Master music arranger Kersi Lord passes away

MUMBAI:

Kersi Lord

whose last name came to symbolize musical genius passed away in Mumbai early Sunday. The master arranger and instrumentalist gave Hindi cinema the bulk of its memorable tunes during a career spanning 50 years.

He inherited talent and skill from his father, the fabled Cawas Lord.

Scores of colleagues and friends from the music industry attended the last rites at Worli Parsi crematorium Sunday evening. "

Kersi Sahab

had been hospitalised at Lilavati last week where he died of septicaemia," said composer Uttam Singh who worked with him for 40 years. Kersi is survived by his daughters Jasmin, Perizad and Zarine.

He is credited with having introduced the synthesizer and glockenspiel to Indian film music. He was a skilful drummer and accordion player who embellished the compositions of Naushad, Madan Mohan, S D Burman, R D Burman, Kalyanji-Anandji and Usha Khanna among others.

His daughter Jasmin says he could barely keep track of the number of films or songs he made. Indeed, scarcely an hour goes by without his songs featuring on radio. It is Kersi who played the famous lighter tune that sets off 'Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya'. The cigarette lighter reappears in 'Tum jo mil gaye ho' where Kersi's instruments watchfully drive at the same speed as Navin Nischol drives his taxi along Marine Drive. For 'Aradhana', Shakti Samanta shot 'Roop tera mastana' without a single cut to show the intense ardour that Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore are trying to contain. And Kersi's halting notes on the accordion complemented the situation perfectly.

In between there was 'Saathi', 'Caravan', 'Jawani Diwani', 'Shalimar' and scores of other films. Kersi's brother Burjor and sister Hilla are also award winning musicians.

The Bombay boy who did the Parsi community proud was born 81 years ago on Valentine's Day in 1935. He met his Maker on Sharad Purnima, the brightest night of the year that is so special to lovers. His songs likely had a part to play.