Daan Singh – Less-known Bollywood Music Composer who tuned ‘Woh Tere Pyar Ka Gham’

Daan Singh was a music composer associated with Bollywood, who composed a few but memorable songs in the classic era. Among all his works, songs of 1970 film ‘My love’ starring Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore were extremely popular. Zikra Hota Hai Jab Qayamat Ka and Woh Tere Pyar Ka Gham, both sung by Mukesh, and Sunate Hai Sitare Raat Bhar sung by Asha Bhosle were extremely popular. Bhool Na Jana and Toofan other works of 1960s. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 78 due to liver related ailments.

Daan Singh’s father was a teacher in school of arts and an occasional Khayal singer. As a child, any bit of music gets easily imprinted in his mind, and he could reproduce any tune. His talent was first spotted at a marriage function at Lucknow when he was only eight. He sang a khayal, Teri baton Se surprising everyone. When he heard that his father lost in a Khayal singing competition, he said that he could have easily won it. He replied with this Khayal, when his words were replied as humiliation and laughs.

During his teens he used to spend time with music composer Khemchand Prakash, and also accepted him as guru after reaching Mumbai in 1943. He also worked as Khemchand’s assistant. He joined film industry in the 1960s, and did only a handful of films in the 1960s and 1970s combined. Despite being talented and composing songs based on Hindustani ragas, he didn’t get much opportunities in Bollywood and got neglected. He didn’t market himself and luck also didn’t favour him.

Daan Singh – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. As a professional, he worked in AIR Jaipur for many years.

2. His guru Khemchand taught him Rag Bhairavi for long 18 months. When asked why, his guru showed him another student who has been learning the same raga for 8 years. 

3. Mukesh sang most of his film compositions. Most of them are solos too, close to his heart.

4. Zikra Hota Hai Jab Qayamat Ka and Woh Tere Pyar Ka Gham, both from My Love always remained singer Mukesh’s favourite songs.

5. After recording Daan’s most popular song Woh Tere Pyar Ka Gham, Mukesh said that this particular song will be remembered even after its artists are gone. It proved true, and the composer is still remembered for this evergreen song.

6. Most of his songs were based on classic ragas.

7. His fellow composer Madan Mohan was impressed by the way he used raag Bhairavi in his song, Zikra Hota Hai Jab Qayamat Ka. The legendary composer was impressed by the way Daan Singh used it in a different way for the song.

8. Bhool Na Jana – originally composed in 1973 never got released. But two of its songs – Pukaro Mera Naam and Gham-e-Dil sung by Mukesh are still popular.

9. He composed songs of 2000 award winning film, Bawandhar after a long hiatus. But the songs were not picturised, and largely remain unheard. He also composed a song Ugmara Suraj for a Rajasthani film titled Bhobhar.

10. His wife, Dr. Uma Yagnik is a physician and is a professional musician.