Ravi (composer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ravi
Background information
Birth name	Ravi Shankar Sharma
Born	(1926-03-03)3 March 1926 Delhi, India
Died	7 March 2012(2012-03-07) (aged 86) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation(s)	Film music director
Years active	1955–2005

Ravi Shankar Sharma (born March 3, 1926 – died March 7, 2012), often known simply as Ravi, was a famous Indian music director. He created music for many Hindi and Malayalam films.

After a very successful time in Hindi movies, he took a break in the 1970s. He then made a great comeback in 1982 in the Malayalam music world. For this, he used the name Bombay Ravi.

Who Was Ravi Shankar Sharma?

Ravi was born in Delhi, India, on March 3, 1926. He didn't have any formal lessons in classical music. Instead, he learned music by listening to his father sing bhajans (religious songs).

In 1947, he wanted to meet the famous singer Mohammed Rafi. Rafi was singing at an Independence Day event in Delhi. Ravi told Rafi that he dreamed of becoming a music director. According to Ravi, Mohammed Rafi told him to first learn music and how to write it down.

Ravi taught himself to play the harmonium and other classical instruments. He worked as an electrician to help support his family. In 1950, he decided to move to Bombay (now Mumbai). He wanted to become a professional singer there.

At first, Ravi had a tough time. He was homeless and slept on the streets. He even slept at the Malad railway station at night. Later, he lived in a small tin house. But he kept working hard and eventually became very successful.

How Ravi Started His Music Career

In 1952, the famous musician Hemant Kumar discovered Ravi. Hemant Kumar hired Ravi to sing backing vocals. This was for the song Vande Mataram from the film Anand Math (1952). Hemant Kumar wasn't very good at Urdu language, so Ravi often helped him.

Ravi went on to create many hit songs. He was nominated for Filmfare Awards for his work on films like Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Do Badan (1966), Hamraaz (1967), Ankhen (1968), and Nikaah (1982). He won Filmfare awards for Gharana (1961) and Khandan (1965).

Some of his other popular films include Waqt, Neel Kamal, and Gumraah. Many of his songs became very popular for wedding celebrations. These include Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai and Babul ki duyaen leti ja.

Ravi helped shape the careers of many singers. He worked with Asha Bhosle on songs like Tora man darpan kehlaye. He also helped Mahendra Kapoor become a popular singer in Bollywood.

After a very successful time in Hindi films during the 1950s and 1960s, he took a long break. He returned in 1982 to compose music for the Hindi film Nikaah. One song from this film, Dil ke armaan aansooyon main beh gaye, was sung by Salma Agha. She won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for it.

Ravi's Comeback as Bombay Ravi

In the 1980s, Ravi made a big comeback. He started composing music for Malayalam films. He was known as Bombay Ravi during this time. In 1986, the Malayalam director Hariharan convinced him to return to music.

His first Malayalam movie was Panchagni. The songs Saagarangale and Aa raatri maanju poyi were big hits. That same year, Hariharan's film Nakhakshathangal was released. The singer Chitra won her second National Award for the song Manjalprasaadavum from this film.

All the songs from the Malayalam movie Vaisali, released in 1989, were super hits. Chitra won her third National Award for the song Indupushpam Choodi Nilkum from this film. Ravi often worked with Hariharan. Their partnership is considered one of the best in Malayalam cinema.

Ravi also composed music for many films made by South Indian production companies. He worked with the Chopra brothers on films like Gumrah, Waqt, and Hamraaz. He often worked with the lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. Ravi felt very comfortable with Sahir and created beautiful tunes for his poems.

Ravi's Family Life

Ravi married his wife, Kanti, in 1946. She passed away in 1986. He had two daughters, Veena and Chhaya, and a son, Ajay. His son Ajay is married to Varsha Usgaonkar, who is a Marathi and Hindi film actress. One of his daughters lived with him and took care of him after his wife's death.

Ravi passed away on March 7, 2012, in Mumbai. He was 86 years old.

Awards and Recognitions

Ravi received many important awards for his music:

• Padma Shri Award from the Government of India in 1971. This is a very high civilian honor.
• National Film Award for Best Music Direction (1994) for the films Parinayam and Sukrutham.
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director (1986, 1992) for Nakhakshathangal and Sargam.
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Background Music (1993) for Ghazal.
• Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam for Parinayam in 1994.
• Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (1962, 1966) for Gharana (1961) and Khandan (1965).
• Sanskriti Kalashree Award (2006–07) from Chennai.

