These 7 Music Composers Never Received the Much-deserving Filmfare Award for Best Music

It happened in 1965. Everyone expected that Madan Mohan who composed the mesmerising songs of Woh Kaun Thi will win Filmfare Award for best music. But to everyone’s shock, he lost it to Laxmikant–Pyarelal for Dosti. It broke him completely. Same is the case of 1970 Filmfare Award too. When it was almost sure, S. D. Burman will win it for Aradhana, Laxmikant–Pyarelal once again won in the same category for Jeene Ki Raah which was not so popular as Aradhana and many other iconic albums released that year. In fact, many beautiful albums were not even nominated in that decade, because only three were chosen.

Not only Madan Mohan or S. D. Burman, it happened every time with R. D. Burman also, who ruled music charts throughout 1970s. Though both father-son duo has been nominated multiple times in Filmfare Award for best music, they both received only fewer times. Unfortunately, Madan Mohan has never received at all, who shares almost same stature as Shankar-Jaikishen and S. D. Madan in the 1960s and contributed a lot to enrich the music of the golden era.

To add, when it comes to their evergreen songs, they are still appreciated and listened again and again even after 5-6 decades. For legends, awards rarely have significance. Also, many songs which won awards that time are not still popular as non-award-winning ones. Through this column, let us discuss about those legendary composers who never won Filmfare Award for best music.

7 Music Composers who never won Filmfare Award for best music

Madan Mohan (Best works – Woh Kaun Thi, Haste Zakhm & Many More)

Whenever there is a discussion of Filmfare Award for best music and about the deserving composers who were never appreciated by Filmfare, definitely Madan Mohan’s name comes first. In association with Lata Mangeshkar, he composed some of the finest gems of 1960s and early 1970s, until his premature death. But it is a sad truth that the ‘Emperor of Ghazals’ never got true appreciation like his contemporaries, SJ and S.D. Burman, and he got that iconic status only after he has gone. It’s sad he passed away in that pain.

When his composed songs of Veer Zaara was nominated at Filmfare awards 20 years after his death, I desired, as a tribute, he could have been awarded. It would have been a true honour and a correction of mistake from Filmfare side. Though Filmfare never awarded him, National film awards honoured him through Dastak (1970) in 1971 – a very much deserving one.

Madan Mohan was nominated at Filmfare Award for best music 4 times – Anpadh, Woh Kaun Thi, Mausam and Veer Zara. A few more of his iconic albums include – Haqueeqat, Mera Saaya, Adalat, Sanjog, Man Mauji, Aap Ki Parchhaiyan, Dulhan Ek Raat Ki, Chiraag, Neela Aakash, Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare, Hanste Zakhm etc. He added some of the most popular songs to the list of Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi and Talat Mahmood. Read Madan Mohan’s best combo songs with Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi.

Jaidev (Best work – Hum Dono)

Despite receiving 3 prestigious National film awards for best composer (Reshma Aur Shera (1972), Gaman (1979) and Ankahee (1985)), this musical genius has never received a nomination at Filmfare Award for best music. Jaidev is the composer of evergreen songs of Hum Dono, Mujhe Jeene Do, Laila Majnu, Tumhare Liye and Gharonda.

Jatin Lalit (Best works – DDLJ, KKHH & Many More)

When it comes to the discussions of the old era about neglected composers at the Filmfare Award for best music, every conversation arrives at Madan Mohan, while in the new generation of music, everyone takes the name of the Jatin-Lalit duo first. Though Lalit Pandit shared the award with Sajid-Wajid for Dabangg in 2011, he never owned this honour aside his brother, Jatin Pandit.

Jatin-Lalit remained one of the most celebrated music composers of 1990s and early 2000s, and they have been nominated 12 times without a win. Most times, they lost to A. R. Rahman. The Jatin-Lalit duo have been nominated for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Khamoshi, Yes Boss, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Sarfarosh, Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Chalte Chalte, Hum Tum and for the last time for Fanaa, before the duo parted their own ways.

Ever since they were nominated for DDLJ, they missed a nomination just 2 times in the next 10 years or so. Their romantic compositions are evergreen, but Filmfare never recognized this celebrated music duo. Yes, they never received Filmfare Award for best music, though they mesmerised a generation with their tunes.

There was a time when Jatin-Lalit’s name was associated with every movie of superstars, especially Shah Rukh Khan (other Khans too). A few more of their amazing work include – Khiladi, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Fareb, Bada Din, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Ghulam, Silsila Hai Pyar Ka, Dil Kya Kare, Vaastav: The Reality, Khoobsurat, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Albela, Raju Chacha, Aankhen etc and a few more.

Vishal-Shekhar (Best works – Om Shanti Om, Bachna Ae Haseeno, & Many More)

After Jatin-Lalit, the next big name taken is Vishal-Shekhar. They have been nominated 11 times without a single win. From their debut in 2004 to mid-2010s, there was a music era of Vishal-Shekhar. Almost every album was a hit, and included huge chartbusters and foot tappers.

They received nominations at Filmfare Awards for best music 11 times, which include – Dus, Om Shanti Om, Dostana, Anjaana Anjaani, I Hate Luv Storys, Ra.One, Student Of The Year, Chennai Express, Sultan, Bharat and Pathaan. The single award they won was for their debut film, Jhankaar Beats, when they received the RD Burman Award for New Music Talent in 2005. The duo has never been honoured Filmfare Award for best music.

