C. Ramchandra

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Narhar Chitalkar Ramchandra, popularly known as C Ramchandra (or Ramachandra Chitalkar), was a Bollywood composer.

C Ramchandra was born in 1918 in Puntamba, Maharashtra. He is best known as C.Ramchandra but also signed his name as Annasaheb (in films Bahadur Pratap, Matwale, Madadgaar), Ram Chitalkar (Sukhi Jeevan, Badla, Mr Jhatpat, Bahadur, Dosti) and Shyamoo (Yeh Hai Duniya).

Ramchandra often sang and acted in Marathi films under the name R. N. Chitalkar. He was a music student under Vinayakbua Patwardhan at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya music school, and later joined the film industry playing the lead in Y. V. Rao's flop, Naganand. He had some bit roles at Minerva Movietone (Saeed-e-Havas, Atma Tarang).

He was harmonium accompanyist for Minerva composers Bindu Khan and Habib Khan. He debuted as music director in Tamil films with Jayakkodi and Vanamohini. He broke through as composer in Bhagwan Dada's Sukhi Jeevan, establishing a long-term association that culminated with the musical megahit Albela. Influenced by Benny Goodman, he introduced the alto sax in combination with guitar and harmonica, also whistling in one of his most famous songs, Aana meri jaan Sunday ke Sunday in Shehnai. He used a bongo, oboe, trumpet, clarinet and sax combination for Shola Jo Bhadke in Albela. Shin Shinaki Boobla Boo featured him singing the title song with Lata Mangeshkar assimilating some rock rhythms. He introduced scat singing for Ina mina dika in Aasha. Worked on Marathi, Telugu, Tamil and Bhojpuri films. One of his epic compositions is the famous patriotic song Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo . The song immortalized by Lata Mangeshkar was penned by poet Pradeep and is one of the all time favourites of millions of Indians.

He turned producer with New Sai Produtions in 1953 (Jhanjhar, Lehren, Duniya Gol Hai). To overcome a fallow period in the late 60s, he relaunched himself as music director, producer and actor in successful Marathi films: Dhananjay, Gharkul. His autobiography in Marathi was published in 1977.

He died in 1982.