Lataji called Madan Mohan Emperor of Ghazals and admittedly she has said he made her sing the most complex, difficult songs in her carrer and all the masterpieces they created have set a very very high standard for the Ghazals in films. Madan Mohan saab had the extraordinary capacity to take a raga as a base but completely transforming it in to something beautiful, melodious compositions.

He has given us so many masterpieces and it is very difficult to pick just one album, but I have taken up this album as it has many classic songs of his like Aap Kyon Roye - Film - Woh Kaun Thi? , Woh Bhooli Dastan - Film - Sanjog, Agar Mujh Se Mohabbat Hai - Film - Aap Ki Parchhaiyan, Kabhi Na Kabhi - Film - Sharabi, Mera Saaya Saath Hoga - Film - Mera Saaya and Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha - Film - Anpadh. What can I say about these songs - they are timeless gems which you can listen again and again and never tire. Madan Mohan saab was essentially a composer for the classes and  that is why he had problems consistently equating with the masses. Although hailing from Punjab, he was totally different from the Punjab school of composers and his songs had a uniqueness which no other composer could achieve.

Really Madan Mohan saab was the artistic aristocrat at work. S D Burman paid a rich tribute to him when he said "I could not have scored Heer Ranjha with half the felicity Madan Mohan did."

So apart from the above mentioned albums, you must complete his collection by obtaining the following LPs: Veer Zaara, Mausam, Hanste Zakhm, Heer Ranjha, Dastak, Chirag, Ghazal, Pooja Ke Phool, Jahan Ara.

We are blessed to have had the opportunity to listen to such high caliber of music!

Reviewed by Pilak Bhatt

Pilak Bhatt is a 54 year old Mumbai resident who is still keeping the turntable spinning.  Bhatt is one of many avid LP record collectors in the country and also around the world who has a passion for music and collecting LP records. Bhatt has a collection of almost 1 lac LP records. He buys and sells LPs, advises on turntables and has his own Music Circle shop at Kandivili, Mumbai that stocks loads of LPs.  He can be contacted on 9820365979