Vanraj Bhatia
Encyclopedia
Vanraj Bhatia is an India
n music composer, who is best known for providing music for most of Shyam Benegal
's films, and for his private albums with Music Today.
During the 70s and 80s he worked with many art film makers in India. In the 90s he composed the music of Vijay Singh's international film Jaya Ganga
. He won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction
for Tamas
in 1988, and was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
in 1989.
in Mumbai for M.A. (English Honours); after graduating in 1949 he left for the Royal Academy of Music
, London, to study music composition, which he passed with a Royal Academy Gold Medal in 1954.
Thereafter he entered the Paris Conservatory where he studied with Nadia Boulanger
and Howard Ferguson
between 1954 and 1959. During his studies abroad he received various scholarships, including the Sir Michael Costa Scholarship (1951-4), a Rockefeller Fellowship (1954-8), and a French Government Scholarship (1957-8).
Meanwhile in 1959 he created his first advertising jingle
for Shakti Silk Sarees. From that point on he became one of the pioneering ad jingle makers in India, and also one of the most successful, later moving to Mumbai and working for the advertising industry. In all he has created over 7000 scores for advertising jingles, corporate and business films.
His first film as a music composer was Ankur
(1974), and he soon became a regular composer for Shyam Benegal
and other art film makers of the time. His most noted works in this period are Manthan
(1976), Bhumika
(1977), Junoon
(1978), 36 Chowringhee Lane
(1981), Trikal (1985) and Mandi
(1983) and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983).
He has also created music for Indian theatre productions such as “Tughlak” and “Andha Yug
”
In the following decade his work was heard constantly on Indian television with the title scores for TV series like Khandaan, Yatra, Lifeline, Discovery Of India, Wagle Ki Duniya, and the made-for-TV film Tamas (1987), for which he received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction
in 1988.
In the 90s he worked in many commercial Hindi films as well as providing background scores for many other films, working on over 40 films during his career. His most noted works were for Shyam Benegal's film Sardari Begum
in 1996 and for Vijay Singh's international film Jaya Ganga
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n music composer, who is best known for providing music for most of Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur , Nishant Manthan and Bhumika he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the "middle cinema" in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to...
's films, and for his private albums with Music Today.
During the 70s and 80s he worked with many art film makers in India. In the 90s he composed the music of Vijay Singh's international film Jaya Ganga
Jaya Ganga
Jaya Ganga is an international film made by Paris-based Indian writer, film maker and screenplay writer Vijay Singh.The film stars Asil Rais and Smriti Mishra as leads....
. He won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction
National Film Award for Best Music Direction
The National Film Award for Best Music Direction are given annually. In years 1994, 1995 and 2010, an award for Best Background Score was instituted by the Jury, which was won by Johnson and by Ilaiyaraaja . Ilaiyaraaja and A. R...
for Tamas
Tamas (movie)
Tamas is a controversial and highly acclaimed television film directed by Govind Nihalani, based on the classic Hindi novel of the same name written by Bhisham Sahni , which won the author the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975.The film was first shown on India's national broadcaster Doordarshan as a...
in 1988, and was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
in 1989.
Early life and education
Born in 1927 in Bombay, Vanraj Bhatia trained in Western classical music while studying at the Elphinstone CollegeElphinstone College
Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. It was exalted as a prestigious seat of learning during the British Raj and is generally observed for its vibrant alumni...
in Mumbai for M.A. (English Honours); after graduating in 1949 he left for the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, London, to study music composition, which he passed with a Royal Academy Gold Medal in 1954.
Thereafter he entered the Paris Conservatory where he studied with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
and Howard Ferguson
Howard Ferguson (composer)
Howard Ferguson was a British composer and musicologist. He composed instrumental, chamber, orchestral and choral works. While his music is not widely-known today, his Piano Sonata in F Minor and his Five Bagatelles for piano are still performed...
between 1954 and 1959. During his studies abroad he received various scholarships, including the Sir Michael Costa Scholarship (1951-4), a Rockefeller Fellowship (1954-8), and a French Government Scholarship (1957-8).
