Bollywood’s most prolific jodi met when they were 10 and 7, worked together for half a century; industry turned their back on them

‘Ek Do Teen’, ‘Dafli Wale’, and ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ — these timeless classics continue to echo across generations, a testament to the genius of the legendary music duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal. Their partnership, born out of friendship and nurtured through passion, ruled the Hindi film industry for nearly three decades until Laxmikant’s untimely demise.

Born on Diwali in 1937, Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar lost his father at a young age. With the family facing financial hardships, he gave up his studies and began learning the mandolin under his father’s friend. It was his first step into the world of music.

After training for two years under renowned mandolin player Hussain Ali, Laxmikant started organising Indian classical concerts to earn a living. As a child, he also acted in films such as