Renowned composer Vanraj Bhatia dies of age-related complications

Renowned composer and musician Vanraj Bhatia, who had been suffering from age-related complications, has died in his Mumbai house. He was 93.

Several figures from the Hindi film industry and beyond took to social media to pay their respects. 

Educated and trained in western classical music as well as traditional Indian forms, the veteran artiste had worked in advertising, television, the stage and cinema. Born on 31 May 1927, he trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Paris Conservatory, before returning to India. He also worked as a reader in western musicology at the University of Delhi. 

The composer's cinematic journey began with Shyam Benegal's Ankur (1974). This kicked off a decades-long partnership that resulted in classics such as Manthan (1976), Bhumika (1977), Junoon (1978), Mandi (1983) and Sardari Begum (1996). He also composed the title track of Benegal's cult television series Bharat: Ek Khoj. 

Apart from these, Bhatia also composed music for some of the iconic works of alternate cinema including  36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Tamas (1987) — for which he won the National award — and Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda (1993). 

In addition to these, the composer also worked on the iconic opening tracks of Indian television shows such as the DD National sitcom Wagle Ki Duniya the Zee TV drama Banegi Apni Baat.

Bhatia was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Creative and Experimental Music in 1989 and honoured with the Padma Shri in 2012. 

The composer had been in poor health and was struggling financially and several members of the film industry stepped in to help him a few years ago. Actor Dalip Tahil had spoken about trying to raise funds to publish a biography of the maestro in 2019.