Vinod (composer)


Vinod was a famous Indian film music director of the 1950s. In 1949, he composed a super-hit Punjabi film song Lara Lappa Lara Lappa Lai Rakhda sung by Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, in the film Ek Thi Ladki.
Real name of Vinod was Eric Roberts, Vinod was a professional name given by Bombay Film Industry.

Early life

When Vinod was a child, he was fascinated by music played at Punjabi Hindu weddings. Vinod was a student of Pandit Amar Nath, a musical director from Lahore. At a young age of 17 years, his first official record composition was released, Samne Aaeyga Koi, Jalwa Dikhaey Ga Koi.

Career

Vinod started composing songs for films in 1946. Veteran music director Master Ghulam Haider who had introduced Lata Mangeshkar as a film playback singer to the Indian Film Industry recommended Lata to Vinod. So Vinod had Lata sing some Punjabi film songs in his Punjabi film Chaman. Then he composed music for the 1949 film Ek Thi Ladki, which, along with the song Larra Lappa Larra Lappa Layi Rakhda, Addi Tappa Addi Tappa Layi Rakhda became a hit song, sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi. He moved to Bombay when Roop Kumar Shorey, a producer for whom Vinod had previously composed songs, brought his team there. Vinod composed music for 36 films, viz. 30 in Hindi and 6 in Punjabi language. He also composed 4 non-film songs. It was typical for Vinod, as a music composer, to insert Hindi songs in Punjabi films and Punjabi song lyrics in Hindi film songs.

Personal life

Vinod married Sheela Betty in Lahore and then moved to Delhi. He composed Punjabi film music like Saari Raat Tera Tak Ni Aa Rah,Wey Tarian Taun Puchh Chann Wey.
He had two daughters Veena Solomon and Veera Mistry, both died in September 2016 and 2017 respectively. Veena was Married to Late Newton Solomon and Veera was married to Kelly Mistry. Survivors are Vinod's grand children Sarah, Rakesh, Jacqueline, Eric and Carl and Great grand children Rhea, Mithila, Shaun and Rania.

Filmography

Note: Vinod's last three films were released after his death.