Popular music composer Vijay Patil aka Laxman of Ram-Laxman duo, known for composing music for films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun & Hum Saath Saath Hain among others, passed away on Saturday at his residence in Nagpur. He was 78 years old. His demise comes across as a huge loss to the music industry.

Talking to PeepingMoon exclusively, yesteryear actress Himani Shivpuri, recalled her days working in the films Hum Aapke Hai Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hain. Remembering Laxman's music, the actress called it 'iconic'. She said, "He had given great music to Hum Aapke Hai Koun and it was my first commercial film. The film has a song which has the tune of Sitaar, in that Salman (Khan) comes to me and makes me dance, that was my first commercial dance. I was so nervous as it was my first commercial film and Madhuri Dixit was such a brilliant dancer. So, they made me stand beside Bindu Ji (laughs)."

Remembering her experience working on Hum Saath Saath Hain, which also has music composed by Laxman, Himani added, "I was very conscious and then there was the music of Hum Saath Saath Hai where I had to be with Ajit Vachani in the song (Sunoji Dulhan), we had to introduce the bride to all the family members. Laxman Ji gave a beautiful tune to the song."

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She further said that his demise is a huge loss to the music industry. "His demise is a big loss for the music industry. My condolences are with his family members. His music was iconic. Didi Tera Devar Diwana is an iconic song till date. Earlier, this song used to play at weddings. Whenever Hum Aapke Hai Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hai airs on television, people call and message me saying that whenever they watch these films, they find them fresh. All the songs are fresh till date. Raam-Laxman's songs had introduced Ladies Sangeet at weddings," Himani concluded. 

Laxman was known for composing the music for hit films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Hum Saath Saath Hain, 100 Days among many others. In 1976, Raam (Laxman's partner Surendra) passed away immediately after signing the film Agent Vinod. Laxman continued to retain Raam's name in Marathi as well as Hindi films.