In the 70s, in his effort to be accepted in changing times and much competition, Madanji had to sometimes reorient himself… and yet he retained his signature style based on the situational demands of a film.

Madanji passed away in 1975 at the young age of 51. He had completed the recordings of all songs for MAUSAM, which was a silver jubilee hit but Madanji did not live to see the success. But his biggest commercial success was released in 1976.

LAILA MAJNU was a much-coveted film and Madanji teamed up with director H.S. Rawail after many years, as the director felt only Madanji could do justice to the music, especially after the appreciation for HEER RAANJHA, a few years earlier. Madanji also teamed up with ace poet Sahir Ludhianvi after a long gap since GAZAL in 1964.

The young pair Rishi Kapoor - Ranjeeta starrer was made with much fanfare, and Madanji created many tunes for the challenging score. He recorded 6 songs in his lifetime, while he left behind a rough melody for the seventh. Upon his untimely demise, his close friend Jaidevji was called upon to complete the unfinished song (‘Kehna Ek Deewana Teri Yaad Mein’) and thereafter to create two additional songs required (‘Laila Majnu Do Badan Ek Jaan’ and ‘Yeh Deewane Ki Zid Hai’).

So even though Madanji composed and recorded 6 complete songs in his lifetime, unfortunately the records did not specify the individual composer names and thus he has always shared the credit for all 9 songs for the film.

The film became a golden jubilee hit… the first of Madanji’s career... and the music was a major contributor. The Lataji solo ‘Husn Haazir Hai’ became a blockbuster and the Number 1 song of the year on Binaca Geetmala for 18 weeks, something which had never happened in Madanji’s lifetime.

Rafi Saab sang all the songs for the hero, as Madanji was insistent on it, though the director and producer and others wanted other singers for the young hero. Rafi Saab always claimed that he was thrilled to sing in this film and after its success he became the voice for Rishi Kapoor in many later films.