By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Songwriter Dev Kohli who wrote some of the most popular songs in Hindi films breathed his last on 26th August 2023 in Mumbai. Born on November 2, 1942, in Rawalpindi (Now in Pakistan) Kohli spent his childhood in Dehradun & Delhi before he moved to Bombay for pastures new in late 1940s. He wrote songs for many film including hits like -‘Lal Patthar'(1972), ‘Maine Pyaar kiya’ (1989), ‘Baazigar'(1993),”Hum Aapke Hain Kaun”(1994) ‘Kaante’ (2002), ‘Musafir’ (2004), ‘Shootout At Lokhandwala’ (2007), ‘Yaariya’ (2008) ‘Judwa 2’ (2017) & ‘Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman'(1993) to mention few.
One of his earliest hits was “Geet gaata Hoon Main Gungunata Hoon Main” (Lal Patthar) rendered by Kishore Kumar under the music score SJK.It was followed by ‘Aate Jate, Hanste Gate'(film-Hum Aapke Hain Koun-1989) , “Ye Kaali kaali Aankhen Ye Gore Gore Gaal” (Baazigar-1993) featuring Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol , “Didi Tera Devar Divaanaa Haye Ram Kudiyon Ko Dale Dana” & “Pehla Pehla Pyar Hai” (Hum Aapke Hain Kaun- 1994) “Dil Kya Kare” – (film ‘Kaante’-Music Anand Raaj Anand), “Chalti Hai Kya 9 Se 12” (Judwa 2) & “Bholi Bhaali Ladki”(Raju Ban gaya Gentleman).
