Bombay Ravi
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23
JUL
23rd to 21st Aug 2026
12:30 PM to 6:30 PM daily
80 A Musical Glue for Nation-Building
Offline-Online Event
Ravi Shankar Sharma (3 March 1926 – 7 March 2012) is celebrated across generations simply as Ravi, and he remains one of Indian cinema's most distinguished music composers. His melodic sensibilities enriched both Hindi and Malayalam cinema, producing an enduring body of work that continues to resonate with audience decades after its creation. After dominating the Hindi film music landscape through the 1950s and 1960s, Ravi stepped away from the industry before returning triumphantly to the South Indian film world in the 1980s under the name Bombay Ravi. Born in Delhi on 3 March 1926, Ravi rose from humble beginnings to become one of Indian cinema's most celebrated composers, his success forged through determination and relentless hard work. Though he received no formal training in classical music, he developed a deep understanding of melody by listening to his father sing devotional bhajans. A pivotal moment came in 1947 when he met legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi during the Independence Day celebrations at Delhi's Coronation Hotel. Expressing his ambition to become a music director, Ravi was encouraged by Rafi to first master music and notation. Determined to succeed, he taught himself the harmonium and other instruments while supporting his family through his job as an electrician with the Post and Telegraph Department. In 1950, Ravi moved to Bombay with dreams of a career in cinema. His early years were marked by hardship; he spent nights sleeping on Malad railway station platforms and later lived in a modest tin-roofed dwelling before finding his footing in the industry. His breakthrough arrived in 1952 when composer Hemant Kumar discovered him and engaged him as a backing vocalist for Vande Mataram in Anand Math (1952). Ravi's command of Urdu also proved valuable to Hemant Kumar, fostering a productive professional relationship. Over the following decades, Ravi emerged as one of Hindi cinema's most accomplished composers. His scores for Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Do Badan (1966), Hamraaz (1967), Aankhen (1968) and Nikaah (1982) earned widespread acclaim and multiple Filmfare nominations. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for Gharana (1961) and Khandan (1965). Other memorable soundtracks included Waqt (1965), Gumraah (1963) and Neel Kamal (1968). Songs such as Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (1977), Babul Ki Duayen Leti Ja (NeelKamal, 1968), Doli Chadh Ke Dulhan Sasural Chali (Doli, 1968) and Mere Yaar Bana Hai Dulha (Chaudhvin Ka Chand, 1960) became enduring staples of Indian wedding celebrations. Ravi played a crucial role in shaping the careers of several celebrated singers. His compositions significantly enhanced the stature of Asha Bhosle through unforgettable songs including Tora Man Darpan Kehlaye (1965), Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu (1965) and Sun Le Pukar Aayi (1965). He was equally instrumental in establishing Mahendra Kapoor as a major playback voice in Hindi cinema. Following a lengthy hiatus, Ravi returned to prominence in 1982 with Nikaah (1982), its poignant ghazal Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Beh Gaye earned singer Salma Agha the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. His second innings flourished in Malayalam cinema after filmmaker Hariharan persuaded him to compose for Panchagni (1986). The success of songs such as Saagarangale (1986) and Aa Raathri Manju Poyi (1986) established Bombay Ravi as a major creative force in Kerala. His collaborations on Nakhakshathangal (1986), Vaishali (1988), Sargam (1992), Parinayam (1994) and Sukrutham (1994) earned both critical and commercial acclaim, while several songs from these films won National Awards for their singers. Among Ravi's most celebrated professional partnerships was his long association with the Chopra banner and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. Together they created unforgettable musical landmarks in films such as Waqt (1965), Hamraaz (1967), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Dhund (1973), Nikaah (1982) and Dehleez (1986). His remarkable contributions were recognised with the Padma Shri in 1971, the National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1994, multiple Kerala State Film Awards, and the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam in 1994. Ravi passed away in Mumbai on 7 March 2012 at the age of 86, leaving behind a musical legacy defined by elegance, emotional depth and timeless appeal.
