From 'Pehela Pehela Pyaar Hai' to 'A B C D', how music composer Laxman of Raam Laxman duo established Salman Khan's filmy career through his songs

By Rashita Sahni

on May 22, 2021 04:43:10 PM

Bidding a sad adieu to the music industry, popular music composer Vijay Patil aka Laxman of Ram-Laxman duo, passed away on Saturday at his residence in Nagpur due to heart attack. He was 78 years old. His demise comes across as a huge loss to the music industry.

Known for composing music for films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Patthar Ke Phool, Hum Aapke Hain Koun & Hum Saath Saath Hain among others, Laxman was known to have played a huge part in Salman Khan's career and initial films. Laxman, in his successful career with Raam (Surendra), delivered numerous chartbuster songs. Majorly collaborating with Salman in Bollywood, the composer made fans go crazy with foot-tapping as well as pleasing iconic numbers.

In his last decade in the music industry (1989-99), Laxman proved to be a legendary music composer of Bollywood with hits like Aaja Shaam Hone Aayee, Deewana Dil Bin Sajna Ke Maane Na, Sunoji Dulhan, among others to his credit. In 1976, Raam (Laxman's partner Surendra) passed away immediately after signing the film Agent Vinod. Later, Laxman continued to retain Raam's name in Marathi as well as Hindi films and hence is often referred to as 'RaamLaxman'.

Today, as we remember Laxman, let's take a look at some of his successful collaborations with Salman, that made the actor's career a hit in the initial years.

MAINE PYAR KIYA - 1989

Laxman gave a boost to Salman's career as he composed all the songs for his film Maine Pyar Kiya. Even though it was Salman's second film after Biwi Ho Toh Aisi, many consider Maine Pyar Kiya as the superstar's debut because of its popularity, his chemistry with debutante Bhagyashree and the film's iconic music album. The most popular songs from the film are Kabootar Ja Ja Ja, Mere Rangne Mai, Aaja Shaam Hone Aayi and the title track Maine Pyaar Kiya. Laxman was the solo music composer of the film. The special Antakshari soundtrack was very successful upon release, becoming the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack of the decade.

PATTHAR KE PHOOL - 1991

Just two years later, Laxman was roped in again to compose all the incredible songs of Salman's fifth film Patthar Ke Phool. The film, starring Salman with debutante Raveena Tandon, is still known for its discography. From Maut Se Kya Darna to Sajna Tere Bina Kya Jeena, all 9 songs of the film were beautifully composed by Laxman.

HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN - 1994

By 1994, Salman had already established his name in the film industry. But Hum Aapke Hain Koun came across as one of the most successful films of Bhai, in terms of its music. Composed by Laxman, all the songs of Salman and Madhuri Dixit starrer, found their place in the wedding album of the season. Didi Tere Dewar Deewana, Joote Do Paise Lo, Pehela Pehla Pyaar Hai, Lo Chali Mai and the title track Hum Aapke Hai Koun were the superhit ones amongst the 14 songs in the film.

HUM SAATH SAATH HAIN - 1999

We have all enjoyed the songs of this film with our family and at weddings. The hit 1999 film, which starred Salman along with Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Tabu and Mohnish Bahl, went on the become a blockbuster. All the 7 songs of the film, composed by Laxman, were an instant hit. Yeh Toh Sach Hai Ki Bhagwan Hai, Chote Chote Bhaiyon Ke Bade Bhaiya, Sunoji Dulhan, Mahre Hiwada, Maiyya Yashoda, A B C D and the title track Hum Saath Saath Hain were brilliantly composed. However, the composer was accused to have plagiarized his track A B C D from the Spanish singer Jeanette's 1974 song Porque te vas for the film. Salman's film's music, however, was praised worldwide, opening more doors for the actor in terms of musical-dramas.

Salman paid a tribute to the composer this afternoon as he penned on Twitter, "Ram Laxman, music director of my successful films like maine pyaar kiya, patthar ke phool, hum saath saath hain, hum apke hain kaun has sadly passed away. May his soul rest in peace. Condolences to the bereaved family."

Ram Laxman, music director of my successful films like maine pyaar kiya, patthar ke phool, hum saath saath hain, hum apke hain kaun has sadly passed away. May his soul rest in peace. Condolences to the bereaved family.

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) May 22, 2021