Laxmikant and Pyarelal got an opportunity for the first time to give music independently in the film
Parasmani directed by Babubhai Mistry in 1963. They stated the music director's name as
Laxmikant-Pyarelal (LP in short). The rhythmic music given by LP for this B-Grade mythological
film became immensely popular. Songs like Hastaa Hua Nurani Chehera, Wo Jab Yaad Aaye, Mere
Dil Mein Halki Si from this film are hummed by people 35 years later even to this day.

LP did songs in a series of B-Grade films after this such as Tum Gagan Ke Chandramaa Ho and
Jeevandor Tum Sang Baandhi from the film Sati-Saavitri; Jyot Se Jyot Jalaane Chalo from the film
Sant Gyaneshwar; Mere Meheboob Kayamat Hogi, Khoobsurat Hasina and Chali Re Gori from the
film Mr. X in Bombay; Ajnabi Tum Jaane Pehechane Se from the film Ustaadon Ke Ustaad. All
these sweet and melodious songs became immensely popular.

However LP got their real big break in 1964 with their film Dosti from Rajshri Productions. The
music of Dosti kept LP in the leading position in film music even after 30 years! The LP era had
now begun even when other older and established music directors of the golden era were still very
much active. Unforgettable songs from Dosti such as Jaanewale Jara, Mere To Jo Bhi Kadam
Hain, Chahunga Main Tujhe and Meri Dosti Mera Pyaar led LP to their first Filmfare Award.

After this victorious feat LP and success went together without a break or
loss of continuity. Names of a few films with hit music such as Anita, Izzat,
Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Milan, Abhinetri, Shagird, Jeene Ki Raaha, Do Raaste,
Piya Ka Ghar, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Shor, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Aan
Milo Sajna, Meheboob Ki Mehendi, Imtihaan, Khilona, Majboor,
Dharam-Veer, Chacha Bhatija, Roti, Prem Kahani, Anurodh, Satyam
Shivam Sundaram, Amar Akbar Anthony, Gautam Govinda, Aasha, Badaltey
Rishtey, Suhaag, Desh Premee, Sargam, Karz, Kranti, Prem Rog, Ek Duje
Ke Liye, Ek Hi Bhool, Sur Sangam, Hero, Pyar Jhukta Naheen, Utsav, Aakhri
Raasta, Agnipath, Inquilaab, Hum, Tezaab, Naam, Meri Jung, Ram Lakhan,
Chalbaaz, Ajooba, Mr. India, Khuda Gawaah, Saudagar, Khalnayak, Bhairavi etc. and many many
more are enough to realize the potential of the LP duo to churn out hit music over a continious
stretch in time. The pair gave music to approximately 500 films in the 35 year span. Most of the
composed songs carried the fragrance of beautiful melody. From Dosti to Khalnayak LP won Gold
Discs for 32 films.
 
 

The LP style of music in their earlier days was highly inspired by the style of the old music director
maestro duo Shankar Jaikishen. In fact Laxmikant was a die-hard fan of ShankarJaikishen. It is
said that Shankar even had changed his orchestration once in order not to sound like LP's! LP in
their olden days have even made a few foot-tapping western rock & roll type melodies in films such
as Shagird which became immensely popular besides songs based on classical, semi-classical
and folk tunes. As the times demanded LP even gave some good disco music in films such as
Karz.

Laxmikant used to take care of the tune and melody while Pyarelal used to look after the orchestra
arrangement. The two never interfered with each others job. This used to give rise to a healthy
competition minus jealousy between the two. It was also the reason for yielding such good music.

Laxmikant Pyarelal were primarily responsible for eliminating the dominance of the older music
directors such as C. Ramchandra, Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishen etc. LP gave tough competition to
other brilliant music directors of their times such as R. D. Burman and Kalyanji-Anandji who were
relatively left with lesser work and fewer films. However this did not mean that LP had unhealthy
relations with these. In fact R. D. Burman and Laxmikant were very good friends.

