Here is a list of my all time favourites:
1) Pankaj Mallik
He brought the soothing Rabindra Sangeet to the rest of India from Bengal. His song Piya Milan ko Jaana still gives me the goosebumps.
2) Master Madan
The youngest Music director, he was just 15 years old when he expired. Yes, I said 15, and that is not a typo! His song Hairat se tak raha hain mujhe can only make one wonder how such a beauty can come from the mind of a child. An absolute genius.
3) S.D.Burman
By and far, one of the pioneers of Hindi Film Music. His contribution to the Indian music scene has been tremendous. May it be films under the Guru Dutt Flagship, Bimal Roy films, or any other. This was a man with the Midas touch. One cannot forget his soul touching music in films like Guide, Pyaasa, Bandini, Aradhana et al. A titan in the industry.
4) C.Ramchandra
Ramchandra Chitalkar started his career with south indian movies and was an immediate hit. His knack of getting the pulse of the people continued when he made his venture in the Hindi Films. A film that he did free of cost for a good friend, went on to become a milestone in Hindi Film Music. We still are mesmerized by that film, ALBELA!
5) Shankar Jaikishan
The audience of the 50s and 60s believed that Film Music is just a synonym for’Shankar Jaikishen’. Giving their best under the RK Banner, this melodious duo sang their way to the top with eternal classics like Awara, Shree 420 and in the last phase of their career, gave the ever melodious Mera Naam Joker.
6) Khaiyyam
When a young, shy lad composed the music for the great Begum Akhtar, the old lady came out of the recording room, and said aloud - ’Ye ladke ne mujhe phir se jawaan bana diya’. That shy boy went on to become a music director par excellence. He was Khaiyyam. Khaiyyam saab’s strength was his simplicity. He made a simple tune.which kept on haunting you forever!
7) Vasant Desai
One of those names that has been forgotten by many people. But the creator has gone.the creations still reign. How can one forget his ever green films like Do Aankhen Barah Haath and Guddi? His song Bole re Papihara was a huge hit. Sadly, this person vanished from the music scene after giving such a big hit. He met his untimely death in the most ghastly fashion when he was crushed between the iron doors of the lift in Akashwani, in Mumbai.
8) R.D.Burman
I can go on forever about this man if you have the time. What a Music Director! He was far far ahead of his times. After having his first film Raaz shelved midway(It was a Guru Dutt film), R.D.BUrman got his first break by Mehmood in the film Chote Nawab, in 1961. But by and far, he arrived with the Nasir Hussain thriller Teesri Manzil. R.D.Burman was the first jolt for the Hindi Film Music which made all see outside the accepted form of music. He introduced the music fans to new sounds, new technology. Sadly, in his own aura of new sounds and technology, he was branded as the experimenter. But I always felt that it was his superb tune, the melody, which was the secret of his success. One can never forget the tunes of Amar Prem, Aandhi, Kinara, Masoom, Ijaazat and 1942-A Love Story. I guess I will wind up here or else the page will be filled with RDB praise. Suffice to say that there never was, there never will be another R.D.Burman.
9) Laxmikant Pyarelal
They reigned the music scene for 35 years, and that too when the music field went through major changes. This long era of survival is enough to show the calibre of this talented duo. They started their journey with Parasmani. But they acquired cult status with the low budget film Dosti. They went on to give many hits like Bobby, Ram Lakhan, Karz etc. and have 450+ movies to their credit. Sadly, Laxmikant Kudalkar expired and that was how the duo broke. But hang on! There is news for the LP fans that Pyarelal Sharma is on his way to make a comeback. We will have to wait and see how the right hand progresses without the left!
10) A.R.Rehman
The latest craze of the nation, this man deserves all praise that he is getting from the music crazy Indian crowd. A master of technology, he is a music wizard. Starting his career as a young keyboard player(he was known as Dilip then!), this young man has come a long way to be acknowledged as the best music director today. What is remarkable about him is the way he uses his rhythms, and the way he records and mixes them to perfection. One can never forget his contributions to the success of films like Roja, Lagaan, Taal et al!
Finally, let me just acknowledge the other greats, who were not less than anyone above. Its just that’10’ is too less a number to cover a music heritage that spans almost three quarters of a century. So to end this lengthy post, I will say that I have also been haunted by the music of people like Salil Chowdhury, Anil Biswas, Hemant Kumar, Husainlal Bhagatram, Madan Mohan, Roshan, Jaidev, Ravi, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Ilaiyaraja, Naushad, Vyas, Ravindra Jain and Bhupen Hazarika. Of the recent clan, apart from A.R.Rehman, I also like the music of Jatin Lalit, Nadeem Shravan and Sandeep Chowta. I guess thats all that come to mind now. I apologise if I have left out someone. Three cheers to MUSIC as a whole!