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{{Short description|Indian music director (1918–1982)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=February 2022}}
{{Unencyclopedic tone|date=February 2022}}
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{{Infobox person
| name = C. Ramchandra
| image = Ramchandra Chitalkar.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Ramchandra in 1949
| birth_name = Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar
| alias = C. Ramchandra, Chitalkar, Anna Sahib
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1918|01|12}}
| birth_place = [[Puntamba]], [[Ahmednagar district]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1982|01|05|1918|01|12}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| occupation = [[Film Music|Film music]] [[composer]], [[Film producer|Producer]]
| years_active = 1935–1971
| awards =
}}

'''Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar''' (12 January 1918 – 5 January 1982), also known as '''C. Ramchandra''' or '''Chitalkar''' or '''Anna Sahib''', was an Indian [[music director]] and [[playback singer]].<ref name=ICHF>[https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/c-ramchandra C Ramchandra - Music Director] Indian Cinema Heritage Foundation website, Retrieved 12 January 2022</ref><ref name=MySwar/>

As a composer, he mostly used the name C. Ramchandra, though he also used the names Annasaheb (in the movies ''Bahadur Pratap'', ''Matwale'', and ''Madadgaar''), Ram Chitalkar (in the movies ''Sukhi Jeevan'', ''Badla'', ''Mr. Jhatpat'', ''Bahadur'', and ''Dosti''), and Shyamoo (in the movie ''Yeh hai duniya''). Further, he often sang and acted in [[Marathi language|Marathi]] movies under the name R. N. Chitalkar. For his career as an occasional playback singer he used only his surname Chitalkar. Chitalkar sang some renowned and unforgettable duets with [[Lata Mangeshkar]] such as "Kitna Haseen Hai Mausam" in the film ''[[Azaad (1955 film)|Azaad]]'' (1955) and "Shola Jo Bhadke" in ''[[Albela (1951 film)|Albela]]'' (1951).<ref name=MySwar/>

==Biography==
Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar was born on 12 January 1918 in [[Puntamba]] into a [[Marathi Brahmin]] family, a small town in [[Ahmednagar district]] in [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. He studied music under Vinayakbua Patwardhan at "Gandharva Mahavidyalaya" and also under Shankarrao Sapre of Nagpur where he studied music alongside [[Vasantrao Deshpande]]. He joined the movie industry playing the lead role in Y. V. Rao's movie, ''Naganand''. He also had some small roles at Minerva Movietone in the movies ''[[Said-e-Havas]]'' (1936) and ''[[Atma Tarang]]'' (1937).

Ramchandra provided harmonium accompaniment for Minerva composers Bundu Khan and Habib Khan. He debuted as music director in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] movies with Jayakkodi and ''[[Vana Mohini]]''. He received public notice as a good composer in Bhagwan Dada's ''Sukhi Jeevan'' (1942), and established a long association that culminated with the musical box office hit ''[[Albela (1951 film)|Albela]]'' (1951).

Influenced by [[Benny Goodman]], Ramchandra introduced in his compositions the alto sax in combination with guitar and harmonica. He also included whistling in one of his famous songs, ''Aana meri jaan Sunday ke Sunday'' in film ''[[Shehnai (1947 film)|Shehnai]]'' (1947). He used a combination of a bongo, an oboe, a trumpet, a clarinet and a sax for the song ''Shola Jo Bhadke'' in film ''[[Albela (1951 film)|Albela]]''.<ref>[https://www.wohtohhaialbela.com// woh toh hai albela]</ref> He sang the title song "Shin Shinaki Boobla Boo" with [[Lata Mangeshkar]], which included rock rhythms. He provided the musical score for the scat song "Ina mina dika" in ''[[Aasha (1957 film)|Aasha]]'' (1957).

Perhaps C. Ramchandra's biggest success as a music composer was the 1953 movie ''[[Anarkali]]'' starring Beena Roy in the title role and Pradeep Kumar. The songs that he composed for this movie are today legendary. Songs of this movie like "Yeh Zindagi Usiki Hai", "Mujhse Mat Poochh Mere Ishq Main Kya Rakha Hai", "Mohabbat Aisi Dhadkan Hai", "Jaag Dard-E-Ishq Jaag" etc. went on to become huge hits and were highly acclaimed. ''Anarkali'' also perhaps saw the famed composer-singer combination of Ramchandra and [[Lata Mangeshkar]] at their best ever together. A film critic in London who watched the movie is said to have remarked that the heroine sang like an angel without knowing that the angel was actually Lata giving playback for the actress. Similarly, C. Ramchandra's compositions in V. Shantaram's ''[[Navrang]]'' (1959) and ''[[Stree (1961 film)|Stree]]'' (1961) were also quite popular and are still remembered.

