Ravi

RAVI

Ravi Shankar Sharma (3 March 1926 - 7 March 2012), often referred mononymously as Ravi, was an Indian music director, who had composed music for several Hindi and Malayalam films. After a successful career in Hindi cinema he took a break from the 1970s to 1984 and made a successful come back in the Malayalam music scene under the stage name Bombay Ravi.
EARLY LIFE: 
Ravi was born in Delhi on 3 March 1926. Born in a humble family, he is a fine exemplar of how passion and talent can overcome all obstacles. He had no formal training in classical music; instead he learned music by listening to his father sing bhajans. His father had profound knowledge of classical bhajans. He taught himself to play harmonium and other classical instruments and worked as an electrician to support his family. After much struggle, in 1950 he decided to shift to Bombay aspiring to become a professional singer. In his initial days in the city, At Ravi was homeless, and was forced to live on the streets and would sleep at Malad Railway Station at night.
CAREER:
It was only in 1952 that Ravi was discovered by Hemant Kumar who gave him the opportunity to sing backing vocals in Vande Mataram from the film Anand Math (1952).

However, he didn’t witness real success until 1960. He received popular award nominations for films like Chaudvin ka Chand (1960), Do Badan (1966), Humraaz (1967), Aankhen (1968) and Nikaah (1982). He won Filmfare Awards for Gharana (1961) and Khandan (1965). His other successful films include Waqt, Neel Kamal and Gumraah. His songs Aaj mere yaar ki Shaadi hai, Babul ki Duayaen leti jaa, Doli chadh ke Dulhan sasural chali and Mere Yaar Bana hai Dulha became very popular in wedding celebrations.

Ravi was one of the music directors who shaped the career of Asha Bhosle with songs like Tora man darpan , Aage bhi jaane na tu and Sun le Pukar aai. He was also instrumental in making Mahendra Kapoor a popular singer in Bollywood. After a successful career in Hindi films during 1950s and 1960s, he took a long break after 1970 till 1982. In 1982, he gave music for Hindi Film Nikaah, and one of the film’s songs Dil Ke armaan aansoovon main beh gaye sung by Salma Agha won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award.

In 1980, he made a comeback as a music director in Malayalam (and some Hindi) films as Bombay Ravi and won several awards.

Ravi has composed for many films produced by South Indian banners : Ghoonghat, Gharana, Grihasti, Aurat, Samaj Ko Badal Dalo (Gemini),Meherban, Do Kaliyan (AVM), Bharosa, Khandan (Vasu Films).

From Gumrah he continuously worked with Sahir Ludhianvi, the Lyricist. Waqt, Humraaz, Admi aur Insan , Dhund,, were among all-time hit films. He was very comfortable with Sahir and gave beautiful tunes to his poetry also for Aaj aur kal, Kajal, Ankhein, Neel Kamal, Do Kaliyan, Amanat,Ganga Teri Paani Amrit and Ek Mahal ho Sapnon ka.

PERSONAL LIFE:
Ravi’s wife Kanti, whom he married in 1946, died in 1986.He had two daughters Veena and Chhaya and a son Ajay. His estranged son Ajay is married to Varsha Usgaonkar who is a Marathi and Hindi film actress.
Ravi died on 7 March 2012 in Mumbai at the age of 86.

AWARDS:          
National Film Award for Best Music Direction (1995), Parinayanam, Sukrutam
Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director (1986, 1992), Nakhakshathangal, Sargam
Kerala State film award for Best Background Music (1993), Ghazal
Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Malayalam for Parinayam (1994)
Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, (1962, 1966), Gharana, Khandan
Sanskrit Kalashree Award (2006-07), Chennai, Tamil Nadu

FILMOGRAPHY:
Ravi has composed music for nearly 90 Hindi films, about 15 Malayalam films (as Bombay Ravi) and one Non-movie audio album (Malayalam).

RAVI'S SONGS:
Music Director Ravi Songs - Part 1

(Songs from movies Vachan (1955), Albeli (1955); Ek Saal (1957); and Dilli Ka Thudf (1958) ).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2hQ6nGCRh8W0XNJ0b87ZUrJJa44D7q2

Music Director Ravi Songs - Part 2
(Songs from movies Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959); Nai Rahen (1959); Apna Ghar (1960) and Choudvin ka Chand (1960) ).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2hQ6nGCRh-FzjE-vYjqRhccsFso46DM

Music Director Ravi Songs - Part 3
(Songs from movies Ghunghat (1960); Tu Nahi Aur Sahi (1960); Modern Girl (1961); Gharana (1961); and Nazrana (1961) ).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2hQ6nGCRh-Kq_ZPbECKoBe9pb7UkOOT

Music Director Ravi Songs - Part 4
(Songs from movies Pyar Ka Sagar (1961); China Town (1962); Tower House (1962); and Aaj Aur Kal (1963) ).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2hQ6nGCRh8-g3Vj-06nY-wpMTKZoNk_

Music Director Ravi Songs - Part 5
(Songs from movies Gehra Daag (1963); Gumrah (1963); Ustadon Ke Ustad (1963); Yeh Raaste Hai Pyar Ke (1963) and Bharosa (1963) ).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2hQ6nGCRh_JAB4ynomwswLtP3MLxieB

Music Director Ravi Songs - Part 6
( Songs from Grihasti (1963); Door Ki Awaz (1964); Shehnai (1964); Kajal (1965); Khandaan (1965) and Do Badan (1966) ).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2hQ6nGCRh-jZfUnZZNjdMCJb8gfg8y5

Music Director Ravi Songs - Part 7
(Songs from movies Waqt (1965); Hamraaz (1967); and Neel Kamal (1968) ).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2hQ6nGCRh-_citWTsO00E0VMjmz_srg

Music Director Ravi Songs - Part 8
(Songs from movies Ek Phool Do Mali (1969); Dhund (1973) and Nikaah (1982). )
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2hQ6nGCRh_jEoyUI8Xd3siyEV2pe7dJ