By Jagmohan Singh Barhok

कदर जाने न
हो कदर जाने न
मोरा बालम बेदरदी जी
मोरा बालम बेदर्दी
कदर जाने न
हो कदर जाने न.

Madan Mohan ranks among the finest music composers of Hindi films. He perceived things in his own way and did the execution with precision nay perfection.

I watched “Railway Platform”, then aged Six at Ferozepur. The film starred Shiela Ramani , Nalini Jaywant & Johny Walker with a few lovely songs- “Basti Basti Parbat Parbat Gata Jaaye Banlara” & “Dekh Tere Bhagwan Ki Halat Kya Ho Gai” The second of his films I watched in Delhi was “Anpadh” starring Dharmendra & Mala Sinha with many soulful numbers like “AapKi Nazron ne Samhha”, “Hai Isi Mein Pyar Ki Aabroo” & “Rang Birangi Rakhi Leke Aayi Behna” to name.

‘Dekh Kabira Roya’, ‘Woh Kaun Thi’ & ‘Mera Saaya’ were his other prominent films I watched as a student. ‘Bhai Bhai’ featuring Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar & Nimmi was was another of his musical hits with songs like ‘Ae Dil Mujhe Bata De To Kispe Aa Gaya Hai’ & ‘Kadar Jane Na Mora Balam Bedardi’ to mention. ‘Veer Zaara’ was released after his death in 2004.

Born Madan Mohan Kohli on June 25, 1924, Madan Mohan died of liver cirrhosis on 14 July 1975. His funeral was largely attended.

किस को सुनाऊँ हाल दिल-ए-बेकरार का
बुझता हुआ चराग़ हूँ अपने मज़ार का
ऐ काश भूल जाऊँ, मगर भूलता नही
किस धूम से उठा था जनाज़ा बहार का