Khemchand Prakash
Encyclopedia
Khemchand Prakash in हिन्दी खेमचन्द प्रकाश ( December 12, 1907- August 10, 1950) was one of the greatest music composers in Hindi film industry. He belongs to Sujangarh, Churu
(Rajasthan
). His father was a dhrupad singer and a kathak
dancer in the royal court and boy Khemchand got his first training of music and dance from his father. In his teens, he joined Bikaner Royal court as a singer performer and later moved to the royal court of Nepal. But the destiny landed him in Kolkata and he joined New Theaters in Kolkata as an assistant of Timir Baran. He was assistant of Timir Baran in Devdas (1935). He made his debut in 1939 with the Supreme Pictures “Meri Aankhein” and was soon signed up by the prestigious Ranjit Film Studio. He had few peers in 1940s, the best decade for Indian film music. Lata Mangeshkar
had fruitful association with him (in films Asha, Ziddi, Mahal) when she started making a name, but Khemchand's early death robbed the industry of a giant.
His initial years had a few more significant films like Pardesi
, Holi
, Fariyaad and Khursheed
was his leading singer and both of them gave a lot of hits of early 40s. But it was in 1943, came a film that pushed Khemchand Prakash much ahead of other music directors of that era and the film was starrer Tansen. Tansen is considered as one of the finest musical films for its music. Diya jalaao jagmag jagmag, Rumjhum rumjhum chal tihari, More balpan ke saathi, sapt suran teen gram, Chanda re ja re ja re, Hath sine pe jo rkh do to karara aa jaaye are musical gems who have not lost shine even after sixty years.
1948 marked yet another significant film of his career, Bombay Talkies
’s Ziddi. He gave first major break to Kishore Kumar
as a singer for the song “Marne ki duaaen kyun maangu”. It is a very famous fact that Lata Mangeshkar
’s voice was initially rejected by the Producer Chandu Lal Shah and Khemchand Prakash challenged his decision and told him that this voice will one day rule the nation and resigned. Ziddi featured a beautiful song of Lata Mangeshkar “Chanda re ja re ja re”.
But what followed Ziddi
was an outstanding an immortal piece of Work in the form of music of Mahal (1949). Mahal
made Lata Mangeshkar a popular name in every corner of the country. Prior to Mahal, the records used to feature the character name as the name of the singer with the song on the record.. so the first lot of records had “Aayega aane wala” credited to Kamini, but the public demanded for revealing the name of the singer and so from Mahal onwards singers started to get credited on the records.
Mahal’s music is a landmark in Hindi Cinema. The haunting melodies and brilliant orchestration set the foundation for the golden period of Hindi film music of 50s. “Ayega aane wala” forms the smallest mukhda of any Hindi film song.With just three words Khemchand ji made a magical composition and also all other songs of Mahal
(Ghabara ke jo hum sar ko, mushkil hai bahut mushkil, dil ne phir yaad kiya) are immortal.
Unfortunately Khemchand Prakash could not survive for long to see the success of Mahal and also shaping up of the golden era of Hindi film music (of 50s) and died on August 10, 1950 at a relatively young age of 42. Mahal, Tansen and Ziddi are just a few samples of what he could be, had he been there for a longer stint.
His fellow composer Kamal Dasgupta called Khemchand the best music director. 'He beat us all'.
Khemchand's brother, Basant Prakash, was also a film composer.
Churu
Churu is a town in the desert region of Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Churu District. It lies in the Thar Desert on the National Highway-65 connecting Pali to Ambala and is a junction station on the railway line to Bikaner...
(Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
). His father was a dhrupad singer and a kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
dancer in the royal court and boy Khemchand got his first training of music and dance from his father. In his teens, he joined Bikaner Royal court as a singer performer and later moved to the royal court of Nepal. But the destiny landed him in Kolkata and he joined New Theaters in Kolkata as an assistant of Timir Baran. He was assistant of Timir Baran in Devdas (1935). He made his debut in 1939 with the Supreme Pictures “Meri Aankhein” and was soon signed up by the prestigious Ranjit Film Studio. He had few peers in 1940s, the best decade for Indian film music. Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
had fruitful association with him (in films Asha, Ziddi, Mahal) when she started making a name, but Khemchand's early death robbed the industry of a giant.
His initial years had a few more significant films like Pardesi
Pardesi
Pardesi is a 1970 Bollywood drama film directed by Kundan Kumar. The film stars Mumtaz.-Cast:*Mumtaz... Myna*Biswajeet ... Pardesi / Ajay*Lata Bose ... Rekha *Brahmachari ... Devdas*Sulochana Chatterjee...
, Holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
, Fariyaad and Khursheed
Khursheed
Khursheed Bano was a pre-partition singer & actress, and a pioneer of the Indian cinema. Her career ran through the 1930s and 1940s.-Early life:...
was his leading singer and both of them gave a lot of hits of early 40s. But it was in 1943, came a film that pushed Khemchand Prakash much ahead of other music directors of that era and the film was starrer Tansen. Tansen is considered as one of the finest musical films for its music. Diya jalaao jagmag jagmag, Rumjhum rumjhum chal tihari, More balpan ke saathi, sapt suran teen gram, Chanda re ja re ja re, Hath sine pe jo rkh do to karara aa jaaye are musical gems who have not lost shine even after sixty years.
1948 marked yet another significant film of his career, Bombay Talkies
Bombay Talkies
The Bombay Talkies Limited was a movie studio produced 102 movies, founded in 1934 in Malad, Bombay , India, by Himanshu Rai, Rajnarayan Dube and Devika Rani along with businessmen like F. E...
’s Ziddi. He gave first major break to Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
as a singer for the song “Marne ki duaaen kyun maangu”. It is a very famous fact that Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
’s voice was initially rejected by the Producer Chandu Lal Shah and Khemchand Prakash challenged his decision and told him that this voice will one day rule the nation and resigned. Ziddi featured a beautiful song of Lata Mangeshkar “Chanda re ja re ja re”.
But what followed Ziddi
Ziddi (1948 film)
Ziddi is a 1948 Hindi film directed by Shaheed Latif. It was based on a story by Ismat Chughtai and launched the career of Dev Anand as the lead hero. The film helped establish its stars Dev Anand, Kamini Kaushal and Pran in Hindi films...
was an outstanding an immortal piece of Work in the form of music of Mahal (1949). Mahal
Mahal (1949 film)
Mahal is a 1949 Indian Hindi film directed by Kamal Amrohi and starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala....
made Lata Mangeshkar a popular name in every corner of the country. Prior to Mahal, the records used to feature the character name as the name of the singer with the song on the record.. so the first lot of records had “Aayega aane wala” credited to Kamini, but the public demanded for revealing the name of the singer and so from Mahal onwards singers started to get credited on the records.
Mahal’s music is a landmark in Hindi Cinema. The haunting melodies and brilliant orchestration set the foundation for the golden period of Hindi film music of 50s. “Ayega aane wala” forms the smallest mukhda of any Hindi film song.With just three words Khemchand ji made a magical composition and also all other songs of Mahal
Mahal (1949 film)
Mahal is a 1949 Indian Hindi film directed by Kamal Amrohi and starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala....
(Ghabara ke jo hum sar ko, mushkil hai bahut mushkil, dil ne phir yaad kiya) are immortal.
Unfortunately Khemchand Prakash could not survive for long to see the success of Mahal and also shaping up of the golden era of Hindi film music (of 50s) and died on August 10, 1950 at a relatively young age of 42. Mahal, Tansen and Ziddi are just a few samples of what he could be, had he been there for a longer stint.
His fellow composer Kamal Dasgupta called Khemchand the best music director. 'He beat us all'.
Khemchand's brother, Basant Prakash, was also a film composer.
Partial filmography as Composer
- 1952 Tamasha
- 1951 Jai Shankar
- 1951 Shri Ganesh Janma
- 1950 Jan Pahchan
- 1950 Sati Narmada
- 1949 Mahal
- 1949 Rimjhim
- 1949 Sawan Aya Re
- 1948 Asha
- 1948 Ziddi
- 1947 Chalte Chalte
- 1947 Gaon
- 1947 Mera Suhaag
- 1947 Samaj Ko Badal Dalo
- 1947 Sindoor
- 1945 Dhanna Bhagat
- 1945 Prabhu Ka Ghar
- 1944 Bhartrahari
- 1944 Mumtaz Mahal
- 1944 Shahenshah Babar
- 1943 Chirag
- 1943 Gauri
- 1943 Kurbani
- 1943 Tansen
- 1942 Chandni
- 1942 Dukh Sukh
- 1942 Fariyaad
- 1942 Khilona
- 1942 Maheman
- 1941 Bambai Ki Sair
- 1941 Pardesi
- 1941 Pyaas
- 1941 Shaadi
- 1940 Aaj Ka Hindustan
- 1940 Diwali
- 1940 Holi
- 1940 Pagal
- 1939 Meri Aankhen
External links
- http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0695166/
- http://members.tripod.com/oldies_club/KCParkash.htm
- http://pib.nic.in/prs/iffi2007/birth.pdf
- http://passionforcinema.com/100-years-ago/