Vasant Desai, whose death anniversary was celebrated earlier this week, on December 22, was arguably the most underrated music composer of Hindi cinema. In Marathi, he attained an impressive stature. But success somehow eluded him in Hindi in spite of those two superhit prayer songs Ae maalik tere bande hum in V Shantaram’s Do Aankhen Barah Haath and Humko mann ki shakti dena in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Guddi. The two films and songs were separated by nearly three decades. By the time Hrishida gave Desai Aashirwaad and Guddi to compose (the former is a landmark for making Ashok Kumar do a rap song Railgadi railgadi even before rap was invented) the sun had already set on Vasant Desai’s career.ALSO READ: It is said that this proud composer had a fall-out with Lata Mangeshkar. Producers who had to choose between the two obviously chose Lataji, leaving Desai high and dry. Composer Mayuresh Pai refrains from commenting on the supposed fallout. But he agrees that Desai deserved a lot more. “I always feel Vasant Desai sahab ka jitna naam hona chahiye tha utna nahi hua. His songs for Lata didi were exceptionally melodious - both in Hindi and Marathi languages. Classical background bohot strong hone se unke gaanon mein shastriya sangeet ki sundarta jhalakti thi. Who can forget songs of Goonj Uthi Shehnai , Do Aankhein Barah Haath. His association with V Shantaramji gave the most beautiful numbers. And the track Ek Tha Bachpan in Aashirwaad! Lata Didi’s voice makes you feel the unseen unfelt emotions.” Vasant Desai’s combination with the mighty V Shantaram in Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje and Amar Bhoopali (Marathi) ended when the two had a fall-out. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a huge fan of both. “I can listen to the songs of Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje, Do Aankhen Barah Haath and Amar Bhoopali forever. The Shantaram-Vasant Desai combination is incomparable. If I had a chance to work with Vasant Desai, I would grab it. I do my own music for my films. But I’d make an exception for Vasant Desai.”