Roshan (music director)


Roshan Lal Nagrath, known mononymously as Roshan, was an Indian esraj player and music director.
Roshan's compositions were marked by a melodic sensibility, subtle yet expressive orchestration, and a depth of feeling that distinguished him from many of his contemporaries, having mastered Hindustani classical music, particularly in the ghazal and qawwali traditions. In the qawwali genre specifically, with titles such as "Na Toh Karvan Ki Talash Hai", he was particularly influential, and is said to be the only populariser of this genre of religious music between its founder Amir Khusro in the 13th century and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan of Pakistan a few decades later.
In 2025, Netflix released a four-part documentary series titled The Roshans. The series traces the artistic lineage from composer Roshan Lal Nagrath to his sons Rakesh Roshan and Rajesh Roshan, and to actor Hrithik Roshan, reflecting on how the family’s creative output helped shape mainstream Bollywood music and cinema.

Early life and education

Roshan was born on 14 July 1917 in Gujranwala in the Punjab Province of British India. Being born in a Brahmin family, he began music lessons at a young age and later attended Marris College in Lucknow, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh under the training of Pandit S N Ratanjankar. Roshan became an accomplished sarod player under the guidance of Allauddin Khan, the renowned sarod player from Maihar. In 1940, Khawaja Khurshid Anwar, programme producer/music, All India Radio Delhi, hired Roshan as staff artist for esraj, the instrument he used to play. He gave up this job in 1948 to seek fame and fortune in Bombay.

Career

In 1948, Roshan came to Bombay to find work as a Hindi film music director and became assistant of music composer Khawaja Khurshid Anwar in film Singaar. He somewhat struggled until he met the producer-director Kidar Sharma, who gave him the job of composing for his film Neki Aur Badi, a film co-produced by Munshiram Varma and distributed by Varma Films. While this film was a flop, Kidar Sharma gave him another chance in his next film. Roshan emerged as a player on the Hindi film music scene with Baawre Nain which became a big musical hit.
In the early 1950s, Roshan worked with singers Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh and Talat Mahmood. Malhar, Shisham, and Anhonee were some of the movies that he scored during the 1950s. During this time, he also composed the Meera bhajan which became a run-away hit, "Aeiri main to prem diwani mera dard na jane koyi" sung by Lata Mangeshkar for the movie Naubahar.
He was not always commercially successful. He gave Indeewar and Anand Bakshi their first breaks in the Indian film industry as lyricists. Later, they became two of the most sought-after songwriters in Mumbai from the late 1960s onwards.
Anand Bakshi was given his first break in 1956 by the music director Nisar Bazmi in his film Bhala Aadmi. Roshan gave Bakshi the film CID Girl, after Anand Bakshi wrote the four songs of Bhala Aadmi in 1956. Bhala Aadmi was released in 1958 after some delay. Together, Anand Bakshi and Roshan made a super hit musical film Devar.
The 1960s proved to be the golden age for Roshan and his music. His ability to mould folk music with Hindustani classical music became his trademark and resulted in successful movie musicals. During this time, Roshan gave hits such as "Na to karavan ki talaash hai from Barsat Ki Raat" and "Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat". Barsaat Ki Raat also was a "super hit" film of 1960s.
"Ab kya misaal doon" and "Kabhi to milegi, kahi to milegi", "Jo vada kiya vo nibhana padega", "Paao chhoon lene do", "Jo baat tujhmein hai" and "Jurm-e-ulfat pe", "Nigahen milane ko jee chahata hai" and "Laaga chunari mein daag", "Sansaar se bhaage phirte ho" and "Man re tu kaahe", and "Oh re taal mile" and "Khushi khushi kar do vida". He composed some melodies for the movie Mamta with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, "Rehte the kabhi jinke dil mein" and "Rahen Na Rahen Hum" sung by Lata Mangeshkar and her hit duet, "Chuppa Lo Yun Dil Mein Pyar Mera" with Hemant Kumar. Devar : "Aaya hai mujhe phir yaad woh zalim, guzara zamana bachpan ka"; "Baharon ne mera chaman loot kar"; "Duniya mein aisa kahan sab ka naseeb hai".

Personal life and death

Roshan married Ira Moitra, his second wife, in 1948 and moved to Bombay. Their sons are Rakesh Roshan and Rajesh Roshan.
Roshan had been suffering from chronic heart trouble for over 20 years. He had a sudden heart attack while attending a social gathering, and died in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India on 16 November 1967, aged 50.

Filmography and popular songs

;Television
  • ''The Roshans''

    Popular film ''qawwalis''

  • Naa To Kaarvan Ki Talaash Hai in Barsaat Ki Raat
  • Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai in Barsaat Ki Raat
  • Nigahein Milane Ko Jee Chahta Hai in Dil Hi To Hai
  • Waqif Hoon Khoob Ishq Ke Tarz-E-Bayaan Se Main and Dhundhke Laoon Kahan Se Main in Bahu Begum
Roshan's marked specialty was the film qawwali. He was widely hailed for their composition.

Awards