Other major works include – The Dirty Picture, Tees Maar Khan, Jhankaar Beats, Salaam Namaste, Bluffmaster, Anjaana Anjaani, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Befikre, Hasee Toh Phasee, Bang Bang, Happy New Year and Fighter.

Himesh Reshammiya (Best works – Tere Naam, Aashique Banana Apne & Many More)

It’s a big shock to every music lover that the celebrated singer-composer Himesh Reshammiya never won Filmfare Award for best music in his career spanning to more than 25 years and despite giving huge chartbusters in the new millennium. Yes, he won Filmfare award once – but in playback singing category for the title track of Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005), when he just turned a big name & familiar face in Bollywood. And most people misinterpret it as winning Filmfare Award in best composition category.  

In 2004 and 2005, he composed music for 10 films each and most songs were huge hits. His association with Salman Khan owns a great success record. Read more about their chartbuster hits. Himesh Reshammiya has received a nomination at the Filmfare Award for best music for his work in Humraaz, Tere Naam, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Aksar and Kick, and never received an award.

Himesh’s other major works include – Hello Brother, Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, Yeh Hai Jalwa, Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa, Aitraaz, Dil Maange More, Run, Ishq Hai Tumse, Meine Pyar Kon Kiya, Kyon Ki, Tom Dick And Harry, Iqbal, Dil Diya Hai, Aap Ke Khatir, Kick, 36 China Town, Phir Hera Pheri, Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, Namastey London, OMG, Bodyguard, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Sanam Teri Kasam, Dangerous Ishhq, Special 26 and many more – mostly for Emraan Hashmi and Salman Khan films, which itself is iconic. Read: Himesh’s top 5 musical albums.

Viju Shah  (Best work – Gupt)

He won a Filmfare award once, but it was in the background score category for the 1998 movie, Gupt. He received a nomination at the Filmfare Award for best music for the same film, but never won. He received nomination 4 times during his peak times in the 1990s – Mohra, Tere Mere Sapne, Gupt: The Hidden Truth and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, but never won a single award. Viju Shah conducted the music of Tridev for Kalyanji Anandji, which also received a Filmfare nomination.

Ismail Darbar (Best works – Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam & Devdas)

Last name I would like to add in the list of non-recipients of Filmfare Award for best music is extremely talented Ismail Darbar, best known for his association with Sanjay Leela Bhansali films. His debut work, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) earned him National award for best music and a nomination at Filmfare awards. Though, lost to A. R. Rahman, he won Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. Next time he was nominated for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas in 2003.

After mid-2000s his career never took off, though he is an extremely talented artist. His compositions for Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa and Deewangee are truly mesmerizing, though remained underrated albums. Shakti: The Power, Kisna and Baaz: A Bird in Danger are other noted works.

Among the listed 7 composers – Madan Mohan, Jaidev and Ismail Darbar received National awards for best music composer. I would also take the names of Salim–Sulaiman and Sachin–Jigar who were never nominated.

Also, I would like to mention those who won Filmfare Award for best music single time – O. P. Nayyar, Salil Chowdhury, Khayyam, Naushad Ali, Hemant Kumar, Kalyanji–Anandji, Roshan, Raam Laxman, Ravindra Jain, Bappi Lahiri, Anand–Milind, Uttam Singh Sajid-Wajid, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Lalit Pandit and a few more youngsters. Sadly, female composers have never won this honour.

Before I conclude, a few words about the father-son Burman duo

It’s quite surprising that the extremely talented S. D. Burman won Filmfare Award for best music only twice – Taxi Driver in 1955 when he was the second recipient of the award after Naushad Ali, and Abhimaan in 1974, nearly after two decades. He never received awards for Guide & Aradhana, which he truly deserved those respective years. He won National award for best playback singer for singing the title track of Aradhana. Guide also includes a wonderful track recorded in his voice. From early 1950s to mid-1970s until his death, his contribution to Bollywood music can’t be concluded in a few words. Now let us move on to R. D. Burman.

Throughout his illustrious journey in Bollywood, R. D. Burman won Filmfare Award for best music only thrice, last one posthumously, even though he has been nominated 17 times. It’s really shocking to every R. D. Burman fan who celebrate his music of 1970s to know, he never received Filmfare Award for best music in the decade of 1970s, when he ruled Bollywood and worked in the biggest blockbuster hits. When he was finally given for 1982 film Sanam Teri Sanam, his glorious era has already departed.

It’s safe to say, his music of 1960s (including Teesri Manzil, Padosan and Pyar Ka Mausam) and the huge list of 1970s was far better than Sanam Teri Sanam and Masoom, which he received in the consecutive years. More sad part is – he waited for 1 long decade to get his final honour for 1942: A Love Story. But unfortunately, he was not there to see the huge success of the album and the announcement of Filmfare Award for best music for year 1994.

To add, to honour R. D. Burman, Filmfare introduced a new category the following year to celebrate the young talent and A. R. Rahman became its first recipient. I often wonder, whom did Filmfare humiliated most among the legends – Madan Mohan or R. D. Burman. I don’t have a clear answer. The way this award is being given these days, it’s a total joke. What to say more!

While listening to several classic hits of 1960s and 70s, I wonder why these songs were never awarded best music awards. Some of them were not even nominated. Some of those great songs which missed honours are being celebrated now, comparing those which were recognized. Same is the case of some songs of 1990s, especially those composed by Jatin-Lalit, the duo who never won this honour.

Over the years, it has been proved multiple times, how critical acclaim or popularity doesn’t always translate to this specific trophy. It’s not just the case of Filmfare Award for best music category, but other categories too.

Also read more posts related to Filmfare Awards. Click here.