This was my first Music Album that I released on February 14, 2005. This album is dedicated to all the passionate lovers around the world. I started writing songs when I finished college and was working for a computer consulting firm. This was the time when I had a strong desire to create music which I would sing for my beloved (??). And my passion for music kept increasing as I wrote one song after the other. Composing a melody was not a difficult task as I use to hear film music a lot and was inspired by Madan Mohan & R D Burman’s music. My sister use to sing hindustani vocal and I use to accompany her on tabla. In the process, I heard a variety of musical forms (Raagas) and the classical music got into my blood & soul at a very early age which created a base for me to create my own music. I could have played Tabla and made a big name as a Tabla artist but somehow there was a music composer within me which dominated the tabla player. I started writing songs and composing them & also recorded them on my music player. People at home started appreciating my efforts and I also felt that I am creating decent compositions. The lyrics were simple, but the compositions had to be complex and good enough. I made an attempt to keep originality in my compositions and tried to create each and every song in different form and mood. The basic mood was ofcourse romantic, but I tried to give various shades of romance & love to my compositions so that it could create a positive impact on the listeners, their romantic feelings.  The title song ‘Tumse hi hai Pyar’ is my best composition, which my friend Swapnil chose to sing when we recorded the songs. My personal favorite is Tumsa Nahi Dekha, but as a musician my best composition has been ‘Meri Zindagi mein aakar’ and it has been beautifully sung by Swapnil. If you want to buy or gift my album to your beloved or a friend, you may log on to www.cdbaby.com (http://cdbaby.com/cd/smsb) and purchase a copy. I have been distributing 100 CD’s every year on valentines day for free. If you are the lucky one you will save some bucks. I would say $6 is a very small investment for your love life to flourish by listening to these songs. I don’t intend to sell my CD through this post but I strongly feel that good music should be listened, shared and appreciated by everyone who has liking in music. I do have plans to produce another album shortly, mostly during 2009. Keep watching!

Rahul Dev Burman created the most sensuous & romantic songs for the Hindi Films. He has really stolen millions & millions of hearts by his music. He was one of the most talented & genius musician in the Hindi Film Industry! No musician can come close to R D Burman ever! He was the first musician who brought western music into the Indian form and created great compositions with the combnation of the two kinds of music that sounded very melodious to ears & soothing to the heart.

His father Sachindev Burman, who was one of the greatest music directors of his time (he is also one of my favourite), certainly has an influence over Rahulda’s music but I must say that RD is the only son in the entire film industry who has surpassed his father’s contributions and has shown a distinction in his compositions. 

R D Burman was not only a music director but a great musician. He could play many instruments including tabla, fluet, guitar, keyboards. He had the best sense of rythm and some of his songs have off-beat rythm which clearly demonstrates his command over beats or taal. One of the best example is ‘Mehbooba Mehbooba’ from film Sholay. He got the best out of many singers that sung his songs. But the greatest variations that he could bring out from a singer, was Asha Bhosle.  Asha Bhosle could generate anything & everything from her voice that was desired by R D Burman.  The throw, the vibrations, breathing techniques used in his songs were amazingly sung by Ashaji. They were truely made for each other.  Aaja Aaja mein hun pyar tera, O mere sona re sona re, Piya tu ub to aaja, Dum Maro Dum..are some of his evergreen songs exceptionally sung by Ashaji. He was probably the only Music Director whose all songs in a film use to be hit numbers. Even if you look at his latest compostions in 1942 a love story it justifies what I am trying to say.

Today there are so many music directors who are inspired by RD’s compositions but they lack in the basic talent and hence cannot create the rich music that he has given to the Indian Film Industry. The remix world has also made several versions of RD’s songs but they have spoiled his songs in the process. RD Burman’s music should not be copied or remixed, as by doing so, you are going to dilute or destroy his melodies. I would only request the new musicians to listen to his songs & learn some lessons out of them and try to create compositions which are original and different.

