From timeless melodies to tragic obscurity, the story of the “Prince of Ghazals”, as Lata Mangeshkar fondly called him, lives on through remixes, memories, and modern-day cinema. Behind many of Bollywood’s most iconic old songs, including Lag Jaa Gale, stands the genius of Madan Mohan, the unsung maestro of Hindi film music. But do you know it was 20 years after his debut film, he received his first award.
All you need to know about Madan Mohan's journey
Born on June 25, 1924, in Baghdad, where his father worked with the Iraqi Police forces, Madan Mohan's early years were spent in the Middle East. After his family returned to India, he grew up in Lahore and Mumbai, eventually finding his footing in music. By the age of 11, he was already performing on All India Radio. Madan Mohan didn’t receive formal training in classical music, but his natural talent was unmistakable.
His big break came in the 1950s, and by the early 1960s, he had become a prominent name in Bollywood’s music scene. Films like Anpadh (1962), Manmauji (1962), Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964), and Haqeeqat (1964) featured his music. He had a particular knack for emotional depth and melodic sophistication. He earned the nickname “Ghazal ka Shehzadaa” ( Prince of Ghazals), thanks in large part to his hauntingly beautiful work with singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, and Talat Mahmood.
The changing face of Bollywood
Despite creating unforgettable music, Madan Mohan never quite got his due. While his peers took home numerous awards and worked on big-banner films, he was often sidelined. In fact, it wasn’t until 1970, two decades after his debut, that he won the National Award for Best Music Direction for Dastak. Even then, he was reportedly reluctant to accept it, feeling deeply disillusioned by an industry that never fully embraced him.
His perfectionism and unwillingness to compromise on melody likely cost him commercially. As the 1970s dawned, Bollywood’s tastes began to shift. The rise of action-packed films led by stars like Amitabh Bachchan, and the growing popularity of louder, more upbeat music, left little room for the slow, soul-stirring tunes Madan Mohan was known for.
A particularly heart-breaking moment came late in his career when he was removed from a B-grade comedy film by distributors who claimed his music was “too slow” for the genre. That rejection, from a low-budget film no less, reportedly devastated him, Anu Malik's brother Daboo Malik told Siddharth Kannan in a recent interview.
While professional neglect wore him down, Madan Mohan also struggled with alcohol dependence. He was known for his love of fine Scotch, often pouring it with flair into elegant cut-glass tumblers. His son, Sameer, remembered how even as a child, he would watch his father drink from a musical decanter that played a waltz tune.
Though he was careful to abstain on religious occasions, his growing reliance on alcohol took a toll on his health. By the mid-70s, he struggled to get recording studio dates, with most major studios booked by younger, more commercially successful composers. Isolated and bitter, he sensed his time was slipping away. In 1975, at the age of 51, Madan Mohan passed away due to liver cirrhosis. His family, fans, and friends were left mourning a man who had given Hindi cinema some of its most beautiful music, yet never received the recognition he truly deserved.
Years later, it was his son Sanjeev Kohli who reignited interest in Madan Mohan’s music. For Yash Chopra’s 2004 film Veer-Zaara, he reimagined several of his father’s unreleased compositions. Lata Mangeshkar, then in her seventies, returned to lend her voice to his tunes, breathing new life into melodies that had been buried for decades.
On receiving accolades after his death
Director Yash Chopra chose to use Madan Mohan’s unreleased compositions for the film, and remarkably, each melody perfectly matched the story’s emotional moments. It felt as if the composer, known for classics like Heer Ranjha and Laila Majnu, had unknowingly crafted music for a future love story that would unfold long after he was gone.
In 2023, Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani featured a remixed version of Jhumka Gira Re, originally composed by Madan Mohan for the film Mera Saaya (1966). The remix by Pritam introduced a new generation to the genius of a composer many had never heard of, unaware that the catchy new tune was rooted in the brilliance of a man long gone.
