Ravi Biography 
Ravi alias Bombay Ravi (Ravi Shankar Sharma) is a famous music director of Hindi and Malayalam movies. He has given numerous hit songs to Hindi yesterdays during 50’s and 60’s and has given significant contribution to Malayalam film music during 80’s and early 90’s. He was known as Ravi in Hindi and has given music to hit movies like – Kajal, Waqt, Humraaz, Ustadon Ke Ustaad, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963), Khandaan, Gharana, China town, Aaj aur kal, Bharosa, Dus lakh, Do badan, Grahasthi, Do kaliyan, Aurat, Aankhein, Doli, Ek phool do mali, Neel Kamal, Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka, Dhund, Vandana, Tawaif, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Ghungat, Albeli, Vachan, Dilli ka thug, Modern girl, Bombay Ka Chor, Gumraah and Nikah. His song ‘Chaudwin ka chand’ and Sau baar janam lenge sung by Rafi are still as most memorable golden songs of Ravi’s composition. ‘Dil ki armaan’ of Nikah in Salma Agha’s voice also needs special mention.
Though he has done a few movies for Malayalam from 1986 onwards, his songs of Vaisali, Nakhashatangal, Panchagni, Sargam, Oru vadakkan veeragatha, Sukritham and Patheyum are landmark movies of Malayalam cinema and its music. Among all his tunes, songs of Nakhashatangal and Vaisali are most popular and he got opportunity to work with Jnanpith award winner O.N.V. Kurup and director M.T.Vasudevan Nair for many movies. ‘Mangal prasadam’, ‘Neeraduvaan’ and ‘Aareyum bhava gayakanaakkum’ – till now, no music composers have been able to find songs equivalent to these ones written by ONV and composed by Bombay Ravi. Already there existed a leading composer in Malayalam with Ravi. He was none other than Raveendran Master. To not get confused with this music director’s name, he used the name Bombay Ravi to compose Malayalam songs. It can be said that he was most successful in Malayalam than Hindi. His first movie as Malayalam music composer was ‘Panchagni’ in 1986 and last one was ‘Mayookham’ in 2005. His other Malayalam works include - Manassil Oru Manjuthulli, Ghazal, Vidhyarambham, Kalivaakku and Five Star Hospital.
Ravi was one among the most leading composers of Bollywood during 60’s though his career noticed a down flow during 70’s. He has won 7 Filmfare nominations – Chaudwin ka chand, Gharana, Khandan, Do badan, Humraaz, Aankhein and Nikaah. He has won it two times too – Gharana and Khandan.
Published: N/A
Updated: July 23, 2013
