MUMBAI: The 1950’s to 70’s legendary music composer Madan Mohan’s composition ‘ Lag Ja Gale’ received its first award at Big FM’s ‘Hit Thhe Hit Rahenge’, one of the best songs in the golden era. It is indeed a happy and sad moment for all the Madan Mohan fans as the music composer’s track received an award, but unfortunately, it comes across only post his demise.
The award was received by his son Sanjeev Kohli on Monday. In a heart-to-heart conversation with Radioandmusic.com, Kohli shared his feelings on having received the award on behalf of his late father, Madan Mohan.
“It is sad to see that my father did not receive any awards in his life when he actually deserved. I am glad to have received this award on his behalf today. It has been 42 years since, he passed away and in the meantime, his work has received awards, but sadly he is not here to receive them,” said Kohli.
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Kohli who happens to be music composer himself has some very sweet memories of his father to share. He was three years old when he started visiting recording studios with his father. “I remember visiting studios with my father for recording songs. It was wonderful watching a team of 100 musicians and singers working together. But, I being my mischievous self would constantly keep up to something at the studio. There are many recording tapes of my father that still have my giggle in the background,” smiled Kohli.
The music producer, who works at Yash Raj Films, has treasured all his father’s tunes and music as his memory. It was this remarkable wealth of music that helped Kohli, create music of ‘Veer Zaara’ in 2004. “Yash Raj Sir wanted a retro musical feel in the movie. This is when I approached him with my father’s tunes and the music of ‘Veer Zaara’ was created. It turned out to be a successful musical film,” stated Kohli.
Kohli has been constantly trying to keep his father, Madan Mohan alive through his music and other attempts. The music composer runs a website — www.madanmohan.in – in memory of his father. Apart from this Kohli also has a Facebook page for Madan Mohan. He keeps posting his father’s pictures and music on this page for Mohan’s fans.
Kohli’s love for his father does not end at this, two years ago on Madan Mohan’s 40th death anniversary, Kohli made a short film ‘A Journey Through His Timeless Music’. He makes it a point to hold a special screening of this movie every year on Mohan’s death anniversary for the music industry.
“I feel my father deserves the amount of energy that I put in. Actually, every son should do this for his father and keep him alive. Social media is giving an amazing response. It is good to see that he is still in the hearts of people,” ends Kohli.
