9 Popular Music Director Jodi’s Who Split After A Successful Association
Posted On: 09 Aug 2021 | Last Updated : 08 Mar 2022 | Views : 4.1k
They say every product in the market with value comes with an expiry date and Bollywood is no exception to this where not just movies but also celebs have an expiry date. In Bollywood, an expiry date is considered when producers or directors stop calling you or sign you up for a movie, when someone replaces you or when you’ve had enough of an association with someone and feel it’s time to move on. Yes, we are talking about music directors who often come in jodi’s or pairs and keep giving hit songs till audiences like them. It’s unfortunate at times when the film flops but the music is appreciated which is heart-breaking for every composer. There have been many successful jodi’s who made a mark for themselves in the film industry but some music composer jodi’s despite getting off to good starts didn’t go the distance and one fine day announced their split by going their respective ways. Though no one knows the real reason behind their separation but creative differences, undue credit, domination, and money issues are some of the reasons often quoted by many. Here we take a glimpse at 8 such popular Bollywood music director duos who split after a successful collaboration.
1. Nadeem – Shravan
If at all there was someone who conquered and dominated Bollywood music in the 90s it has got to be the prolific music duo of Nadeem – Shravan. The pairing of Nadeem Akhtar Saifi and Shravan Kumar Rathod was nothing less than magic who had their photos on movie posters along with the lead actors. They were undoubtedly one of the most popular music directors in Bollywood, who delivered hits after hits including Aashiqui (1990), Saajan (1991), Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Sadak (1991), Deewana (1992), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1992), Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Dilwale (1994), Raja (1995), Barsaat (1995), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Sirf Tum (1999), and Dhadkan (2000). Things took a ‘U-turn’ for the melody makers when music head honcho Gulshan Kumar was killed and Nadeem was accused of involvement before being exonerated. Despite Nadeem shifting base to London and then to Dubai he continued to give music along with Shravan in films like Raaz, Dil Hai Tumhaara, Qayamat, Hungama, Andaaz, Bewafaa, Dosti and Do Knot Disturb. The growing distance between the duo made it difficult to work as they decided to call it quits in 2005 with Dosti: Friends Forever being their last film together. Though Shravan continued giving music under the name of Nadeem – Shravan after separation but Nadeem tried going solo with Ishq Forever in 2015 and Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha in 2017.
2. Jatin – Lalit
Rated among Bollywood’s most popular composer duo of the 90s brothers Jatin Pandit and Lalit Pandit were known for giving chartbuster songs. A filmography that boasts of composing songs for over 70 films, Jatin Pandit before pairing up with younger brother Lalit Pandit had formed a pair with elder brother Mandheer Pandit in the 80s. The pair of Jatin – Mandheer gave music for films like Dil Hi Dil Mein (1982) and Wafaa (1990) which flopped badly. Later, Jatin collaborated with his younger brother Lalit Pandit and scored the music for Yaara Dildara (1991). The film flopped but the songs became chartbusters as they went on to do music for Khiladi, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Khamoshi: The Musical, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Yes Boss, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Sarfarosh, Ghulam, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, etc. Things started becoming sour between them as they decided to quit after appearing one last time for Fanaa (2006). After working for nearly 16 years together, they announced their split which was due to personal problems. Post-separation Lalit met with moderate success by scoring music for films like Showbiz, Dabangg, Besharam, and Dulha Mil Gaya, etc. while Jatin after going solo scored music for films like I Am 24, 9 Eleven, P Se PM Tak, etc.
3. Jeet – Pritam
The pair of music duo Jeet – Pritam that consisted of Jeet Ganguly and Pritam Chakraborty had a fairly good start to their Bollywood careers by getting to score music for Tere Liye (2001), Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), and Mudda: The Issue (2003). Their split came as a surprise to many as a misunderstanding between the two led to their separation in 2003. Both went solo as Pritam got some plum projects to score music for which included Dhoom, Jannat, Gangster, Jab We Met, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Agent Vinod, Barfi, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and Dangal, etc. Pritam currently is rated as one of the top music directors in Bollywood. Jeet too did fairly well for himself after opting out of the collaboration as he delivered chartbuster songs from Aashiqui 2, Youngistaan, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, Rustom, Raaz Reboot, etc.
4. Dilip Sen – Sameer Sen
Renowned music director duo of the 90s Dilip Sen - Sameer Sen split after working together with each other for 15 years. The uncle-nephew pair which had scored music for over 85 films announced their split in 2000 citing personal differences. Dilip Sen, the composer went on record by stating that problems cropped up when both started feeling that each one was working hard than the other and it is a kind of a respectable divorce. The duo who started composing for movies since 1988 debuted in Jagdeep’s Soorma Bhopali. Later their big break came in films like Muqabla (1993), Aaina (1993), Yeh Dillagi (1994), Aag (1994), Haqeeqat (1995), Aflatoon (1997), Itihaas (1997), etc. However, after their split, both continued to compose music for films individually under the name of Sen Bros for films like Jaalsaaz (1999), Jalwa: Fun in Love (2005), Sheesha (2005), Rafta Rafta: The Speed (2006), Ishaara (2008), Krina (2018), etc.
