Sebastian D'Souza

Sebastian D'Souza (29 January 1906 – 9 March 1998) was an Indian music arranger in the Bollywood music industry, considered to be the master of fusing Indian music with European classical music concepts of harmony, cadence and obbligato. He is largely responsible for changing the entire harmonic structure of the Hindi film song to create an extremely listenable full body of sound behind the voice of the singer.

Sebastian was very competent in creating counter-melody which became popular from 1950 onwards and Sebastian became a well-known and the most wanted Music Arranger of many music directors of Hindi Film industry. Since 1951 till 1975, he was a permanent Assistant to Shankar–Jaikishan along with Datta Ram.

Bollywood career

He started his career as a Music Arranger in 1948–49 with O. P. Nayyar. Sebastian's role got noticed during the making of Raj Kapoor's Aawara (1951).

Providing violin obbligato at the background, preparing counter melodies for the bass cello, use of choir techniques in employing voices in Indian chorus singing, sparing but significant use of sonorous church organ, refining cordial harmonies suitable for Indian composers could be noted as features of Sebastian's contribution to the Hindi film music

Arrangement discography Song Film Arranged For Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu Howrah Bridge (1958) O.P.Nayyar Sun Sun Sun Sun Zalima Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955) O.P.Nayyar Aap Ke Haseen Rukh Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) O.P.Nayyar Banda Parwar Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963) O.P.Nayyar Raat Ke Humsafar An Evening in Paris (1967) Shankar Jaikishan Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi Chori Chori (1956) Shankar Jaikishan Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein Hum Chori Chori (1956) Shankar Jaikishan Tera Jaana Anari (1959) Shankar Jaikishan Ae Maalik Tere Bande Hum Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957) Vasant Desai Aaja Re Pardesi Madhumati (1958) Salil Chowdhury Ajib Daastan Hai Yeh Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960) Shankar Jaikishan Ae Mere Dil Kahi Aur Chal Daag (1952) Shankar Jaikishan Jeena Yahan Marna Yaha Mera Naam Joker (1970) Shankar Jaikishan Yeh Mera Prem Patra Sangam (1964) Shankar Jaikishan Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Asli-Naqli (1962) Shankar Jaikishan Tera Mera Pyaar Amar Asli-Naqli (1962) Shankar Jaikishan