Latest news with #Ziddi
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
He made Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar overnight stars, yet his wife was found begging at Mumbai station. Who was Khemchand Prakash?
Javed Akhtar , a respected voice in the Indian film industry, has consistently supported the cause of fair compensation for those behind the creation of music — including lyricists, composers, and singers. His passionate advocacy for the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2010 stemmed not only from a sense of justice but also from heartbreaking real-life stories that illustrate the absence of protective systems for creators. One such story is that of legendary composer Khemchand Prakash , whose family endured neglect and hardship after his untimely death. Prakash's name is etched in the golden era of Hindi cinema as a musical genius who shaped the careers of icons like Lata Mangeshkar , Kishore Kumar, Naushad, and Manna Dey. In an era when fresh talent struggled to find recognition, it was Prakash who gave Lata her big break in the film Ziddi in 1948. However, it was their second collaboration — the hauntingly beautiful 'Aayega Aane Wala' from Mahal — that catapulted her into national fame. Unfortunately, Prakash did not live to see the success of the film or the song, as he passed away in 1950 at the young age of 42 due to liver cirrhosis. His death not only marked the end of a brilliant musical journey but also pushed his family into financial turmoil. His wife, Sridevi, and daughter, Chandrakala, reportedly received little to no support from the industry. Their financial situation worsened over time, and in a painful revelation later shared by Javed Akhtar in the Rajya Sabha, it was found that Prakash's wife was reduced to begging at a Mumbai railway station, decades after her husband had composed timeless melodies. The industry's failure to support the families of its pioneers exposed the systemic gaps in how creators were compensated. Akhtar's speech during the parliamentary session served as both a tribute and a call to action. He emphasized how creators like Prakash were denied their rightful earnings because royalties were either poorly enforced or entirely absent. He argued that if Prakash's family had received ongoing income from the music he composed, their lives would have been very different. One of his compositions alone, 'Aayega Aane Wala,' could have earned his family lakhs in royalties, with reports suggesting a potential amount of ₹50 lakh. Khemchand Prakash was born in 1907 into a family deeply rooted in classical performance traditions. His father, Goverdhan Das, was a skilled Dhrupad singer and Kathak performer in the royal court of Madho Singh II. Though Prakash began his musical career early, his initial contributions to the 1935 version of Devdas were uncredited. His formal debut came in 1939 with Meri Aankhein. Over the next decade, he delivered a series of hits, including in films like Tansen, Ziddi, and Mahal. His compositions graced the voices of KL Saigal, Shamshad Begum, Noorjehan, and Kamini Kaushal, setting a high bar for Bollywood music. One of Prakash's greatest contributions to the industry was not just his music but his talent-spotting abilities. He discovered Kishore Kumar and brought him to public attention with the song 'Marne Ki Duaaen Kyun Maangu.' Lata Mangeshkar herself recalled in a 2020 interview that her first meeting with Kishore took place en route to Prakash's studio, highlighting how the composer was the connecting thread in some of Indian cinema 's most celebrated artistic unions. Today, the story of Khemchand Prakash stands as both a tribute to a musical visionary and a stark reminder of how creators can be forgotten if laws fail to protect their contributions. His life and legacy underscore the urgency of reform in recognizing and rewarding artistic labor — not just for the sake of artists, but for the dignity of their families as well.
Economic Times
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
He made Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar overnight stars, yet his wife was found begging at Mumbai station. Who was Khemchand Prakash?