The highly popular patriotic song ''"[[Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon]]"'', which was sung by [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and penned by poet [[Pradeep]], was a composition of Ramchandra.<ref name=DNA>{{cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/column-bollywood-retrospect-composer-c-ramchandra-s-10-most-memorable-songs-2161441 |newspaper=DNA India website |author=Param Arunachalam |date=2 January 2016 |title=Bollywood Retrospect: Composer C Ramchandra's 10 most memorable songs |access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> It was later performed live, by [[Lata Mangeshkar]], in the presence of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] at the [[Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium|National Stadium]], in [[New Delhi]] on [[Republic Day (India)|Republic Day]] in 1963. It is said [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] became so sentimental that tears rolled down his cheeks.<ref name=MySwar>[http://myswar.co/artist/c-ramchandra C. Ramchandra (profile)] MySwar.com website, Retrieved 12 January 2022</ref> On 27 Jan 2014, [[Lata Mangeshkar]] was felicitated by the then chief minister of [[Gujarat]], [[Narendra Modi]] at Mumbai to commemorate the 51st Anniversary of this song.

Ramchandra similarly provided a memorable musical score accompanying a competition between two dancers whose roles were played by [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] and [[Vyjayanthimala]] for the song ''[[Kannum Kannum Kalanthu]]'' lyrics penned by [[Kothamangalam Subbu]], sung by [[P. Leela]] and [[Jikki]] in the Tamil movie ''[[Vanjikottai Valiban]]'' (1958). He remade the song in Hindi as "Aaja Tu Raja Aaja" from ''[[Raj Tilak (1958 film)|Raj Tilak]]'' (1958) written by P. L. Santoshi where [[Asha Bhosle]] and [[Sudha Malhotra]] rendered their voice.

Ramchandra provided music compositions for a few [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] movies besides [[Hindi]] movies. He also produced three Hindi movies with New Sai Productions namely ''Jhanjhar'' (1953), ''Lehren'' (1953), ''Duniya Gol Hai'' (1955).

In the late 1960s, Ramchandra produced two Marathi movies, ''Dhananjay'' (1966) and ''Gharkul'' (1970). Apart from composing music, he also acted in them. Ramchandra wrote his autobiography ''The Symphony of My Life'' (''माझ्या जीवनाची सरगम'' in Marathi) in 1977.

==Death==
C. Ramchandra died on 5 January 1982, a week before his 64th birthday, in Mumbai, India.<ref name=MySwar/>

==Awards and recognition==
His music fans were disappointed, when he was nominated for 'Best Music Director' twice for [[Filmfare Awards]] for the films [[Azaad (1955 film)|Azaad]] (1955) and [[Aasha (1957 film)|Aasha]] (1957) but ended up not actually winning them. It should also be mentioned here that one of his most successful films was [[Anarkali (1953 film)|Anarkali]] (1953) and it was released one year before the first Filmfare Award was given in 1954.

Mumbai based troupe Musicolor, which is promoting vintage music, presented an exclusive tribute programmes featuring the gems of C Ramchandra at Dinanath Mangeshkar auditorium on 22 January 2010.

==Popular songs==
Though Ramchandra used a number of ragas in his compositions, his favourite remained raga "[[Bageshri]]" ([[Azaad (1955 film)|Radha na bole - Azad, 1955]]). In a 1978 interview at BBC studios with Mahendra Kaul, he ascribed the reason to Bageshri's simplicity. However, he also composed songs in other ragas including [[Malkauns]] (''[[Navrang|Aadha hai chandrama- Navrang]]'').<ref name="int">{{cite news |last1=Kaul |first1=Mahendra |title=Interview with C Ramchandra |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1979-09-02 |access-date=11 April 2019 |publisher=BBC Studios |date=2 February 1978}}</ref>

