Noted musician Ravi dies at 85

Noted musician Ravi Shankar Sharma, popularly known as Ravi, died today at the age of 85 after prolonged illness. The musician was born in Delhi on March 3, 1926.

One of the gifted musicians of the Hindi film industry, Ravi never had any formal training in music. He shifted to Mumbai in 1950 and got his first break in 1952 film ‘Anand Math’. Soon his name started to feature among respected musicians. Films such as ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand’ (1960), ‘Do Badan’ (1966), ‘Humraaz’ (1967), ‘Ankhen’ (1968), and ‘Nikaah’ (1982) won his critical as well as commercial success.

Ravi received the prestigious Filmfare award for (1961) and Khandaan. His iconic songs like ‘Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai’, ‘Babul ki duyaen leti ja’ and ‘Doli chadh ke dulhan sasural chal’ still hold the reputation of wedding anthems.

Ravi’s touch of genius can be heard in the song ‘Tora man darpan’ where he has not used many instruments to garnish Asha Bhosle’s voice.

The music of ‘Waqt’, ‘Neel Kamal’ and ‘Gumraah’ not only signified the changing pattern of Indian film music but also showed the vision of music directors of that time.

He was also instrumental in shaping up the careers of singers like Mahendra Kapoor and Salma Agha. Will it be easy for anyone to forget the haunting voice of Salma Agha in ‘Nikaah’?

Ravi may not be alive in body but his voice will keep infusing spirit in all those million souls who find Hindi film music an integral part of their lives.

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