Agencies Forgotten Maestro: The Genius Who Launched Legends but Died in Obscurity Javed Akhtar, a respected voice in the Indian film industry, has consistently supported the cause of fair compensation for those behind the creation of music — including lyricists, composers, and singers. His passionate advocacy for the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2010 stemmed not only from a sense of justice but also from heartbreaking real-life stories that illustrate the absence of protective systems for creators. One such story is that of legendary composer Khemchand Prakash, whose family endured neglect and hardship after his untimely death. Prakash's name is etched in the golden era of Hindi cinema as a musical genius who shaped the careers of icons like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Naushad, and Manna Dey. In an era when fresh talent struggled to find recognition, it was Prakash who gave Lata her big break in the film Ziddi in 1948. However, it was their second collaboration — the hauntingly beautiful 'Aayega Aane Wala' from Mahal — that catapulted her into national fame. Unfortunately, Prakash did not live to see the success of the film or the song, as he passed away in 1950 at the young age of 42 due to liver cirrhosis. His death not only marked the end of a brilliant musical journey but also pushed his family into financial turmoil. His wife, Sridevi, and daughter, Chandrakala, reportedly received little to no support from the industry. Their financial situation worsened over time, and in a painful revelation later shared by Javed Akhtar in the Rajya Sabha, it was found that Prakash's wife was reduced to begging at a Mumbai railway station, decades after her husband had composed timeless melodies. The industry's failure to support the families of its pioneers exposed the systemic gaps in how creators were speech during the parliamentary session served as both a tribute and a call to action. He emphasized how creators like Prakash were denied their rightful earnings because royalties were either poorly enforced or entirely absent. He argued that if Prakash's family had received ongoing income from the music he composed, their lives would have been very different. One of his compositions alone, 'Aayega Aane Wala,' could have earned his family lakhs in royalties, with reports suggesting a potential amount of ₹50 Prakash was born in 1907 into a family deeply rooted in classical performance traditions. His father, Goverdhan Das, was a skilled Dhrupad singer and Kathak performer in the royal court of Madho Singh II. Though Prakash began his musical career early, his initial contributions to the 1935 version of Devdas were uncredited. His formal debut came in 1939 with Meri Aankhein. Over the next decade, he delivered a series of hits, including in films like Tansen, Ziddi, and Mahal. His compositions graced the voices of KL Saigal, Shamshad Begum, Noorjehan, and Kamini Kaushal, setting a high bar for Bollywood of Prakash's greatest contributions to the industry was not just his music but his talent-spotting abilities. He discovered Kishore Kumar and brought him to public attention with the song 'Marne Ki Duaaen Kyun Maangu.' Lata Mangeshkar herself recalled in a 2020 interview that her first meeting with Kishore took place en route to Prakash's studio, highlighting how the composer was the connecting thread in some of Indian cinema's most celebrated artistic the story of Khemchand Prakash stands as both a tribute to a musical visionary and a stark reminder of how creators can be forgotten if laws fail to protect their contributions. His life and legacy underscore the urgency of reform in recognizing and rewarding artistic labor — not just for the sake of artists, but for the dignity of their families as well.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did you know wife of composer Khemchand Prakash, who launched Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, was found begging at a Mumbai railway station after his death?
Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has drawn attention to the glaring gaps in India's copyright and royalty framework for creative professionals. A vocal advocate for fair compensation in the music and film industry, Akhtar has consistently pushed for reforms that acknowledge the contributions of composers, writers, and singers. He cited the life of composer Khemchand Prakash to highlight the lack of financial security faced by the artistic community. Khemchand Prakash's demise and his wife's life Khemchand Prakash, known for launching the careers of icons such as Lata Mangeshkar , Kishore Kumar , Manna Dey, and Naushad, died at the age of 42—reportedly from liver cirrhosis—without ever reaping the rewards of his enduring legacy. When Lata Mangeshkar said that she will continue to sing till her last breath Akhtar recalled how Prakash had once stood firm in support of a young and inexperienced Lata Mangeshkar, backing her talent when others doubted her. Their partnership began with the film 'Ziddi', but it was the haunting melody of 'Aayega Aane Wala' from Mahal (1949) that truly propelled Mangeshkar's voice into the hearts of millions. Prakash did not live long enough to witness the song's lasting impact. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha in 2012, Akhtar shared the heartbreaking aftermath of the composer's death: 'Ayega ek din, ayega. Bahut mashoor geet hai, 60 saal pehle likha gaya tha... by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This song was composed by Khemchand Prakash, a deeply admired musician of his time… When they tried to locate him to pay Rs 13,000 owed to him, it was found that his wife was begging in Malad. This is not surprising. There are many stories like this,' he stated. Javed about law protecting the rights of the vulnerable In an old interview with The Times of India, Javed underlined the broader implications of the issue. 