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.

MAUSAM (1975), the Sanjeev Kumar – Sharmila Tagore starrer, was his second collaboration with Gulzar (as director and lyricist) after KOSHISH.

Madanji passed away in 1975 at the young age of 51, He had completed the recordings of all 5 songs for MAUSAM, which released just a few months after his untimely demise. It was a silver jubilee hit but Madanji did not live to see the success.

After his demise, only the background score was done later by Salil Chaudhary. Many people, without verifying facts, wrongly conclude and write on the internet that R.D. Burman composed the songs for MAUSAM, which is unfair to both the composers. Madanji created 5 songs each with an Indian melody but with modern arrangements to enhance their appeal to listeners.

The theme song, ‘Dil Dhoondta Hai’, had two versions, both different tunes. The happy version, a duet by Lataji and Bhupinder Singh, appears as a lip synch, but in edited parts of the film. The sad version, a solo by Bhupinder Singh appears in the film in the opening credit titles with no lip synch Madanji composed 5 different optional tunes for the happy version. and even for the sad version Madanji made various tunes.. one of the unused ones was used 30 years later as the theme song for Veer-Zaara.

In the audio link below we can also hear Gulzarji in conversation with Ashaji and RD Burman, in which they discuss this song.

Click here to Listen to the Audio

Apart from the popular theme song, ‘Dil Dhoondta Hai’, the ghazal by Lataji was much appreciated... the orchestration was modern with western instruments.

The film also had a light duet by Lataji and Rafi Saab and a dance solo by Ashaji both based on interesting situations in the film.