with legendary musicians like R.D.Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and
Shankar-Jaikishan, and Madhu Reshamiya, he had keep ears for music. His father
had narrated in a musical show how he'd be listening and enjoying the music and
suddenly stopping and listening attentively whenever his instruments were
playing.
Here's his song from the serial Andaz
Apparently, he had close relations with Salman Khan, and his
friendship reflects in the first few breaks he'd got in industry. His first
song came in the Salman Khan-Kajol starrer Pyaar Kiya toh Darna Kya, it was a
beautiful title song crooned by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik and written by
Sameer. The sound of the song is so pure, so fresh. Melody has been his
strongest point, and it's evident from this song. After a series of chunari
songs, he was also given the title of Chunariya-expert. Enjoy this song, truly
beautiful:
He gave many songs, many songs for pure entertainment films.
But there were always some songs that were so beautiful it was hard to ignore. One
of them, which mesmerizes me with it's lyrics 'sarki jo sar se woh dheere
dheere, paagal hua re main dheere dheere', somehow this song strikes a chord. One
of the amazing features of his songs was they managed to be popular despite
being old school.
Here's the link to song teri chunariya
Sonu Nigam has been my favorite singer, and the best singer
we have according to many biased and unbiased music fans. Himesh and Sonu have
churned out a good number of very beautiful songs. Before Kaheen Pyaar Naa Ho
Jaaye also they have worked together, but the first real good song came in this
film, hear how beautiful this composition titled 'Pardesi... Maine Mohabbat
Karli Karli' is:
in India, there is a big problem of typecast. While he'd not
got as much recognition for his beautiful songs deeply rooted into Indianness,
he got a lot of films requiring entertainment songs, specially with films like
Aabra ka Daabra, Tarzan, Hello Brother, yet he had the ability to impress. If
I'd been hearing him during those days, I'd have said this guy has a big
potention. Though what made him his fan was obviously his first real solo
success as a music director, even though music of Kaheen Pyaar Naa Ho Jaaye was
fairly successful.
One of his songs, probably first out-an-out pacy number, is
still popular. From the film Kya Dil Ne Kaha, song titled Nikamma, sung by
Shaan, with whom he is still working and has many hits, and Sanjivani. I still
find hint of beautiful melody in this song, usually missing in fast songs.
Wasn't able to find a better link, here's the song link
however:
Humraaz brought him his first Filmfare nomination. It had
beautiful songs mostly, and to choose one is really unfair. I'd go with song
'Bardaasht Nahi Kar Sakta' sung by KK in a way only he could, this song has
various elements. Other noteworthy songs in the album are 'sanam mere humraaz',
the music of which he'd used in the title songs of his serials Andaz and Amar
Prem, a beautiful composition nevertheless. Here's the song 'Bardaasht' :
There were some good songs in between, a couple being very
popular. But let's move on to Tere Naam. The film got him Filmfare nomination,
a Screen award and a Zee Cine award. There is not one song that I'd like to
skip from the movie. Whether it is the beautiful title song Tere Naam Humne
Kiya Hai, or the sad song Kyun Kisi Ko, the romantic number Tumse Milna Baatein
Karna, a little pacy song O Jaana, devotional Man Basia. Despite a couple of
good albums doing decent work, this was the film that Himesh Reshamiya truly
needed, the only glitch being a couple of very good songs composed not by him
but by Sajid-Wajid. Incidently, this film also marked a comeback-of-sorts of
Salman Khan and was rumored to be based on his one famous love story.
I remember him talking about the songs of this film in a
show, and telling that he's been a fan of Laxmikant-Pyarelal and is literally
earning his bread through their songs. Without his telling one could've found
the connection. The Indian touch, the soft on ear songs, the beautiful melody,
even with the faster numbers, the use of instruments, he was on the right path
and Tere Naam was the fruit of his slavery. Here's the song 'Kyun Kisi Ko' from
the film:
After this, 11films carried his name in credits in the year
2004. One of my favorite films, Bardaasht, carried only 5 songs, a very rare
feature even though in mid-2000s, yet the songs were all beautiful, and very
good. One of the songs, janaabe ali, was very popular. Even if you listen to
this song now, you'll fall in love with it. It's an out and out fast song, one
of the first songs of Kunal Ganjawala and Himesh together. It came in the same
year as Bheege Hont Tere. The song also features Shaan.
To be continued...