5. Meet Bros - Anjjan
Meet Brothers – Anjjan, the musical trio team which included brothers Manmeet Singh and Harmeet Singh and Anjjan Bhattacharya collaborated to compose music for films like Isi Life Mein (2010), Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum (2012), OMG - Oh My God! (2012), Boss (2013), Ragini MMS 2 (2014), Bhoothnath Returns (2014), Hate Story 2 (2014), Kick (2014) and Roy (2015). Meet Bros' who belonged to Gwalior reportedly separated ways with long-time collaborator Anjjan Bhattacharya in 2015 for reasons best known to them. Post-split Meet Bros' and Anjjan Bhattacharya started their own respective music business and set up their own recording studio named ‘Meet Bros Recording Studio’. Meet Bros' composed music for films like All Is Well (2015), Welcome Back (2015), Singh Is Bliing (2015), Hate Story 3 (2015), Ki & Ka (2016), Baaghi (2016), Judwaa 2 (2017), Raabta (2017), Dream Girl (2017), Marjaavaan (2019), etc.
6. Nikhil - Vinay
Nikhil Kamath and Vinay Tiwari who were more famously known as the musical duo of Nikhil – Vinay had debuted as music directors with Pyar Bhara Dil in 1991. The duo was one of the most promising Bollywood music directors of the 90s who had also given music for several big films like Chor Aur Chand (1993), Dulaara (1994), Bewafa Sanam (1995), English Babu Desi Mem (1996) and Tum Bin (2001) which had memorable songs split in 2006 after collaborating as a team for 15 years. The duo musicians who went solo after their separation couldn’t meet with much success although they did give individual music scores in films like Desh Drohi (2008), Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun…(2010) and Tum Bin 2 (2016).
7. Basu - Manohari
Basu Deo Chakravarty and Manohari Singh famously known as Basu – Manohari who were a part of R.D. Burman’s musical troupe for many years, formed their own jodi to give music for films like Yasmeen (1974), Sabse Bada Rupaiya (1976), Kanhaiyaa (1981), Chatpati (1983) and Jeena Hai Pyar Mein (1983). If you hear their compositions closely, you may find a striking resemblance to Pancham’s brand of music. After providing music the duo of Basu – Manohari suddenly split and returned back to Pancham’s camp. But somehow after their split Basu Deo Chakravarty did go solo for a couple of films namely Main Qatil Hoon (1984) and Prem Sandesh (1988), while Manohari Singh turned towards composing for Nepali films and of course, did the music arrangement for Pancham’s swansong film 1942: A Love Story (1994) after his untimely demise.
8. Sharmaji - Varmaji
Many of us for sure wouldn’t have heard of this composer duos name who did a film together in 1948 which was Heer Ranjha. Our very own Khayyam aka Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi went by the name of Sharmaji who took up the name because it rhymed to his co-composer Rahman Varma who migrated to Pakistan post-partition. Post their split Sharmaji retained his old name Khayyam and went solo after getting a break in the film Biwi (1950) in which the song ‘Akele Mein Woh Ghabrate To Honge’ sung by Mohammed Rafi became popular. This was followed by Footpath in 1953 with Talat Mehmood singing ‘Shaam-e-Gham Ki Kasam’ and ‘Woh Subah Kabhi To Aayegi’ by Mukesh from Raj Kapoor’s Phir Subha Hogi (1958). Though Khayyam has never been vocal about his past split but continued giving excellent songs in Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Noorie (1979), Umrao Jaan (1981), Bazaar (1982), Razia Sultan (1983), and others.
9. Gourav - Roshin
Gourav Dasgupta and Roshin Baluchat who was better known as the music director duo Gourav – Roshin announced their split some time ago after a fruitful association of over a decade. The composer duo started their career in 2007 by providing music for Dus Kahaniyaan and followed it up by composing songs for movies like Chalo Dilli (2011), Mubarakan (2017), Munna Michael (2017), Commando 2 (2017), Baaghi 2 (2018), Ujda Chaman (2019), Total Dhamaal (2019), and Jawaani Jaaneman (2020), etc. Post-split Gourav continues to give solo music for films like Shiddat (2021), The Big Bull (2021), Hello Charlie (2021), Bhuj: The Pride of India (2021), and Chehre (2021), etc.