                     Big and successful film directors right from Raj Kapoor, Manmohan
                     Desai, Manoj Kumar, Raj Khosla to Subhash Ghai believed in LP's music.
                     In return LP give them excellent music. It is even said that Laxmikant
                     resolved the small tiff that existed between the two greats Lata
                     Mangeshkar and Raj Kapoor before making Lata sing the songs of RK's
                     film Bobby. Lata had not been singing for Raj Kapoor for some years until
                     Bobby came along.

                     Unlike most other music directors of their times, LP did not have any
reservations about getting songs sung from specific singers only. Singers were selected on the
basis of the type of song and the character for whom the playback was to be given were All singers
such as Lata, Asha, Rafi, Mukesh and Kishore have equally sung for LP. Even Manna Dey, Hemant
Kumar and Mahendra Kapoor have performed for LP.

Many of today's successful singers were given big breaks by Laxmikant Pyarelal. A few such
names are Shailendra, Kavita Krishnamurty, Mohd. Aziz, Suresh Wadkar and Shabbir Kumar who
have sung many songs under LP's baton that helped them rise in their career. Even today's other
singers such as Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet, Vinod Rathod, Roop Kumar Rathod, Sonu
Nigam and Udit Narayan have sung in LP's songs.

                   The secret of LP's success lied in accurate division of work,
                   non-interference in each other's work, simple melodious hummable tunes,
                   huge orchestra, hypnotising rhythm of the percussion instrument Dholak
                   (that LP used in most of their songs) and the orchestra conduction that was
                   identified with Pyarelal's beautiful style.

                   Another reason was the ability to give music that would exactly suit the film
                   and the particular situation being shown. Not all music directors are capable
                   of this. LP believed firmly that good music was a necessary ingredient in
                   order to make a successful film.

Lyricist Anand Bakshi has worked maximum with LP and written beautiful
lyrics for the duo, although LP have also worked with other great lyricists
such as Sahir, Majrooh, Rajender Krishen, Pradeep, Gulzar, Jaaved and
many others.

Around 1990, a small rift had developed between Laxmikant and Pyarelal
that was almost about to split the two of them. This was however prevented
from happening by Lata Mangeshkar, Naushad, Subhash Ghai and a few
others.

Recently in 1998, music of the film Deewana Mastana carrying LP's music had become popular.
Another film directed by Manoj Kumar named Jai-Hind-The-Pride also carries music by LP.
Laxmikant Pyarelal were extremely warm and knew the art of professional communication and
maintaining suitable publicity.

Laxmikant Pyarelal have always successfully faced the challenge of the changing trends of film
music for the 35 year period 1963 to 1998.They suitably changed the sound of their
musicaccording to the times  leaving the quality of melody intact. They always beleived in making
the best of what kind of music the film and public really requiredd and accordingly changed thier
music pattern for every film. However what LP really never understood was the mass coping trend
that started to gain strong ground from the mid-nineties. LP were not the kinds who could striaght
away lift western or pakistani or south indian tunes and fit  hindi lyrics on them and call it their own
music. LP of-cours have on a few occasions composed music based on a western style but they
have never ever lifted an entire tune and made a hindi song on it. Therefore they  were very silent in
this phase.

Besides that, in these times of A.R. Rahman, Anu Malik, Jatin Lalit, Nadeem Shravan etc. LP
seemed to have taken a back seat, but the reason for this  this besides those mentioned above is
Laxmikant's physical kidney illness. An illness of this nature definitely is not something that would
have developed in a short course of time. I but it must have had an intensifying effect over the
years. It is this illness  which eventually took him away from all of us.

However I firmly do beleive that the best of Laxmikant Pyarelal is still to come. We still do have
Pyarelal with us. Pyarelal is a a complete composer/ music director besides having a great
knowledge of conducting a large orchestra. No other active music director in today's date can
parallel up to Pyarelal in this aspect. Laxmikant is no more, but Pyarelal is no less.

I hope that the Hindi film industry gives this living legend meny more opportunities to compose
great melodies for us.