Legendary musician Roshan is remembered for his soulful tunes based on classical music in films like Naubahar,” “Barsaat Ki Raat,” “Taj Mahal,” Dil Hi To Hai, Chitralekha, Mamta, Bahu Begum, and many more.

Mumbai: Roshan Lal Nagrath was born on July 14, 1917, in Bharia, a small village in Surjewala, Punjab, now in Pakistan. Roshan moved to Shahjahanpur when he was in fifth grade. He started his music training under Master Barve and learned to play harmonium.
After a few years, he moved to Lucknow and joined Marris College of Music, where he was trained under Pandit S. N. Ratanjankar. Roshan also learned sarangi from Ustad Alauddin Khan in Maihar. Roshan was also a prominant “esraj” player, and he started his job as an esraj player for All India Radio, Delhi, in 1940 and worked with Khawaja Khurshid Anwar.
He made his debut as an independent music director with Kidar Sharma’s Neki Aur Badi (1949), followed by his big break “Baawre Nain” in 1950, which was a musical hit. The song “Khayalon Mein Kisi Ke Is Tarah Aaya Nahin Karte,” sung by Mukesh and Geeta Dutt, became very successful.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Roshan composed music for many successful films, working with legendary singers like Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mehmood, and Lata Mangeshkar. Some of his notable films in the 1950s include “Malhar” (1951), “Anhonee (1952),” “Naubahar” (1952), “Chandni Chowk (1954), “Do Roti (1957), “Heera Moti (1959), Babar (1960), and many more.
Some of his notable songs in this period are “Bade Aarmanon Se Rakha Hai Balam Teri Kasam (Malhar),” “Main Dil Hoon Ek Armaan Bhara (Anhonee),” “Ae Ri Main To Prem Deewani (Naubahar),” “Mohabbat Ke Jhoothe Saharon Ne Loota (Sansakar),” “Holi Khele Nandlala Biraj Mein (Mashuqa),” “Hamen Ae Dil Kahin Le Chal (Chandni Chowk),” “Salaam-E-Hasrat Qubool Kar Lo (Babar),” and many more.
In 1960, he gave music to the Bharat Bhushan and Madhubala starrer film “Barsaat Ki Ek Raat,” which became one of the biggest hits of the year. The songs of the film, like “Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat,” “Jee Chahta Hai Choom Loon,” “Maine Shayad Tumhe Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai,” “Na To Karvan Ki Talash Hai,” and “Yeh Hai Ishq Ishq,” became rage across India and are still loved by music lovers.
In 1963, his films like “Dil Hi To Hai, and “Taj Mahal” were the biggest musical hits. Dil Hi To Hai has songs like “Laaga Chunri Mein Daag,” “Nigahen Milane Ko Jee Chahta Hai,” “Tum Agar Mujhko Na Chaho,” “Yun Hi Dil Ne Chaha Tha,” and “Jo Baat Tujh Mein Hai,” while Taj Mahal has “Jo Wada Kiya Wo.” “Khuda-E-Bartar,” “Paaon Chhoo Lene Do,” and “Chandi Ka Badan.” The film later earned him his first and only Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.
In 1964, his music in “Chitralekha” was acclaimed for its classical quality. Songs like “Ae Ri, Jane Na Dungi,” “Sakhi Ri, Mera Man Uljhe,” “Sansar Se Bhage Phirte Ho,” “Man Re, Tu Kaahe Na Dheer Dhare,” and “Maara Gaya Brahmachari” are especially noteworthy.
The 1966 film “Mamta” is also remembered for its songs like “Chupa Lo Yun Dil Mein Pyar Mera,” “Rahen Na Rahen Hum,” “Rahte The Kabhi Jinke,” and “In Baharon Mein.” His next was Bahu Begum (1967), another musical hit with songs like “Duniya Kare Sawaal,” “Nikle the Kahan,” “Hum Intezar Karenge Tera Qayamat Tak,” and “Waqif Hoon Khoob Ishq Ke Tarz-E-Bayaan Se Main.”
Roshan’s other notable films were Zindagi Aur Hum (1961), Aarti (1962), Soorat aur Seerat (1962), Bedaag (1965), Bheegi Raat (1965), Daadi Maa (1966), Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasl (1965), Devar (1966), Noor Jehan (1967), Anokhi Raat (1967), and Dur Nahin Manzil, which were released posthumously in 1973.
Some of his notable songs include “Kabhi To Milegi Kahin To Milegi,” “Tere Bin Saajan Laage Na Jiya Hamaar” (Aarti),” “Bahut Diya Dene Wale Ne Tujhko (Soorat aur Seerat),” “Gham-E-Hasti Se Bas Begaana Hota (Vallah Kya Baat Hai),” “Bhoole Se Mohabbat Kar Baitha (Dil Hi To Hai),” “Phool Gendva Na Maaro (Dooj Ka Chaand),” “Aise Toh Na Dekho Ki,” “Mohabbat Se Dekha Khafa Ho Gaye Hain” (Bheegi Rat),” “Karvan Guzar Gaya Gubar Dekhte Rahe (Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal),” “Aaya Hai Mujhe Phir Yaad,” “Baharon Ne Mera Chaman Loot Kar” (Devar), “Aa Gaya Lab Pe Afsana” “Sharabi Sharabi Ye Sawan Ka Mausam” (Noor Jehan), “Mehlon Ka Raja Mila” “Meri Beri Ke Ber Mat Todo,” “Mile Na Phool Toh Kaanto Se Dosti Kar Li,” “Oh Re Taal Mile Nadi Ke Jal Mein,” Liye Chal Gadiya O Mere Mitwa Door Nahin Manzil (Anokhi Raat), and many more.
Roshan passed away on November 16, 1967, but his legacy lives on through his music and his family, including his sons Rakesh Roshan and Rajesh Roshan, and his grandson Hrithik Roshan.