Long-playing Laxmikant Pyarelal—‘success ke peechhey kya hai’ ?

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By Team Bollyy
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Long-playing Laxmikant Pyarelal—‘success ke peechhey kya hai’ ?

With over 500 movies to their commendable credit, Hindi film-buffs as also their die-hard fanshave been checking out the rolling title-credits in movie-theatres which prominently said ‘Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal’ - Chaitanya Padukone

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This time, this same credit –line happens to be the tantalizing title of the latest Rupa Publications book by noted author Rajiv Vijayakar on the ‘ek-duuje-ke-liye’ legendary music-composer duo fondly also referred to as ‘Laxmi-Pyare’ or just ‘L.P’.

It is a known fact that both the mandolin maestro ( Laxmi-jee) and the violin virtuoso ( Pyare-bhai) after playing for and then assisting various iconic composers made their chartbusting dazzling entry into Bollywood as full-fledged music-directors as they already had a mutual buddy-bonding.

During the ‘60s even as talented newcomers, they conjured up brilliant melodies for a string of musical landmark movies including ‘Parasmani’, ‘Dosti’, ‘Aaye Din Bahar Ke’, ‘Mr.X in Bombay’ and of course ‘Farz’ and ‘Milan’.

Their incredible musical journey and secrets behind their glorious success-story which continued right up to the late-1990s, is diligently captured in Vijayakar’s book.

The book contents also include little-known anecdotes , BTS snippets, trivia and tributes from a galaxy of filmy celebs.

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Over all, the book unravels all riveting revelations of both professional and personal facets of the popular dynamic duo Laxmi-Pyare known for their versatile repertoire, informs senior entertainment journalist-author Vijayakar.

It was a matter of national pride for veteran Pyarelal Sharma ( also a proficient pianist) when some five years ago, the music-savvy Germans at the prestigious Gewandhaus in Leipzig gave him a thunderous standing ovation.

They appreciated Western Classical symphonies, named Om Shivam, composed by Pyare-bhai, that were played by a large orchestra, and conducted by eminent musician Kristjan Jarvi.

Excerpts from an exclusive snappy sawaal-jawaab with author Rajiv Vijayakar :What is the target audience for your just-released latest book on Laxmi-Pyare ?

My book ‘Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal’ is primarily for lovers of Hindi film-music and then for L-P's fans, among associates and people.

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Die-hard ‘L-P’ fans will obviously find it even more interesting because of the insights by everyone beginning with Laxmi-Pyare themselves and by eminent film-industry members.

It is Not a History Book, as so many current names, including those who have never even worked with them, have raved about them.

Like for instance RanveerSingh, Sujoy Ghosh and Pritam-da.How differently candid is your book vis-a-vis other biographies on Bolly music composers ?

I haven’t read any biography of a composer. Not intentionally, of course. Since you shared a personal bonding with Laxmi-jee what was the sentimental high while writing Ur memoirs or compiling quotes on the legendary duo ?

I have a personal bonding with Pyare-bhai as well. The biggest sentimental high for me was visiting Parasmani, the late Laxmikant’s home, after 21 years, to meet his wife Jaya-ji and daughter Rajeshwari for this book.

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Meeting Pyare-bhai at any time is both an exhilarating experience and a learning process.

With both of them, in every meeting I never came back without learning something new about music and life.

Would you share a couple of little-known trivia nuggets from your book ? Madhubala once complimented Pyarelal as a child actor for a scene he did with Om Prakash in Rail Ka Dibba starring Shammi Kapoor.

He had to speak something rude to the veteran actor ! Laxmikant composed the tune of song ‘Chitthi aayi hai from ‘Naam’ within minutes soon after Anand Bakshi wrote the lyrics.

Cheerful-natured composer Laxmi-jee could sing comfortably even while chewing and holding his favorite paan (betel-leaf wrap) in his mouth as he would rehearse songs on his harmonium with playback singers.

Pyarelal Ji Pyarelal Ji

Which I have seen personally at L-P’s music sittings. Is this interesting idiosyncrasy ( means--unusual characteristic of a person) highlighted in your book ?

It is great that you asked me this. As you will realize, this is not an idiosyncrasy, but a part of an extraordinary God-gifted process with which Laxmi-ji composed.

Anything you realized whilst authoring this book on ‘L-P’ ? I set out to write a book on my favorite composers, but after interacting with so many of their singers, lyricists, filmmakers, stars and more, I realized that I was actually writing on the most Complete and Accomplished Film Composers ever in Hindi cinema.

(The writer of this article Chaitanya Padukone is an eminent senior entertainment journalist and author of memoirs book R D BurMania)

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