By Jagmohan Singh Barhok

तुम तो ना कहो हम, खुद ही से खेले
डूबे नहीं हम ही यूँ, नशे में अकेले

शीशे में आपको भी उतारे चले गये
हम बेखुदी में तुमको पुकारे चले गये
सागर में ज़िन्दगी को उतारे चले गये

Raj Khosla got recognition with his crime thriller “C.I.D.”(1956) starring Dev Anand, playing a police officer investigating a murder mystery, with Shakila, Kumkum, Minoo Mumtaz, K. N. Singh & Waheeda Rehman. It was Waheeda’s debut film produced by Guru Dutt with music score by O. P. Nayyar . Noted directors Pramod Chakravorty and Bhappi Sonie started as assistant directors with this film .The film had many hit numbers like “Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar” (Shamshad Begum-Asha Bhosle),”Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re” (Shamshad Begum ) & “Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein” (Geeta Dutt-Rafi) to mention some.

The success of his many later films like- “Bombay Ka Babu” (1960) with a song “Chal Ri Sajni Ab Kya Soche”, “Do Badan” (1966) “Jab Chali Thandi Hawa” & ” Maar Diya Jaaye Yaa Chod Diya Jaaye” from film “Mera Gaon Mera Desh” ( 1971) made him rub shoulders with the top directors. People began comparing him with the legendary Guru Dutt under whose baton he started his career as an assistant director.

Surprisingly, Khosla directed many suspense thrillers & romantic movies like- ”Woh Kaun Thi”, Mera Saaya”, “Anita”, “Ek Musafir Ek Hasina”, “Do Badan”, ” Do Raaste” & Dostana, he won Filmfare Award for “Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki” in 1979.

ज़िंदगी की दास्तां, चाहे कितनी हो हंसीं
बिन तुम्हारे कुछ नहीं, बिन तुम्हारे कुछ नहीं
क्या मज़ा आता सनम, आज भूलेसे कहीं
तुम भी आजाते यहीं, तुम भी आजाते यहीं
ये बहारें ये फ़िज़ा, देखकर ओ दिलरुबा
जाने क्या दिल को हुआ, तुम याद आये
जब चली

Died 9 June 1991.