Ravi Shankar Sharma (3 March 1926 – 7 March 2012) is celebrated across generations simply as Ravi, and he remains one of Indian cinema's most distinguished music composers. His melodic sensibilities enriched both Hindi and Malayalam cinema, producing an enduring body of work that continues to resonate with audience decades after its creation. After dominating the Hindi film music landscape through the 1950s and 1960s, Ravi stepped away from the industry before returning triumphantly to the South Indian film world in the 1980s under the name Bombay Ravi. Born in Delhi on 3 March 1926, Ravi rose from humble beginnings to become one of Indian cinema's most celebrated composers, his success forged through determination and relentless hard work. Though he received no formal training in classical music, he developed a deep understanding of melody by listening to his father sing devotional bhajans. A pivotal moment came in 1947 when he met legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi during the Independence Day celebrations at Delhi's Coronation Hotel. Expressing his ambition to become a music director, Ravi was encouraged by Rafi to first master music and notation. Determined to succeed, he taught himself the harmonium and other instruments while supporting his family through his job as an electrician with the Post and Telegraph Department. In 1950, Ravi moved to Bombay with dreams of a career in cinema. His early years were marked by hardship; he spent nights sleeping on Malad railway station platforms and later lived in a modest tin-roofed dwelling before finding his footing in the industry. His breakthrough arrived in 1952 when composer Hemant Kumar discovered him and engaged him as a backing vocalist for Vande Mataram in Anand Math (1952). Ravi's command of Urdu also proved valuable to Hemant Kumar, fostering a productive professional relationship. Over the following decades, Ravi emerged as one of Hindi cinema's most accomplished composers. His scores for Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Do Badan (1966), Hamraaz (1967), Aankhen (1968) and Nikaah (1982) earned widespread acclaim and multiple Filmfare nominations. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for Gharana (1961) and Khandan (1965). Other memorable soundtracks included Waqt (1965), Gumraah (1963) and Neel Kamal (1968). Songs such as Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (1977), Babul Ki Duayen Leti Ja (NeelKamal, 1968), Doli Chadh Ke Dulhan Sasural Chali (Doli, 1968) and Mere Yaar Bana Hai Dulha (Chaudhvin Ka Chand, 1960) became enduring staples of Indian wedding celebrations. Ravi played a crucial role in shaping the careers of several celebrated singers. His compositions significantly enhanced the stature of Asha Bhosle through unforgettable songs including Tora Man Darpan Kehlaye (1965), Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu (1965) and Sun Le Pukar Aayi (1965). He was equally instrumental in establishing Mahendra Kapoor as a major playback voice in Hindi cinema. Following a lengthy hiatus, Ravi returned to prominence in 1982 with Nikaah (1982), its poignant ghazal Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Beh Gaye earned singer Salma Agha the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. His second innings flourished in Malayalam cinema after filmmaker Hariharan persuaded him to compose for Panchagni (1986). The success of songs such as Saagarangale (1986) and Aa Raathri Manju Poyi (1986) established Bombay Ravi as a major creative force in Kerala. His collaborations on Nakhakshathangal (1986), Vaishali (1988), Sargam (1992), Parinayam (1994) and Sukrutham (1994) earned both critical and commercial acclaim, while several songs from these films won National Awards for their singers. Among Ravi's most celebrated professional partnerships was his long association with the Chopra banner and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. Together they created unforgettable musical landmarks in films such as Waqt (1965), Hamraaz (1967), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Dhund (1973), Nikaah (1982) and Dehleez (1986). His remarkable contributions were recognised with the Padma Shri in 1971, the National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1994, multiple Kerala State Film Awards, and the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam in 1994. Ravi passed away in Mumbai on 7 March 2012 at the age of 86, leaving behind a musical legacy defined by elegance, emotional depth and timeless appeal.
