2003 Lata Mangeshkar award winner

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Mumbai (UNI): Legendary music composer, lyricist and playback singer Ravindra Jain who has composed music for over 200 films was awarded the 2003 Lata Mangeshkar award by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil. He has composed music for Raj Kapoor's Heena, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Chor Machaye Shor, Fakira and Ankhiyon Ke Jharoko Se, among others.

Speaking on the occasion yesterday Ravindra Jain said, ''The cash from the award will go to the bank, the trophy will be kept in my house but the love that has been showered on me will stay in my heart. I cannot repay it and I am indebted.'' Mr R R Patil said, ''Sometimes the God also does injustice with his people. He has given eyes to everybody but not to Ravindra Jain, but he has also tried to make up by giving Ravindra Jain a gift so rare that nobody else has it. '' ''When we listen to Ravindra Jain's music we feel our two ears are not enough and when we listen to the current remixes we feel why has God given us two ears,'' he added. He is one artiste who has given us good music in the age of disco, he added.

Speaking of their association which goes back 34 years ago filmmaker Rajkumar Barjatya said, ''Ravindra Jain composed music for my film Saudagar starring Nutan, Amitabh Bachchan and Padma Khanna.'' To date he has worked for 16 films with Rajshri Productions and the 17th film is on the floors. He has also composed music and done playback singing for serials like 'Ramayan', 'Mahabharat' and 'Hanuman'. Currently he was engaged in translating the Quran, Marathi Abhangas and the Vedas. Those who were present on the occasion included Dr Jabbar Patel, music director Shravan of the Nadeem 'Shravan duo, and playback singer Suresh Wadkar.