13 super romantic numbers by Rajesh Roshan: Birthday special

1. 'Dil Kya Kare' – Julie (1975)

Working on just his second film as music composer, Rajesh Roshan won his first Filmfare award for Best Music Director for his compositions for Julie (1975). Music director Roshan's younger son Rajesh had been given a break by Mehmood in his home production Kunwara Baap (1974). Julie made its young actress, Lakshmi, a star – aided greatly by popular songs like ‘My Heart Is Beating’ sung by Preeti Sagar. Since the film was all about young love, it was fitting that the Kishore Kumar romantic solo, ‘Dil Kya Kare’, written by Anand Bakshi, remains beloved even today.

2. 'Nazron Se Keh Do' – Doosara Aadmi (1977)

Written by Sagar Sarhadi, the romantic drama Doosara Aadmi (1977) featuring Rakhee, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh already had the intense number, ‘Chal Kahin Door Nikal Jayein’ sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi, a rare occasion that the three legends came together for a song. However, the duet, ‘Nazron Se Keh Do’, picturized on real-life couple Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, showcased the lighter side of lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri. Rajesh Roshan’s compositions were perfectly in tune for this Yash Raj production.

3. 'Suniye, Kahiye' – Baton Baton Mein (1979)

Tony Braganza (Amol Palekar) and Nancy Perreira (Tina Munim) fall in love in this melodious duet, ‘sung by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle. Set against the backdrop of the city of Mumbai and its backbone, the suburban railways, the young couple keep running into each other in the course of the duet. With lyrics by Amit Khanna, the songs composed by Rajesh Roshan for Basu Chatterjee’s slice-of-life film added to its simple charm.

4. 'Pardesia' – Mr Natwarlal (1979)

Rajesh Roshan’s popular score for Rakesh Kumar’s hit film Mr Natwarlal (1979) almost beat out Laxmikant-Pyarelal’s Sargam (1979) for the Filmfare award for Best Music Director that year. The song ‘Pardesia’, a romantic duet sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar and written by Anand Bakshi, was a clear favourite with audiences, owing also to the lead pair of Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, who were rumoured to be seeing each other at the time. Roshan also got Bachchan to sing for the first time on the soundtrack — his rendition of ‘Mere Paas Aao’ (sung in the manner of a story for children) became an instant classic.

5. 'Chhookar Mere Man Ko' – Yaarana (1981)

The Kishore Kumar-Rajesh Roshan combination was special as it produced some great numbers over the years. In fact, Rajesh Roshan’s Kaash (1987) was one of the last soundtracks Kishore Kumar recorded for. Rakesh Kumar’s Yaarana starred Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan and Neetu Singh. The album’s most popular song was ‘Saara Zamaana’ headlined with an electric (quite literately) performance from Bachchan. However, it is this quiet romantic solo written by Anjaan and sung by Kishore Kumar that still resonates.

6. 'Tujh Sang Preet Lagaai Sajana' – Kaamchor (1982)

With elder brother Rakesh Roshan in the lead role and as producer, Rajesh Roshan created a hit score for this remake of the Telugu film Subhodayam (1980). There were crowd-pleasers like the cheerful ‘Jogi Ho Jogi Bhag Mein Mere Likha Hai’ and ‘Tum Se Badhkar Duniya Mein’, and yet ‘Tujh Sang Preet Lagaai Sajana’ is a sweet song about finding the one and falling in love, written by lyricist Indivar. The duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar was picturized on the lead pair of Rakesh and Jaya Prada.

7. 'Mai Se Minaa Se' – Khudgarz (1987)

Rakesh Roshan turned director with Khudgarz (1987) and, of course, chose Rajesh as the music composer. Remarkably, Rajesh has composed the scores for all of Rakesh's directorial ventures, an association of over 25 years. The popular love song, ‘Mai Se Minaa Se’, picturized on the young couple Govinda and Neelam, became a hit, with an extra influence of electronica that was big in the 1980s.

8. 'Jab Koyi Baat Bigad Jaaye' – Jurm (1990)

Rajesh Roshan also composed the evergreen hit, ‘Jab Koyi Baat Bigad Jaaye’, from Mahesh Bhatt’s film Jurm (1990) starring Vinod Khanna and Meenakshi Sheshadri. However, the tune written by Indivar isn’t original. It is ‘inspired’ by the American song, ‘500 Miles’ by the 1960s folk group, Peter, Paul and Mary. The romantic duet sung by Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam is a fixture at weddings and anniversaries.

9. 'Jaati Hoon Main' – Karan Arjun (1995)

With a hit film, Baazigar (1993), behind them, popular on-screen pair Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol were brought together in Rakesh Roshan’s reincarnation saga Karan Arjun (1995), along with Salman Khan, Mamta Kulkarni and Rakhee. ‘Jaati Hoon Main’ was the breakout song of the soundtrack, picturized on Shah Rukh and Kajol. Once again, lyricist Indivar and composer Rajesh Roshan worked their magic on the catchy number.

10. 'Ghar Se Nikalte Hi' – Papa Kahte Hain (1996)

The small film, directed by Mahesh Bhatt, featuring newcomer Mayuri Kango and former child artiste Jugal Hansraj, would have fallen by the wayside if not for the lyrics and the music. ‘Ghar Se Nikalte Hi’, written by Javed Akhtar and composed melodiously by Rajesh Roshan, is a rare gem sung by Udit Narayan. The film flopped but the soundtrack is worth listening to again, even now.

11. 'Na Tum Jaano Na Hum' – Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000)

Rajesh Roshan’s nephew, Hrithik Roshan, was launched in grand style in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) and he pulled out all the stops in the soundtrack that fetched him his second Filmfare award for Best Music Director. All the songs from the album went on to be hits and the film established Hrithik as a star. But it is the lovely number ‘Na Tum Jaano Na Hum’, filmed in beautiful New Zealand, that is still easy on the ears. The song was sung by Lucky Ali and written by Ibrahim Ashq. The song’s title also inspired another film of the same name in 2002 starring Hrithik, Esha Deol and Saif Ali Khan. Rajesh Roshan also composed the score of that film.

12. 'Koi Mil Gaya' – Koi... Mil Gaya (2003)

The core team of Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) reunited for Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) to create an unusual sci-fi film with heart. The film featured Hrithik Roshan as the mentally challenged Rohit, who discovers the alien Jadoo, who later gives him superpowers. The title song, written by Dev Kohli, went on to become popular; the duet was sung by Udit Narayan and KS Chithra. The film was a super hit and launched two more films which went to form the Krrish franchise.

13. 'Dil Kyon Yeh Mera' – Kites (2010)

Lately, Rajesh Roshan has limited himself to composing mostly for his brother’s home productions. On the ambitious international production Kites (2010), directed by Anurag Basu, it was Rajesh Roshan who helmed the music album. Lyricist Nasir Faraaz’s ‘Dil Kyon Yeh Mera’, sung superbly by singer KK, details the ‘could-have-been’ quality of the love story of Jai (Hrithik Roshan) and Linda (Barbara Mori).