Veteran Music Director Raamlaxman Dies, Lata Mangeshkar and Salman Khan Pay Tributes

Veteran music composer Vijay Patil, better known as ‘Raamlaxman’, passed away in the wee hours of Saturday in Nagpur after a brief illness. He was 79. He breathed his last at around 1 am, according to Nagpur Today. The music composer was living with his son in the city. His last rites will be performed today at 12 pm.

In his over four-decade-long career, Patil composed music for more than 150 films in Hindi, Marathi, and Bhojpuri languages, including blockbusters such as ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ and ‘Hum Apke Hain Kaun’. Born on September 16, 1942, at Nagpur, Patil had taken his initial lessons in music from his father and uncle. He later studied music at the Bhatkhande Shikshan Sanstha.

Marathi actor-filmmaker Dada Kondke first signed him up as music composer for his film “Pandu Havaldar” in 1974. Patil then composed music for several other films produced by Kondke, including ‘Tumcha Amcha jamla’, ‘Ram Ram Gangaram’ and ‘Bot Lavil Tithe Gudgulya’.

He became “Laxman” of the composer duo ‘Raam-Laxman’, however, even after the death of his partner Ram, he continued to compose music under the same name. He composed music for several Hindi films including ‘Agent Vinod’, ‘Tarana’, ‘Hum Se Badhkar Kaun’, ‘Hum Aapke Hai Kaun’, ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’, ‘100 Days’ and ‘Anmol’.

Playback legend Lata Mangeshkar mourned the death of the veteran music composer. “Mujhe abhi pata chala ki bahut guni aur lokpriya sangeetkar Raam Laxman ji (Vijay Patil) ji ka swargwas hua. Ye sunke mujhe bahut dukh hua. Wo bahut acche insaan the. Maine unke kai gaane gaaye jo bahut lokpriya hue. Main unko vinamra shraddhanjali arpan karti hun (I have come to know that the extremely talented and popular music composer Raam Laxman ji (Vijay Patil) ji has breathed his last. I’m extremely saddened to hear this. He was a very nice person. I’ve lent my voice to several of his songs that became very popular. I pay my humble respect to him),” Mangeshkar tweeted in Hindi.

Mangeshkar was often the chosen female voice of Raamlaxman’s music. She recorded tracks like “Aate jate”, “Kabootar ja ja ja”, “Aja shaam hone ayee”, “Dil deewana” and others in the 1989 film “Maine Pyaar Kiya”. She sang “Didi tera dewar deewana”, “Maye ni maye”, “Jute do paise lo”, “Mausam ka jadoo”, “Wah wah Ramji” and others from the 1994 film “Hum Aapke Hain Koun”. Others film albums composed by Raamlaxman that had Mangeshkar’s voice include “Patthar Ke Phool”, “100 Days”, “I Love You”, “Dil Ki Baazi” and “Anmol” among others.

Salman Khan, the star of hits “Maine Pyar Kiya”, “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!” and “Hum Saath Saath Hain”, also paid homage to the late music director. “Ram Laxman, music director of my successful films like ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’, ‘Patthar Ke Phool’, ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, ‘Hum Apke Hain Koun’ has sadly passed away. May his soul rest in peace. Condolences to the bereaved family,” the actor tweeted.

Remembering the late musician, the official Twitter account of Rajshri posted on Saturday: “Music Composer Vijay Patil a.k.a Laxman of the iconic #RaamLaxman duo passed away. Our deepest condolences to his family in this tough time. Rajshri will always remember him for his immense contribution to the music industry. May his soul Rest In Peace.”

(With inputs from PTI)

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