The following is a short list of some of Ramchandra's best compositions:
* ''Qismat Ki Hawa Kabhi Naram'' (''[[Albela (1951 film)|Albela]]'')
* ''Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai'' (''[[Anarkali (1953 film)|Anarkali]]'')<ref name=DNA/><ref name=MySwar/><ref name=ICHF/>
* ''Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo''<ref name=DNA/><ref name=MySwar/><ref name=ICHF/>
* ''Dheere Se Aaja Ri Ankhiyan Mein'' (''[[Albela (1951 film)|Albela]]'')<ref name=ICHF/>
* ''Katatay hain dukh mein yeh din'' (''Parchhaain'')<ref name=ICHF/>
* ''Tum kya jaano, tumhari yaad mein'' (''Shin Shinaki Bubala Boo'')<ref name=ICHF/>
* ''Aankhon mein sama jao is dil mein raha karana'' (''Yasmin'')<ref name=ICHF/>
* ''Kitna haseen hai mausam'' (''Azaad'')<ref name=ICHF/>
* ''Koi kisi ka deewaana na bane'' (''Sargam'')
* ''Jaag dard-e-ishq jaag'' (''Anarkali'')
* ''Mehfil mein jal uthi shama'' (''Nirala'')<ref name=MySwar/>
* ''Aye pyar teri duniya se hum'' (''Jhanjar'')
* ''Wafaaon ka majboor daman bichha kar dua kar gume dil khuda se dua kar'' (''Anarkali'')
* ''Muhobbat aisi dhadkan hai jo samjhayi nahi jati'' (''Anarkali'')
* ''Main jagu sari rain'' (''Bahu Rani'')
* ''Ab woh raate kahan ab woh baate kahan'' (''Yasmin'')
* ''[[Kannum Kannum Kalanthu]]'' (''[[Vanjikottai Valiban]]'') (Tamil film)
* ''Jo mujhe bhula ke chale gaye'' (''Sangeeta'')
* ''Mujh se mat poochh mere ishq mein kya rakha hai'' (''Anarkali'')
* ''Dekho ji bahar aayi'' (''Azad'')
* ''Jo dil ko jalaye sataye dukhaye aisi muhobbat se hum baaz aaye'' (''Nirala'')
* ''Mujh pe ilzaam-e-bewafaai hai'' (''Yasmin'')
* ''Aye chand pyar mera tujh se ye kah raha hai'' (''Khazana'')
* ''Muhobbat mein aise zamane bhi aaye'' (''Sagaai'')
* ''Aa ja ab to aa ja'' (''[[Anarkali (1953 film))|Anarkali]]'')
* ''Tere dar se khushi mangi magar gum de diya tu ne'' (''Hungama'')
* ''Tere phoolon se bhi pyar'' (''Nastik'')
* ''Kali kali ratiyan yaad sataye'' (''Ghungaroo'')
* ''O nirdayi pritam'' (''Stree'')
* ''Balma bada nadan'' (''Albela'')<ref name=ICHF/>
* ''Dil se bhula do tum humen'' (''Patanga'')
* Sipayee O Sipayee ([[Akbar Salim Anarkali]]) (Telugu film)
* ''Kaghaz ki thi woh nao jis main ham jarahe the'' (''Zaban'')
* ''Dil ki duniya basa ke sawariyan'' (''Amardeep'')
* '' Ina Meena Dika '' (''[[Aasha (1957 film)|Aasha]]'')
* ''Jab Dil Ko Sataave Gham, Chhed Sakhi Sargam'' Sargam (1950)<ref name=DNA/><ref name=MySwar/>
* ''Shola Jo Bhadke, Dil Mera Dhadke'' Albela (1951)<ref name=DNA/>
* ''Mohabbat Hi Na Jo Samjhe, Woh Zalim Pyar Kya Jane'' Parchhain (1952)<ref name=DNA/>
* ''Dekh Tere Sansaar Ki Haalat Kya Ho Gai Bhagwan'' Nastik (1954)
* ''Naa Bole Naa Bole Naa Bole Re'' ([[Azaad (1955 film)|Azad]])<ref name=DNA/>
* ''Aplam chaplam chaplai re''
* '' Mere man ka banera panchi kyon baar bar dole''
* ''Dekh hame awaaz na dena''
* ''Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar(Yasmin)
* ''Kehte Hai pyar kisko panchi jara bata de(Baarish)''