Ravi Shankar Sharma (3 March 1926 – 7 March 2012) is celebrated across generations simply as Ravi, and he remains one of Indian cinema's most distinguished music composers. His melodic sensibilities enriched both Hindi and Malayalam cinema, producing an enduring body of work that continues to resonate with audience decades after its creation. After dominating the Hindi film music landscape through the 1950s and 1960s, Ravi stepped away from the industry before returning triumphantly to the South Indian film world in the 1980s under the name Bombay Ravi.
Born in Delhi on 3 March 1926, Ravi rose from humble beginnings to become one of Indian cinema's most celebrated composers, his success forged through determination and relentless hard work. Though he received no formal training in classical music, he developed a deep understanding of melody by listening to his father sing devotional bhajans. A pivotal moment came in 1947 when he met legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi during the Independence Day celebrations at Delhi's Coronation Hotel. Expressing his ambition to become a music director, Ravi was encouraged by Rafi to first master music and notation. Determined to succeed, he taught himself the harmonium and other instruments while supporting his family through his job as an electrician with the Post and Telegraph Department.
In 1950, Ravi moved to Bombay with dreams of a career in cinema. His early years were marked by hardship; he spent nights sleeping on Malad railway station platforms and later lived in a modest tin-roofed dwelling before finding his footing in the industry. His breakthrough arrived in 1952 when composer Hemant Kumar discovered him and engaged him as a backing vocalist for Vande Mataram in Anand Math (1952). Ravi's command of Urdu also proved valuable to Hemant Kumar, fostering a productive professional relationship.
Over the following decades, Ravi emerged as one of Hindi cinema's most accomplished composers. His scores for Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Do Badan (1966), Hamraaz (1967), Aankhen (1968) and Nikaah (1982) earned widespread acclaim and multiple Filmfare nominations. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for Gharana (1961) and Khandan (1965). Other memorable soundtracks included Waqt (1965), Gumraah (1963) and Neel Kamal (1968). Songs such as Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (1977), Babul Ki Duayen Leti Ja (NeelKamal, 1968), Doli Chadh Ke Dulhan Sasural Chali (Doli, 1968) and Mere Yaar Bana Hai Dulha (Chaudhvin Ka Chand, 1960) became enduring staples of Indian wedding celebrations.
Ravi played a crucial role in shaping the careers of several celebrated singers. His compositions significantly enhanced the stature of Asha Bhosle through unforgettable songs including Tora Man Darpan Kehlaye (1965), Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu (1965) and Sun Le Pukar Aayi (1965). He was equally instrumental in establishing Mahendra Kapoor as a major playback voice in Hindi cinema.
Following a lengthy hiatus, Ravi returned to prominence in 1982 with Nikaah (1982), its poignant ghazal Dil Ke Armaan Aansuon Mein Beh Gaye earned singer Salma Agha the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. His second innings flourished in Malayalam cinema after filmmaker Hariharan persuaded him to compose for Panchagni (1986). The success of songs such as Saagarangale (1986) and Aa Raathri Manju Poyi (1986) established Bombay Ravi as a major creative force in Kerala. His collaborations on Nakhakshathangal (1986), Vaishali (1988), Sargam (1992), Parinayam (1994) and Sukrutham (1994) earned both critical and commercial acclaim, while several songs from these films won National Awards for their singers.
Among Ravi's most celebrated professional partnerships was his long association with the Chopra banner and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. Together they created unforgettable musical landmarks in films such as Waqt (1965), Hamraaz (1967), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Dhund (1973), Nikaah (1982) and Dehleez (1986).
His remarkable contributions were recognised with the Padma Shri in 1971, the National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1994, multiple Kerala State Film Awards, and the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam in 1994. Ravi passed away in Mumbai on 7 March 2012 at the age of 86, leaving behind a musical legacy defined by elegance, emotional depth and timeless appeal.
Introduction
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