By Jagmohan Singh Barhok

तेरी अदा का तो जवाब नहीं
मेरी वफ़ा का भी हिसाब नहीं
सूरत तुम्हारी बड़ी खूब सही
दिल तो हमारा भी ख़राब नहीं
बेवफा एक निगाह देख ले देख भी ले
तेरी निगाहों पे मर मर गए हम
बांकी अदाओं पे मर मर गए हम
क्या करें क्या करें क्या करें

Usha Khanna, who ruled the roost as a Lady Music Director, needs no introduction. She started her career with “Dil Deke Dekho”( 1959), a musical film directed by Nasir Hussain and produced by Sasadhar Mukherjee starring Asha Parekh & Shammi Kapoor .The music played an important role in film’s success with many hit songs like “Bade Hai Dil Ke Kaale Ye’, ‘Bolo Bolo Kuch To Bolo’, ‘Hum Aur Tum Aur Yeh Sama.( Asha-Rafi duets) and ‘Dil Deke Dekho’ theme song in the voice of Rafi to mention. Interestingly, it was also Asha Parekh’s debut movie.

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Sashadhar Mukherjee repeated her in his next film ‘Hum Hindustani’ (1960) starring Sunil Dutt, Asha Parekh and his son Joy Mukherjee.It was actor Sanjeev Kumar’s debut film with hit numbers “Neeli Neeli Ghata, O Bhigi Bhigi Hava” – Mukesh, Asha Bhosle and “Chodo kal Ki Baatein, Kal Ki Baat Puraani” – Mukesh, making it another musical hit. She made hat-trick with Mukherjee’s “Aao Pyaar karen” directed by R. K. Nayyar ( 1964).The film featured Joy, Saira Sanjeeve and Helen. Two of the film’s songs ” Aye jhuki jhuki jhuki nigahen teri”- Rafi and “Tum Akele to Kabhi Bagh Main Jaya Na karo” Rafi-Lata Mangeshkar became super hit.

Usha Khanna was now an established composer with so many hits to her credits. In 1964 she scored music for “Shabnam” produced & directed by Aspi Irani starring Mahmood & L.Vijayalaxmi (South).One of the film’s songs “Teri Nigahon Pe Mar Mar Gaye Hum “turned out to be a super hit and continues to enthrall the music-lovers and also one of my favourites. The story centers round a masked man who attempts to replace the regions’ queen with a look-alike. Aspi Irani repeated her in “Nishaan”( 1965) produced by Homi Wadia. One of the songs “Haye Tabassum Tera” by Rafi was a superhit.it starred Sanjeeve, Nazima, Prem Chopra & Shammi.

Her other memorable contributions include the likes of-“Door Kahin Door Hume Le Chalo Sanam”, “Uthao jaam chalo dono sath sath piye” & “Hum Tumse Juda Hoke Mar Jyenge Ro Ro Ke” ( all songs “Ek Sapera Ek Lootera” 1965),”Tu Is Tarah Se Meri Zindagi Me Shaamil Hai” “Aap To Aise Na The” (1980) rendered separately by Rafi,Hemlata and Manhar Udhas. “Shayad Meri Shaadi Ka Khayal” Kishore -Lata and “ZindagiPyar Ka Geet Hai”,a solo number in the voice of Lata & Kishore from film “Souten” ( 1983).It was one of Rajesh Khanna’s favourites. “Dil Ke Tukde Tukde Kar ke Muskra Ke Chal Diye” sung by Yesydass ( 1979)and “Teri Galiyon Mein Na Rakhenge Kadam” film “Hawas” (1974)produced and directed by her husband Sawan Kumar Tak ,for a brief period,who penned most songs composed be her .

It was O.P.Nayyar who introduced her to Sashadhar Mukherjee,on salary- basis , who later allowed her to work independantly.Though she suffered hardships,she eventually carved a niche for herself by virtue of her good behaviour and perseverence.The bitter realities made her do good for others.No wonder,she later helped many young singers rise to name and fame like Anupama Deshpande, Pankaj Udhas, Hemlata, Mohammed Aziz, Roop Kumar Rathod, Shabbir Kumar, and Sonu Nigam. Usha Khanna herself also sang a few songs as a playback singer.

“Dil Pardesi Ho Gayaa “(My Heart Became a Stranger) was perhaps the last movie she composed music for in 2003 directed by Saawan Kumar Tak. I met the lady composer in Bombay in 1988 and Sawan Kumar Tak many times. Her interview was first published in Patriot, published from Delhi in 1989. Bestowed upon Mirchi Music Lifetime Achievement Award & National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction.

Born this day in 1941 at Gwalior to Manohar Khanna.