Roshan Lal Nagrath
Roshan in 1964
Born	Roshan Lal Nagrath (1917-07-14)14 July 1917 Gujranwala,Punjab Province, British India
Died	16 November 1967(1967-11-16) (aged 50) Bombay,Maharashtra, India
Alma mater	Marris College
Spouse	Ira Roshan
Children	Rakesh Roshan (son) Rajesh Roshan (son) Hrithik Roshan (grandson)
Relatives	Roshan family
Musical career
Occupations	Music director composer
Instruments	Esraj harmonium
Years active	1948–1967
Musical artist

Roshan Lal Nagrath (14 July 1917 – 16 November 1967), known mononymously asRoshan, was an Indianesraj player andmusic director.

Roshan's compositions were marked by a melodic sensibility, subtle yet expressive orchestration, and a depth of feeling that distinguished him from many of his contemporaries, having masteredHindustani classical music, particularly in theghazal andqawwali traditions. In theqawwali genre specifically, with titles such as "Na Toh Karvan Ki Talash Hai" (Barsat ki Raat, 1960), he was particularly influential, and is said to be the only populariser of this genre ofreligious music between its founderAmir Khusro in the 13th century andNusrat Fateh Ali Khan ofPakistan a few decades later.^[1]

In 2025,Netflix released a four-part documentary series titledThe Roshans. The series traces the artistic lineage from composer Roshan Lal Nagrath to his sonsRakesh Roshan andRajesh Roshan, and to actorHrithik Roshan,^[2] reflecting on how the family’s creative output helped shape mainstream Bollywood music and cinema.^[3][4][5]

Roshan was born on 14 July 1917 inGujranwala in thePunjab Province ofBritish India (now inPunjab, Pakistan). Being born in aBrahmin^[6] family, he began music lessons at a young age and later attendedMarris College inLucknow,United Provinces of Agra and Oudh under the training of PanditS N Ratanjankar (principal of the institute). Roshan became an accomplished sarod player under the guidance ofAllauddin Khan, the renowned sarod player fromMaihar. In 1940,Khawaja Khurshid Anwar, programme producer/music,All India Radio Delhi, hired Roshan as staff artist foresraj, the instrument he used to play. He gave up this job in 1948 to seek fame and fortune inBombay.^[7]

In 1948, Roshan came toBombay to find work as a Hindi film music director and became assistant of music composerKhawaja Khurshid Anwar in filmSingaar (1949). He somewhat struggled until he met the producer-directorKidar Sharma, who gave him the job of composing for his filmNeki Aur Badi (1949), a film co-produced byMunshiram Varma and distributed byVarma Films.^[7] While this film was a flop, Kidar Sharma gave him another chance in his next film. Roshan emerged as a player on the Hindi film music scene withBaawre Nain (1950) which became a big musical hit.^[7][8]

In the early 1950s, Roshan worked with singersMohammad Rafi,Mukesh andTalat Mahmood.Malhar (1951),Shisham, andAnhonee (1952 film) were some of the movies that he scored during the 1950s. During this time, he also composed the Meera bhajan which became a run-away hit, "Aeiri main to prem diwani mera dard na jane koyi" sung byLata Mangeshkar for the movieNaubahar (1952).^[7]

He was not always commercially successful. He gaveIndeewar andAnand Bakshi their first breaks in theIndian film industry as lyricists. Later, they became two of the most sought-after songwriters inMumbai from the late 1960s onwards.

Anand Bakshi was given his first break in 1956 by the music directorNisar Bazmi in his filmBhala Aadmi (1956). Roshan gave Bakshi the filmCID Girl (1959), after Anand Bakshi wrote the four songs ofBhala Aadmi in 1956.Bhala Aadmi was released in 1958 after some delay. Together, Anand Bakshi and Roshan made a super hit musical filmDevar (1966).

The 1960s proved to be the golden age for Roshan and his music. His ability to mould folk music with Hindustani classical music became his trademark and resulted in successful movie musicals. During this time, Roshan gave hits such as "Na to karavan ki talaash hai from Barsat Ki Raat" and "Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat" (Barsaat Ki Raat, 1960).Barsaat Ki Raat also was a "super hit" film of 1960s.^[9]

"Ab kya misaal doon" and "Kabhi to milegi, kahi to milegi" (Aarti, 1962), "Jo vada kiya vo nibhana padega", "Paao chhoon lene do", "Jo baat tujhmein hai" and "Jurm-e-ulfat pe" (Taj Mahal, 1963), "Nigahen milane ko jee chahata hai" and "Laaga chunari mein daag" (Dil Hi To Hai, 1963), "Sansaar se bhaage phirte ho" and "Man re tu kaahe" (Chitralekha, 1964), and "Oh re taal mile" and "Khushi khushi kar do vida" (Anokhi Raat, 1968). He composed some melodies for the movieMamta (1966) with lyrics byMajrooh Sultanpuri, "Rehte the kabhi jinke dil mein" and "Rahen Na Rahen Hum" sung byLata Mangeshkar and her hit duet, "Chuppa Lo Yun Dil Mein Pyar Mera" withHemant Kumar.Devar (1966): "Aaya hai mujhe phir yaad woh zalim, guzara zamana bachpan ka"; "Baharon ne mera chaman loot kar"; "Duniya mein aisa kahan sab ka naseeb hai".^[8][7][10]

Roshan married Ira Moitra, his second wife, in 1948 and moved to Bombay.^[11][7] Their sons areRakesh Roshan (born 1949) andRajesh Roshan (born 1955).^[12][13][11]

Roshan had been suffering from chronic heart trouble for over 20 years. He had a sudden heart attack while attending a social gathering, and died inMumbai, Maharashtra, India on 16 November 1967, aged 50.^[7]

Television

• The Roshans (archival, 2025)^[17]

• Naa To Kaarvan Ki Talaash Hai inBarsaat Ki Raat (1960)
• Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai inBarsaat Ki Raat (1960)
• Nigahein Milane Ko Jee Chahta Hai inDil Hi To Hai (1963)
• Waqif Hoon Khoob Ishq Ke Tarz-E-Bayaan Se Main andDhundhke Laoon Kahan Se Main inBahu Begum (1967)

Roshan's marked specialty was the filmqawwali. He was widely hailed for their composition.

• Filmfare Best Music Director Award for filmTaj Mahal (1963)^[7]

• Roshan atIMDb

• Hrithik Roshan
• 1917 births
• 1967 deaths
• Filmfare Awards winners
• Hindi film score composers
• 20th-century Indian composers
• 20th-century Indian musicians
• People from Gujranwala

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