==Filmography==
Movies for which Ramchandra provided musical scores are listed below in alphabetical order:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
# [[Aanchal (1960 film)|Aanchal]] (1960)
# [[Azaad (1955 film)|Azaad]] (1955)
# Ahinsa (1947)
# [[Albela (1951 film)|Albela]] (1951)<ref name=ICHF/>
# [[Amar Rahe Yeh Pyar]] (1961)
# [[Amar Deep (1958 film)|Amar Deep]] (1958)
# [[Anarkali (1953 film)|Anarkali]] (1953)
# [[Aasha (1957 film)|Aasha]] (1957)<ref name=ICHF/>
# ''[[Akbar Salim Anarkali]]'' (1979)
# [[Baarish (film)|Baarish]] (1957)
# [[Bachchon Ka Khel]] (1946)
# [[Badla (1943 film)|Badla]] (1943)
# Bahadur (1944 film)
# Bahadur Pratap (1947)
# [[Bahurani (1963 film)|Bahurani]] (1963)
# Balram Shri Krishna (1968)
# Bhakt Raj (1943)
# Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952)
# Daal Me Kaala (1964)
# [[Devta (1956 film)|Devta]] (1956)
# Dil Ki Baat (1944)
# Dosti (1946)
# Duniya (1949)
# Duniya Gol Hai (1955)
# Ghungroo (1952)
# Girls School (1949), with [[Anil Biswas (composer)|Anil Biswas]]
# Hanso Hanso Ae Duniya Walo (1942)
# Hum Diwane (1965)
# Hungama (1952)
# [[Insaniyat (1955 film)|Insaniyat]] (1955)
# Jhaanjhar (1953)
# [[Jhamela]] (1953)
# Jitne Door Utne Paas (1960) (Unreleased)
# Kaarigar (1965)
# Kavi (1954)
# Khazana (1951)
# Khidki (1948)
# Labelaa (1966)
# Lahren (1953)
# Lalkar (1944)
# Leela (1947)<ref name=ICHF/>
# Lutera (1955)
# Madadgaar (1947)
# Madam Zapata (1962)
# Manorama (1944)
# Matwale (1947)
# Meenar (1954)
# Mera Munna (1948)
# Mr. Jhatpat (1943)
# Muskurahat (1943)<ref name=ICHF/>
# Nastik (1954)
# [[Nadiya Ke Paar (1948 film)|Nadiya Ke Par]] (1948)
# Naghma-e-Sehra (1945)
# Namoona (1949)
# [[Nausherwan-E-Adil]] (1957)<ref name=ICHF/>
# [[Navrang]] (1959)<ref name=ICHF/>
# Nazrana (1948) (Unreleased)
# Nirala (1950)
# Payal Ki Jhankar (1968)
# [[Paigham]] (1959)
# [[Parchhain]] (1952)
# [[Patanga (1949 film)|Patanga]] (1949)
# Pehli Jhalak (1954)
# [[Raj Tilak (1958 film)|Raj Tilak]] (1958)
# [[Raunaq]] 1944
# [[Rootha Na Karo]] (1970)
# Roshni (1949)
# Sajan (1947)<ref name=ICHF/>
# Sanwaria (1949)
# Saqi (1952)
# Savdhan (1954)
# Sawan (1945)
# Safar (1946)<ref name=ICHF/>
# Sagaai (1951)<ref name=ICHF/>
# [[Samadhi (1950 film)|Samadhi]] (1950)<ref name=ICHF/>
# Samrat Chandragupt (1945)
# Sangeeta (1950)
# Sangram (1950)
# [[Sargam (1950 film)|Sargam]] (1950)
# Sarhad (1960)
# Saudagar (1951), with Hanuman Prasad
# Shabistan (1951)
# Shadi Se Pehle (1947)
# Shagoofa (1953)
# Sharda (1957)
# Shatranj (1956)
# Shehnai (1947)<ref name=ICHF/>
# Sher Dil (1965)
# Shin Shinaki Bublaa Boo (1952)
# Siphaiya (1949)
# [[Stree (1961 film)|Stree]] (1961)
# [[Subah Ka Tara]] (1954)
# Sukhi Jivan (1942)<ref name=ICHF/>
# [[Talaq (1958 film)|Talaq]] (1958)
# Talash (1957)
# Tasveer (1966)
# Teerandaaz (1955)
# Toofani Takkar (1978)
# Tulsi Vivah (1971)
# Ustad Pedro (1951)
# [[Vana Mohini]] (1941)
# Veer Bhimsen (1964)
# Wahan Ke Log (1967)
# Yasmin (1955)
# Zaban (1943)
# Zindagi Aur Maut (1965)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{iMDb name|0708128}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rotxefs5s9U A Tribute To C. Ramchandra, Biography, The Greatest Music Composer Of Indian Cinema on YouTube]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HfPjevUjAM Commentary And Interview of C. Ramchandra with Ameen Sayani on YouTube]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramchandra, C}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian film score composers]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:People from Ahmednagar district]]
[[Category:20th-century composers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]

C. Ramchandra - Revision history

UpdateBot at 06:54, 19 June 2022