Shubhangi Sakhalkar is my elder sister and a popular name in Indian Classical Music today in the Bay Area, USA. 16th April is her birthday and I thought this would be the right time to post an article about her. Shubhangi is the most talented music personality that I have ever known. Being my sister, I have been hearing her sing since my childhood. Her first music lessons started when she started listening to lata Mangeshkar songs on our Philips Radio when she was barely 4-5 years old. With the inherent talent and ability to listen & grasp music she could sing difficult songs with ease at a very young age. Our mother who is BA in Music and singer herself, encouraged Shubhangi to learn music. Shubhangi took classical training in music when she started going to school. She graduated in Physics but decided to go for MA in Music. By that time she had already received many prizes, awards at college festivals in Mumbai. I was fortunate to have accompanied her on Tabla while she use to practice music and also for her local performances then. She completed her MA with Gold Medal from the SNDT University. Thereafter there has been no looking back. She got trained in hindustani classical music from Dr. Prabha Atre & Smt. Padma Talwalkar. After her marraige she left for USA where she continued her music Riyaz (Practice) and started giving performances. Gradually she also started teaching muisc and today she has a big fan following and many enthusiastic students who learn and benefit from the Indian form of Music. Shubhangi to me is the most versatile singer, a great teacher and a very good human being. For an Artist to be a ‘Real Artist’ these qualities are very essential. I wish her all the best in her music career & special wishes on her brithday!

For more details on Shubhangi Sakhalkar please log on to www.shubhangisakhalkar.com.

Lata Mangeshkar, the golden voice of Indian Film Industry has been singing for more than 60 years with same spirit and passion. She has entertained and fascinated millions & millions of people with her heavenly voice across the world for almost 6 decades.  Her father Pt. Dinanath Mangeshkar was an outstanding classical singer and a theatre artist and was her guru, her inspiration. I don’t intend to write a story here about Lata bai but would like to express my thoughts as a music lover. Lata bai is one of the most talented singers of all times in the history of Indian music. Her melodious voice, purity of the notes, variations in singing, everything is so perfect that there can’t be anything better in the world of music. If you really want to become a good singer, then you better listen to lata bai’s songs daily for an hour.  The songs that I adore the most are ‘Mana Mohana bade jhootey’, ‘Rasik bulama’, ‘Dhire se aaja re akhiyan mein nindiya’, ‘Tu jahan jahan chalega..mera saya’, ‘Agar mujhase muhabbat hai’, ‘Ye zindagi usi ki hai’, ‘Bainya na dharo o bulama’, ‘Jaago Mohan pyare’ …and many more..the list is too long. Whoever composed these songs..Lata bai has made them into master pieces by her golden voice.  The Meera bhajans & some non-filmi gazals sung by her are also wonderful to listen to. I think if you want to make your life more meaningful and happy then you should have collection of Lata bai’s songs in your home. She is the best singer ever and I wish her songs are preserved & listened by generations & generations in future to keep the real music alive.

The title line is from a song composed by one of the greatest music directors in Indian film industry – Shri Madan Mohan. When I  listen to his songs today I really feel..Aaj socha to aasoo bhar aaye…tears come into my eyes instantly. Madan Mohan was one of the greatest composers we had during the time when there were plenty of good music composers around. All of his songs are of rich quality music and with very intense emotions. Ofcourse, the lyrics are as great as the music, but the gazal form of presentation has been outstanding in his compositions. Most of the songs composed by him are of sad mood, yet there is a beauty and innocence in the sadness and songs are so melodious that they go straight into your heart. Madan Mohan is an inspiration for musicians like me and I feel very small when I listen to his compositions. Some of his compositions which I like the most are ‘Ruke Ruke se kadam from film Mausam, Hai isi mein pyar ki aabaroo, Aapki najaron ne samajha, tumhari julpha ke saye mein shaam, Rasame ulfat ko nibhaye kaise. Each of his songs contribute to a great learning experience & inspiration for a music composer like me.  The starting piece of the song is the most difficult composition and the way it is carried till the beginning of mukhada is just amazing! There is so much variety in the interludes & overall use of instruments that I realise how much efforts & time this man has put behind each song.  During those days, there were limitations as far as technology & recording techniques used yet the quality of songs was very high. All credit goes to the musicians & the director for creating master pieces. Today’s music appears & feels so inferior in front of these compositions that we really need to preserve these melodies for generations to come.  I salute to Madan Mohan ji for his contributions to Indian Film Music. This Post is incomplete without the mention of Lata ji who has sung most of Madan ji’s compositions with great perfection. My next post will be on Lataji, the greatest singers of all times…keep reading.