Films with Ravi's Music

Ravi created many popular songs for films in different languages. His music even inspired other music directors later on. For example, the beginning of his song "Chanda Mama Door Ke" inspired the hit song "Ek Do Teen" from the 1988 film Tezaab. Ravi once said that when he chose written poems to compose, both the writer and the composer had complete freedom.

Telugu Films

• Sarigamalu (1994)

Punjabi Films

• Sajjan Thug (1981)
• Sassi Punnu (1983)

Hindi Films

• Vachan (1955)
• Albeli (1955)
• Inspector (1956) (as music assistant)
• Ek Saal (1957)
• Narsi Bhagat (1957)
• Dilli Ka Thug (1958)
• Dulhan (1958)
• Ghar Sansar (1958)
• Mehndi (1958)
• Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959)
• Jawani Ki Hawa (1959)
• Nai Raahen (1959)
• Apna Ghar (1960)
• Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960)
• Ghunghat (1960)
• Tu Nahin Aur Sahi (1960)
• Modern Girl (1961)
• Gharana (1961)
• Nazrana (1961)
• Pyaar Ka Saagar (1961)
• Wanted (1961)
• Salaam Memsaheb (1961)
• China Town (1962)
• Baaje Ghungroo (1962)
• Rakhi (1962)
• Tower House (1962)
• Girls' Hostel (1962)
• Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai (1962)
• Bombay Ka Chor (1962)
• Aaj Aur Kal (1963)
• Gehra Daag (1963)
• Gumrah (1963)
• Pyar Ka Bandhan (1963)
• Nartaki (1963)
• Ustadon Ke Ustaad (1963)
• Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke (1963)
• Bharosa (1963)
• Mulzim (1963)
• Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963)
• Grahasti (1963)
• Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya (1963)
• Door Ki Awaz (1964)
• Shehnai (1964)
• Kaajal (1965)
• Khandan (1965)
• Waqt (1965)
• Bahu Beti (1965)
• Do Badan (1966)
• Dus Lakh (1966)
• Phool Aur Patthar (1966)
• Sagaai (1966)
• Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai (1966)
• Aurat (1967)
• Hamraaz (1967)
• Mehrban (1967)
• Nai Roshni (1967)
• Aankhen (1968)
• Do Kaliyan (1968)
• Gauri (1968)
• Man Ka Meet (1968)
• Neel Kamal (1968)
• Paisa Ya Pyaar (1969)
• Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969)
• Anmol Moti (1969)
• Badi Didi (1969)
• Doli (1969)
• Ek Phool Do Mali (1969)
• Samaj Ko Badal Dalo (1970)
• Chingari (1971)
• Babul Ki Galiyaan (1972)
• Dharkan (1972)
• Naag Panchami (1972)
• Dhund (1973)
• Mehmaan (1973)
• Sone Ke Hath (1973)
• Ghatana (1974)
• Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka (1975)
• Vandana (1975)
• Amaanat (1977)
• Aadmi Sadak Ka (1977)
• Premika (1980)
• Nikaah (1982)
• Aaj Ki Awaz (1984)
• Mujhe Shaktee Do (1984)
• Hum Do Hamaare Do (1984)
• Tawaif (1985)
• Khamosh Nigahen (1986)
• Dahleez (1986)
• Awam (1987)
• Ghar Ka Sukh (1987)
• Meraa Suhaag (1987)
• Ek Alag Mausam (2003)

Malayalam Films (as Bombay Ravi and Ravi Bombay)

• Panchagni (1986)
• Nakhakshathangal (1986)
• Vaishali (1988)
• Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989)
• Vidhyarambham (1990)
• Sargam (1992)
• Ghazal (1993)
• Patheyam (1993)
• Parinayam (1994)
• Sukrutham (1994)
• Kalivaakku (not released) (1996)
• Five Star Hospital (1997)
• Manassil Oru Manjuthulli (2000)
• Mayookham (2005)

Non-movie Audio Album (Malayalam)

• Aavani Kanavukal (1997)