📖 Overview
Raju Bharatan (1934-2023) was an Indian journalist and author known primarily for his extensive coverage of cricket, Hindi cinema music, and contract bridge. His career spanned over six decades, during which he worked as an assistant editor at The Illustrated Weekly of India and wrote columns for major publications including The Hindu and Sportstar.
Bharatan established himself as an authority on Hindi film music history through his books and articles, with his most notable work being "A Journey Down Melody Lane" which documented the golden age of Bollywood music. His writing provided detailed insights into the working relationships between composers, lyricists, and singers of that era.
In cricket journalism, Bharatan covered 79 Test matches between 1952 and 1992, writing extensively about the technical and tactical aspects of the game. His cricket books include "Lata - Voice of the Golden Era" and "Indian Cricket - The Vital Phase," which combined his expertise in both cricket and music through profiles of notable figures in both fields.
Bharatan also achieved recognition as a contract bridge player and wrote regularly about the game, serving as bridge correspondent for The Times of India. His contributions to multiple fields earned him respect among peers across sports and entertainment journalism in India.
👀 Reviews
Readers view Raju Bharatan as a detailed chronicler of Indian cricket and film music, with particular appreciation for his firsthand accounts and insider perspectives.
What readers liked:
- Deep knowledge of Hindi film music industry workings
- Personal anecdotes about cricket matches and players
- Behind-the-scenes stories about composers and singers
- Technical analysis of cricket strategies and performances
- Accurate documentation of dates, events, and personalities
What readers disliked:
- Dense writing style that can be difficult to follow
- Tendency to meander between topics
- Some readers note factual inconsistencies in music history accounts
- Writing sometimes comes across as self-important
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- "A Journey Down Melody Lane" - 3.8/5 (42 ratings)
- "Indian Cricket - The Vital Phase" - 3.5/5 (28 ratings)
Amazon India:
- "Lata - Voice of the Golden Era" - 4.1/5 (16 reviews)
- Average rating across all books: 3.9/5
Note: Limited online reviews available as many of his works were published before widespread internet adoption.
📚 Books by Raju Bharatan
Naushadnama
A detailed biography chronicling the life and work of legendary Hindi film music composer Naushad Ali, covering his journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Indian cinema's most influential musicians.
A Journey Down Melody Lane An extensive documentation of Hindi film music's golden era, examining the creative processes and relationships between composers, lyricists, and singers from the 1940s through 1970s.
Indian Cricket - The Vital Phase A technical analysis of critical moments in Indian cricket history, featuring match coverage and player profiles from the author's experiences covering 79 Test matches.
Lata - Voice of the Golden Era A biographical account of singer Lata Mangeshkar's career and impact on Hindi film music, incorporating insights from the author's personal interactions with the artist.
A Journey Down Melody Lane An extensive documentation of Hindi film music's golden era, examining the creative processes and relationships between composers, lyricists, and singers from the 1940s through 1970s.
Indian Cricket - The Vital Phase A technical analysis of critical moments in Indian cricket history, featuring match coverage and player profiles from the author's experiences covering 79 Test matches.
Lata - Voice of the Golden Era A biographical account of singer Lata Mangeshkar's career and impact on Hindi film music, incorporating insights from the author's personal interactions with the artist.
👥 Similar authors
Dom Moraes
An Indian writer who covered similar cultural territory to Bharatan through his journalism and non-fiction works about Indian entertainment and society. His autobiographical works provide deep insights into the same era of Indian cultural history that Bharatan wrote about.
Ramachandra Guha His cricket writing combines historical detail with cultural context in ways similar to Bharatan's approach. He documents the development of Indian cricket through multiple lenses including politics, society, and media.
Zia Mody Her writing about bridge and game strategy parallels Bharatan's technical analyses of bridge gameplay. She brings the same level of analytical depth to complex gameplay scenarios.
Naushad Ali His writings about Hindi film music composition provide technical insights into the industry Bharatan covered extensively. His work documents the same golden era of Bollywood music from a composer's perspective.
Mihir Bose His cricket journalism spans multiple decades covering the same matches and personalities as Bharatan. He takes a similar approach in combining cricket coverage with broader cultural commentary.
Ramachandra Guha His cricket writing combines historical detail with cultural context in ways similar to Bharatan's approach. He documents the development of Indian cricket through multiple lenses including politics, society, and media.
Zia Mody Her writing about bridge and game strategy parallels Bharatan's technical analyses of bridge gameplay. She brings the same level of analytical depth to complex gameplay scenarios.
Naushad Ali His writings about Hindi film music composition provide technical insights into the industry Bharatan covered extensively. His work documents the same golden era of Bollywood music from a composer's perspective.
Mihir Bose His cricket journalism spans multiple decades covering the same matches and personalities as Bharatan. He takes a similar approach in combining cricket coverage with broader cultural commentary.