Himesh Reshamiya: Life Comes Full Circle: A Tribute Part 1

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...