Saraswati Devi

Music director born as Khursheed Manchershah Minocher-Homji. Student of V.N. Bhatkhande’s music school, Sharada Sangeet Vidyalaya. Specialised in Dhrupad and Dhamar music. Ran popular late 20s orchestra group, Homji Sisters, performing on Indian Broadcasting Company, Bombay, where she sang to the accompaniment of sitar, mandolin, dilruba and organ. These instruments also feature prominently in her film compositions. Associated mainly with Bombay Talkies. In her first film she refused to appear as a singer, dubbing her elder sister manek instead. Her major achievement was probably to persuade star Devika Rani to sing. Several of her best-known songs, rendered in film by amateur singers Ashok Kumar and Rani, succeeded because of their nursery rhyme simplicity (e.g. Main ban ka panchi in Achhut Kanya, Chali re meri nao in Jhoola). Worked briefly with Sohrab Modi after leaving Bombay Talkies. Also scored Jaswantlal’s hit musical Amrapali. Collaborated at times with Ramchandra Pal on music.

FILMOGRAPHY: 1935: Jawani Ki Hawa; 1936: Achhut Kanya; Janmabhoomi; Jeevan Naiya; Mamata; Miya Bibi; 1937: Izzat; Jeevan Prabhat; Prem Kahani; Savitri; Nirmala; 1938: Bhabhi; Vachan; 1939: Durga; Kangan; Navjeevan; 1940: Azad; Bandhan; Punar Milan; 1941: Jhoola; Naya Sansar; 1943: Bhakta Raidas; Prarthana; Prithvi Vallabh; 1944: Dr Kumar; Parakh; 1945: Amrapali; 1946: Maharani Meenal Devi; 1947: Khandani; 1948: Naqli Heera; 1949: Usha Haran; 1950: Kunwara Pati; 1961: Babasa Ri Laadi.

Music