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Glimpses from the work of Vanraj Bhatia, the Iconic Music Composer from India’s New Wave Cinema

by Harsh Kapoor, 7 May 2021

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Vanraj Bhatia Photo by Zubin Balaporia 2015 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vanraj Bhatia was an Indian composer of music for concerts, film, television, theater, opera, and commercial jingles. He was born in 1927 and grew up in Bombay; He had a unique musical style given his training in both Western and North Indian classical music. He passed away on May 6, 2021.

He had trained at the Royal Academic of Music in London in the early 1950s and then for a five year period (1954-58) at the Conservatoire de Music in Paris under the much acclaimed Nadia Boulanger

Divertimento Pastoral - [Dedicated to Nadia Boulander] - Music Score by Vanraj Bhatia 1957

Vanraj Bhatia made a name for himself as a music composer for the new wave Indian cinema of the early 1970s. He had a long collaboration with Indian film director Shyam Benegal starting in 1974 and did the music for practically all his films. He also did work for many other film directors Govind Nihalani, Aparna Sen, Kumar Shahani, Syed Akhtar Mirza, Kundan Shah among others

he also did music for Theatre best known being:

  • Teen Takke Ka Swang (1970), directed by Ebrahim Alkazi and Fritz Bennewitz
  • A Man’s a Man (1971), directed by Amal Allana
  • The Caucasian Chalk Circle (1972), directed by Ebrahim Alkazi and Fritz Bennewitz
  • Nisheeth (1972), directed by Shanta Gandhi
  • Tughlaq (1972), directed by Ebrahim Alkazi
  • Andha Yug (1974), directed by Ebrahim Alkazi
  • Son-et-Lumiere: The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (1976), directed by Ebrahim Alkazi
  • Aurat Bhali Ramkali (1984), directed by Amal Allana
  • Othello (1991), directed by Alyque Padamsee
  • Cyrano de Bergerac (1995), directed by Jatinder Verma

posted below are selected music clips from his work in Indian Cinema.

’Mero Gaam Katha Parey’ Singer: Preeti Sagar, Music: Vanraj Bhatia | Movie: Manthan (1976)

Sawan Ke Din Aaye Sajanwa - Bhumika directed by Shyam Bengal (1977) - Music Composed by Vanraj Bhatia

Come Live With Me And Be My Love (Junoon 1979 - Producer: Shashi Kapoor Composer: Vanraj Bhatia)

Title Music Kalyug by Vanraj Bhatia (1981)

What’s Your Problem and Other Instrumental Music (Kalyug; Vanraj Bhatia; 1981)

Lehra (Instrumental) Composer: Vanraj Bhatia - Mandi Directed by Shyam Bengal (1983)

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro Title Music (1984)

The title track of Tamas (1987).

Six Seasons (1988) by Vanraj Bhatia.
Presented by Soundstreams as part of "Song for Athene" on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W.
Performed by Patricia Rozario (soprano) and Christopher Dawes (piano).
For more information visit: http://soundstreams.ca/Song-for-Athene

The House That Jack Built · Vanraj Bhatia

VANRAJ BHATIA’S SINFONIA CONCERTANTE Trailer

SEE ALSO:

A Conversation with music composer with Vanraj Bhatia https://youtu.be/3aVz5h_2o78