Bollywood Music Directors Who Floated Their Own Production Banners
Posted On: 13 Feb 2023 | Last Updated : 14 Feb 2023 | Views : 713
If Bollywood were a human body, music would be the heartbeat of the body that keeps the body alive and going. At present, Bollywood industry produces over 250 movies every year, while the song numbers are the motif that give character to the storyline and make movies so engaging. Thus, the Indian music industry is largely dominated by the Bollywood soundtracks, which generates over 80% of the music revenue in the country. During the establishment and beginning period of Bollywood, the music was often produced in the music studios, and some of the prominent Bollywood studios of the time were B.N. Sircar’s New Studio, Rajkamal Kalamandir, R.K. Studios, Navketan Films and Mehboob Studios, and this was called the ‘Golden Era of Bollywood’. However, during the 1950s and 1960s, Bollywood witnessed changes in the way movies and music was produced. During this time, independent music directors started making and producing music for Bollywood films and gained success. So today, we will talk about top Bollywood music directors who floated their own production banners.
1. Naushad Ali - Sunny Art Productions
Born in 1919, Naushad Ali was a prominent Indian music director, who was considered as one of the first music composers remembered for his great taste in music. He popularized classical music in Bollywood film industry, and his first film as an independent music composer was Prem Nagar (1940). He also composed songs for movies, like Mela (1941), Nai Duniya (1942), Dard (1947), Babul (1950), Mother India (1957), Kohinoor (1960), Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Mere Mehboob (1963), Leader (1964), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Dharam Kanta (1982) and many more. For his contributions in the Indian film industry, he was awarded with Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma Bhushan in 1981 and 1992 respectively from the Indian Government. He was one of the first Bollywood music directors to launch his own production banner named Sunny Art Productions under which he produced and also composed songs for Babul (1950), Uran Khatola (1955), and Tere Payal Mere Geet (1989). He also produced Malik (1958) but music was given by Ghulam Mohammad.
2. Hemant Mukherjee – Geetanjali Productions
Hemant Kumar Mukhopadhyay, professionally known as Hemant Kumar or Hemanta Mukherjee, was one of the legendary singers and music composers of the Indian film industry. He popularized the Rabindra Sangeet and many other genres by integrating them successfully in Bollywood. After completing his B.E. & M.Tech Engineering Degree from Jadavpur University, he started his career in Indian film industry, and gained popularity for being the ‘Voice of God’, and started independently producing music for films under his music banner called Hemanta-Bela Productions. Movies for which he has produced music, include Anand Math (1952), Nagin (1954), Ek Hi Raasta (1956), Ek Jhalak (1957), Bees Saal Baad (1962), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Majhli Didi (1967) and many more. His production company was later renamed as Geetanjali productions under which he produced several Hindi movies such as Bees Saal Baad (1962), Kohraa (1964), Biwi Aur Makaan (1966), and Khamoshi (1969). All of which had music by Hemant Kumar but only Bees Saal Baad and Khamoshi were major commercial successes.
3. Hridaynath Mangeshkar - Dinanath Kala Mandir
Younger brother of legendary singers and musicians, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, Hridaynath Mangeshkar is the only son of the Indian musician Deenanath Mangeshkar. Following the tradition of his family, Hridaynath Mangeshkar too became a musician, and later entered the Bollywood film industry as a music director and composer, who produced and composed music independently for Bollywood movies, which made him one of the top Bollywood musicians who owns music banners. He has composed music for movies like Dhanwan (1981), Mashaal (1984), Lekin… (1991), Maya Memsaab (1993), Lal Salaam (2002) and many more. He along with his sister Lata Mangeshkar floated their home banner called Dinanath Kala Mandir under which they produced Lekin (1991) and the Marathi film Nivdung (1989).
