It was year 1975. The great maestro of music had then been left alone with his soul mate and junior moving to divine abode. Critics said Shankar music was not getting the means of Sailendra for a justifiable expression. The politics of music business had taken toll of his business viability and scope in the silver screen. There was no other popular medium to unleash his magic at that time. Disciples had distanced themselves with so called coterie establishing around Shankar. Orchestra man Sebastian was planning for a retirement and rhyme in-charge Dattaram was looking for new assignments outside to cope with his own financial needs.

The greatest music composer roared with his awe-inspiring score. The music album of Sanyasi was created. The history of film music was rewritten and direct rope between serene sexuality and whole-hearted devotion got re-established. A great confluence of glamour and spirituality took place.

The old disciple Lata returned to render SJ-magic with her pious voice. Hema Malini set to establish herself as the symbol of Indian sensuality for generations to come. Devotion had found a personalization in handsome Manoj Kumar. Maestro had chosen six lyricists to reduce the impact of Sailendra’s absence, oh, of course Hasrat was there though only for one. Shankar had chosen their favourite raga, Vairavi, to push the big orchestra to climax reaching divine altitude.

“Chal Sanyasi Mandir Mein” resolves the conundrum of many centuries if the musical effort of Menaka before Vishwamitra could be true. After all, the meditating sage can only listen to the seducing musical jhankar to shed brahmacharya. The quickly undulating musical octave helped Hema Malini to venture for the woman’s most sensuous arrogance in the song. The best in the chart! Please don’t refer to remix-version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or411l_j6tA however

“Sun Baal Brahmachari” will be remembered as two best songs in the album along with the first one above. The female expression in musical score is vibrant and reverbarates atmosphere with romantic and sensuous hue.

“Bali Umariya Bhajan Karoo Kaise” does not require any review as many songs in 90’s have earned big applause by copying its different portions. I like interludes - a true romantic satire expressed with musical notes.

“Jaisa Mera Roop Rangila” is the highly galvanizing song with a western effect. Very close to my ears — listen to this song once, it will be to yours too.
“Shaam E Furqat” is a good and usual Shankar treat but cast in the fresh musical domain of this album.

“Kya Maar Sakegi Maut Use” is a lovely song where Indeevar’s two-parts poem has got a high musical elevation. “Shankar” has been addressed in a different context in the song.

“Karm Kiye Ja” - Lyrics is very good and very well musically cast

“Choron Ka Maal” - Good song and context-driven. Nice to listen.

Shankar asserted his supremacy over music, melody, trend, and mass taste. This musical edifice will be a torchbearer for all music composers for times to come and a prize catch for all music lovers.

Recommendations:
1. Go to a hilltop on a mild sunny day early in the morning and play the record. You will surely feel the divine touch around your ears.
2. Keep Sanyasi music on your mobile: http://mobilesearch.rediff.com/ringtones/mobilesearch.php?query=Sanyasi+(1975)&searchtype=movie

I have grown listening to Shankar-Jaikishan music. I still remember when Shankar left this mundane world twenty-one years ago. I was studying in Class IX when I visited the homeopathic clinic of my uncle along with my father. I saw them going into a very engaged discussion immediately, and was curious to know what happened. When my father identified my curiosity, he called me and pointed to a small item on the front page of an Oriya newspaper. It read Famous Music Composer Shankar Is Dead.

Oh, then I understood the gloomy atmosphere there, and could understand most of the discussion. I was shocked as I had listened to my one of the most favourite song “Sunle Mere Payal…” from movie “Sasural” in the evening of the previous day. We, both father and son, had discussed the zing of music from Shankar-Jaikishan.

For us, an era had ended!