Legendary music composer Vanraj Bhatia who gave us unforgettable melodies in movies like Shyam Benegal’s Ankur and Naseeruddin Shah starrer Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro Passed away at the age of 93. The veteran was living alone along with his house help at his Napean Sea Road apartment. He was bedridden, was hardly active and had lost his appetite since the last few days. He breathed his last due to age related ailments. Aligarh filmmaker Hansal Mehta was one of the first to mourn his loss after posting a picture of the composer of his early days and captioning it, “RIP Maestro”. 

Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar wrote, “RIP #VanrajBhatia..apart from the many other brilliant musical works he created, I vividly remember the theme of ‘Tamas’ that started with a shriek so filled with anguish, it could send a chill up anyone’s spine and break anyone’s heart.” Bhatia had contributed not only in the field of cinema but also in advertising, Television and stage. His achievements include National Film Award for Best Music Direction for Tamas in 1988, Padma Shri in 2012 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1989. Some of his most successful movie compositions include Junoon, Bhumika, Manthan, Mandi and 36 Chowringhee Lane, among others.