4. Vishal Bhardwaj – V.B. Pictures
Indian film director, screenwriter, music composer, producer, and playback singer, Vishal Bhardwaj is surely a man with multiple talents. He is the recipient of several accolades and awards, including National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards. His debut film as a music composer was Abhay (The Fearless) (1995). He gained immense popularity for this music composition with Gulzar for the 1996 film Maachis. Soon after, the composer started to independently produce music and films under his production banner, VB Music and VB Pictures. Some of the well-received movies for which he has provided music, include Satya (1998), Chachi 420 (1998), Makdee (2002), Maqbool (2003), Omkara (2006), Kaminey (2009), 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), Haider (2014), and many more. Movies that he produced under his banner are Maqbool (2003), Ishqiya (2010), 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), Ek Thi Daayan (2014), Haider (2014), Rangoon (2017) and Kuttey (2023).
5. Bappi Lahiri – S.B. Films
Born as Alokesh Aparesh Lahiri, Bappi Lahiri or popularly known as Bappi Da was a well-recognized Indian singer, music composer and record producer, who started his career as a music composer with the 1974 Bengali film Daadu, and singer Lata Mangeshkar sung his composition. He made his Bollywood debut by composing songs for Nannha Shikari (1973) which was followed by the superhit Zakhmee (1975), Chalte Chalte (1976), Disco Dancer (1982), Himmatwala (1983), Naukar Biwi Ka (1983), Sharaabi (1984), and many more. He is known for producing the 1995 musical thriller Rock Dancer under his production banner S.B. Films which was a joint venture with filmmaker Shubir Mukerji.
6. A. R. Rahman – Y.M. Movies
Born as A.S. Dileep Kumar, professionally known as Allah Rakha Rahman or A.R. Rahman, is one of the top music composers, singers, songwriter and record producers in India. During the initial days of his career, A.R. Rahman composed music for documentaries and advertisement jingles and recorded songs in his in-house studio. His film career began with the 1992 Tamil film Roja, and in Bollywood, he made his debut as a film composer with the 1995 action romantic drama Rangeela, for which he received Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. He has also composed music for the movies, like Fire (1997), Dil Se… (1998), Lagaan (2001), Saathiya (2002), Jodhaa Akbar (2008) and many more. He made his debut as a film producer with the 2021 musical drama 99 Songs, which was produced under his own production banner, YM Movies.
7. Himesh Reshammiya – H.R. Musik / Himesh Reshammiya Melodies
Indian music director, playback singer, songwriter and actor, Himesh Reshammiya, started his career as a TV producer and produced TV series like Andaz, Aman, and Jaan on Zee TV. Later in 1998, he made his debut as a music composer with the romantic drama Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, starring Salman Khan. Later, he gained popularity for directing and composing music for Salman Khan-starrer Tere Naam (2003). Some of the best movies of his career include Aashiq Banaya Apne (2005), Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005), Aap Kaa Surroor (2007), Namastey London (2007), The Xposé (2014) and many more. He is one of the top Bollywood music directors who owns music banners and independently produces and composes music for Bollywood films. The name of his banner is HR Musik under which he produced movies like Damadamm! (2011), Khiladi 786 (2012), The Xposé (2014), Teraa Surroor (2016), Happy Hardy and Heer (2020), etc.
8. Shravan Kumar Rathod – D.C. Films
One of the best music director duos of Bollywood, Nadeem-Shravan consisting of Nadeem Akhtar Saifi and Shravan Kumar Rathod were at the top of their careers during the 1990s and early 2000s. Their music displayed the strong influence of classical and semi-classical Indian music. The 1990 film Aashiqui marked the breakthrough in their career, which became the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album composed under their independent music banner, which made them one of the top music directors who floated their banners. Some of the best movies of their career include Saajan (1991), Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Deewana (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Gaddaar (1994), Raja (1995), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Dhadkan (2000), Raaz (2002) and many more. He produced and directed his maiden venture Paani Ki Aawaz in 2019 under the production banner of D.C. Films.