Career
In 1960, he started his career as Reader in Musicology in charge of Western Music, at the Faculty of Music Delhi University, where he stayed until 1965.Meanwhile in 1959 he created his first advertising jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
for Shakti Silk Sarees. From that point on he became one of the pioneering ad jingle makers in India, and also one of the most successful, later moving to Mumbai and working for the advertising industry. In all he has created over 7000 scores for advertising jingles, corporate and business films.
His first film as a music composer was Ankur
Ankur (film)
Ankur is an Indian colour film of 1974. It was the first feature film directed by Shyam Benegal and the debut of Indian actors Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag...
(1974), and he soon became a regular composer for Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur , Nishant Manthan and Bhumika he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the "middle cinema" in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to...
and other art film makers of the time. His most noted works in this period are Manthan
Manthan
Manthan was a 1976 Hindi film made by Shyam Benegal, based on a story written jointly by Verghese Kurien and director Shyam Benegal...
(1976), Bhumika
Bhumika
Bhumika is a 1977 Indian film directed by Shyam Benegal. The movie stars Smita Patil, Amol Palekar, Anant Nag, Naseeruddin Shah and Amrish Puri....
(1977), Junoon
Junoon (1978 film)
The soundtrack features 4 songs, composed by Vanraj Bhatia, with original lyrics from Yogesh Praveen and other lyrics by Amir Khusro, Jigar Moradabadi and Sant Kabir.#"Khusro rain piya ki jaagi pee ke sang" – Jamil Ahmad...
(1978), 36 Chowringhee Lane
36 Chowringhee Lane
36 Chowringee Lane is a 1981 film written and directed by Aparna Sen and produced by Shashi Kapoor. The film was very well received upon release. It stars Jennifer Kendal in a critically acclaimed role and Debashree Roy.-Plot:...
(1981), Trikal (1985) and Mandi
Mandi (film)
Mandi is a 1983 Hindi movie directed by Shyam Benegal.The film is a satirical comedy on politics and prostitution, and stars Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Smita Patil...
(1983) and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983).
He has also created music for Indian theatre productions such as “Tughlak” and “Andha Yug
Andha Yug
Andha Yug is 1954 verse play written in Hindi, by renowned novelist, poet, and playwright Dharamvir Bharati . It was the first important play of 20th century India...
”
In the following decade his work was heard constantly on Indian television with the title scores for TV series like Khandaan, Yatra, Lifeline, Discovery Of India, Wagle Ki Duniya, and the made-for-TV film Tamas (1987), for which he received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction
National Film Award for Best Music Direction
The National Film Award for Best Music Direction are given annually. In years 1994, 1995 and 2010, an award for Best Background Score was instituted by the Jury, which was won by Johnson and by Ilaiyaraaja . Ilaiyaraaja and A. R...
in 1988.
In the 90s he worked in many commercial Hindi films as well as providing background scores for many other films, working on over 40 films during his career. His most noted works were for Shyam Benegal's film Sardari Begum
Sardari Begum
Sardari Begum is a 1996 Hindi movie directed by Shyam Benegal. The film stars Kiron Kher, Amrish Puri and Rajit Kapur and Rajeshwari Sachdev....
in 1996 and for Vijay Singh's international film Jaya Ganga
Jaya Ganga
Jaya Ganga is an international film made by Paris-based Indian writer, film maker and screenplay writer Vijay Singh.The film stars Asil Rais and Smriti Mishra as leads....
.
Non-film albums
- Sangit Raat (Night Music)
- The Elements - EARTH (1999)
- Indian Meditation Music (1999)
- Anant - The Endless (2001)
- The Bhagavad Gita (2002)
- The Spirit of Upanishads (2007)
Awards & recognition
- Bengal Film Journalists Association Award for Music: BhumikaBhumikaBhumika is a 1977 Indian film directed by Shyam Benegal. The movie stars Smita Patil, Amol Palekar, Anant Nag, Naseeruddin Shah and Amrish Puri....
(1976), Manthan (1977) - Sur Singar Samsad Awards: Best Classical Score /Song: 1986, 1987
- National Film Award for Best Music DirectionNational Film Award for Best Music DirectionThe National Film Award for Best Music Direction are given annually. In years 1994, 1995 and 2010, an award for Best Background Score was instituted by the Jury, which was won by Johnson and by Ilaiyaraaja . Ilaiyaraaja and A. R...
: Tamas: 1988 - Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
: 1989