'The law is supposed to protect the rights of the vulnerable. Nobody cares for the families of creators of evergreen songs — the story of Khemchand Prakash, a singer of the golden era who composed songs like 'Aayega Aane Wala', is a case in point. Some time ago, his wife was found begging at Mumbai's Malad station. If Prakash's family had received adequate royalty from his music, it would not have met such a fate. ' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘His wife was found begging at railway station': Forgotten composer who launched Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar died penniless
Veteran lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar has long endorsed the practice of paying royalties to writers, composers, and other artistes involved in the creation of songs. He put his might behind the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2010, and cited the example of composer Khemchand Prakash as one of the many industry figures who slipped through the cracks because there were no systems in place to protect them and their families. His wife was found begging at a railway station after his death. There are innumerable stories of yesteryear Bollywood personalities who found themselves penniless because they didn't have the foresight to invest their money and secure their future. One of them was Khemchand Prakash, who remains best known as the person who mentored the likes of Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Naushad, and Manna Dey. In fact, he was the one who gave Lata a break with the film Mahal, after she was famously rejected by producer Chandu Lal Shah. He stood up for the young singer, and predicted that she will go on to achieve greatness in her career. He hired her to sing a song in the film Ziddi (1948). But their second collaboration, the song 'Aayega Aane Wala,' made Lata a household name. Unfortunately, Khemchand Prakash died of liver cirrhosis at the young age of 42 in 1950, and didn't experience the success of Mahal. Also read – Bollywood's biggest star of the 1950s became destitute, Amitabh Bachchan spotted him 'alone, unnoticed' at a bus stop: 'I drove on…' His wife and daughter, Sridevi and daughter Chandrakala, reportedly didn't get the support of the industry, and had to struggle with poverty. In his Rajya Sabha speech in 2012, Javed Akhtar mentioned their plight, as he voiced support for the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2010. He said, 'Ayega ek din, ayega. Bahut mashoor geet hai, 60 saal pehle likha gaya tha... This song was composed by Khemchand Prakash, a deeply admired musician of his time… When they tried to locate him to pay Rs 13,000 owed to him, it was found that his wife was begging in Malad. This is not surprising. There are many stories like this.' Listen to 'Ayega Aane Wala' here: He said in a follow-up interview with The Times of India, 'The law is supposed to protect the rights of the vulnerable. Nobody cares for the families of creators of evergreen songs — the story of Khemchand Prakash, a singer of the golden era who composed songs like 'Aayega Aane Wala' is a case in point. Sometime ago, his wife was found begging at Mumbai's Malad station. If Prakash's family had received adequate royalty from his music, it would not have met such a fate.' Khemchand Prakash's family stood to earn Rs 50 lakh in royalties for 'Ayega Aane Wala' alone, a report by journalist Abhilasha Ojha noted. Read more – Bollywood's greatest character actor died in abject poverty, was 'banned' by Shiv Sena, funeral went unattended by big Bollywood stars According to The Quint, Khemchand Prakash was born in 1907. His father Goverdhan Das was a Dhrupad singer and Kathak dancer in the royal court of Madho Singh II. He reportedly composed two songs in the 1935 adaptation of Devdas — 'Dukh ke din ab…' and 'Baalam aan baso…' — but he was not credited for them. He got his first break in 1939, with the film Meri Aankhei. In 1948, he gave Kishore Kumar a break with the song 'Marne ki duaaen kyun maangu…' Watch Javed Akhtar's Rajya Sabha speech Khemchand's short career was marked by successful ventures such as Ziddi, Tansen, and Mahal. He composed songs that were picturised on stars such as KL Saigal, Kamini Kaushal, Noorjehan, Shamshad Begum and Ashok Kumar. The song 'Ayega Aane Wala' was one of the first Hindi compositions that compelled the record company HMV to include the singer's name in the credits. Also read – The director who launched Dharmendra, Kabir Bedi and Zeenat Aman died broke: 'Not in good shape financially or physically' In an interview with Nasreen Munni Kabir, published in the Mumbai Mirror in 2020, Lata Mangeshkar recalled her first interaction with Kishore Kumar on her way to Khemchand's studio. 'I would take the train from Grant Road to Malad and one day Kishoreda got on at the next stop. I thought he looked very familiar and wondered who he was. We both got off at Malad. Bombay Talkies studio was a long way from the station and that day I decided to take a taanga. And Kishoreda hired one too. We rode along and finally we both entered the studio. I thought to myself, 'Something strange is going on here. This fellow is following me.' I asked Khemchandji: 'Uncle, who is this boy? He's following me.' He laughed and said: 'He's Kishore. Ashok Kumar's brother.' That day we recorded our first duet 'Ye Kaun Aya Re Karke Sola Singar.''