Madan Mohan's story is one of beauty, heartbreak, and immense artistic legacy. While the world remembers his songs, especially Lag Jaa Gale, few know the pain behind the melodies. He was a man who lived for music, who poured his soul into every composition, and who quietly faded away without the applause he so richly deserved.
All you need to know about Madan Mohan's journey
Born on June 25, 1924, in Baghdad, where his father worked with the Iraqi Police forces, Madan Mohan's early years were spent in the Middle East. After his family returned to India, he grew up in Lahore and Mumbai, eventually finding his footing in music. By the age of 11, he was already performing on All India Radio. Madan Mohan didn’t receive formal training in classical music, but his natural talent was unmistakable.
His big break came in the 1950s, and by the early 1960s, he had become a prominent name in Bollywood’s music scene. Films like Anpadh (1962), Manmauji (1962), Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964), and Haqeeqat (1964) featured his music. He had a particular knack for emotional depth and melodic sophistication. He earned the nickname “Ghazal ka Shehzadaa” ( Prince of Ghazals), thanks in large part to his hauntingly beautiful work with singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, and Talat Mahmood.
The changing face of Bollywood
Despite creating unforgettable music, Madan Mohan never quite got his due. While his peers took home numerous awards and worked on big-banner films, he was often sidelined. In fact, it wasn’t until 1970, two decades after his debut, that he won the National Award for Best Music Direction for Dastak. Even then, he was reportedly reluctant to accept it, feeling deeply disillusioned by an industry that never fully embraced him.
His perfectionism and unwillingness to compromise on melody likely cost him commercially. As the 1970s dawned, Bollywood’s tastes began to shift. The rise of action-packed films led by stars like Amitabh Bachchan, and the growing popularity of louder, more upbeat music, left little room for the slow, soul-stirring tunes Madan Mohan was known for.
A particularly heart-breaking moment came late in his career when he was removed from a B-grade comedy film by distributors who claimed his music was “too slow” for the genre. That rejection, from a low-budget film no less, reportedly devastated him, Anu Malik's brother Daboo Malik told Siddharth Kannan in a recent interview.
While professional neglect wore him down, Madan Mohan also struggled with alcohol dependence. He was known for his love of fine Scotch, often pouring it with flair into elegant cut-glass tumblers. His son, Sameer, remembered how even as a child, he would watch his father drink from a musical decanter that played a waltz tune.
Though he was careful to abstain on religious occasions, his growing reliance on alcohol took a toll on his health. By the mid-70s, he struggled to get recording studio dates, with most major studios booked by younger, more commercially successful composers. Isolated and bitter, he sensed his time was slipping away. In 1975, at the age of 51, Madan Mohan passed away due to liver cirrhosis. His family, fans, and friends were left mourning a man who had given Hindi cinema some of its most beautiful music, yet never received the recognition he truly deserved.
Years later, it was his son Sanjeev Kohli who reignited interest in Madan Mohan’s music. For Yash Chopra’s 2004 film Veer-Zaara, he reimagined several of his father’s unreleased compositions. Lata Mangeshkar, then in her seventies, returned to lend her voice to his tunes, breathing new life into melodies that had been buried for decades.
On receiving accolades after his death
Director Yash Chopra chose to use Madan Mohan’s unreleased compositions for the film, and remarkably, each melody perfectly matched the story’s emotional moments. It felt as if the composer, known for classics like Heer Ranjha and Laila Majnu, had unknowingly crafted music for a future love story that would unfold long after he was gone.
In 2023, Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani featured a remixed version of Jhumka Gira Re, originally composed by Madan Mohan for the film Mera Saaya (1966). The remix by Pritam introduced a new generation to the genius of a composer many had never heard of, unaware that the catchy new tune was rooted in the brilliance of a man long gone.
Madan Mohan's story is one of beauty, heartbreak, and immense artistic legacy. While the world remembers his songs, especially Lag Jaa Gale, few know the pain behind the melodies. He was a man who lived for music, who poured his soul into every composition, and who quietly faded away without the applause he so richly deserved.
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