Naushad

Naushad Saab (Ali), the last surviving giant of perfect Hindustani film songs, has finally left us for heavenly abode after a brief illness. But what a pity!! News media in the subcontinent carried news of his passing with information unheard of. Regretfully, the feature on him "The haunting tunes of Naushad" in your daily (May 12, 2006) seems to have been based on such information, and the writer then added a bit of his own to give a consolidated package!!

The writer mentions "Mahal" as one of Naushad's Saab's movies which is actually Guruji's (Khemchand Prakash). Who can forget the song "Aayega Aayega Aayega Aanewala Aayega" from Mahal. Khemchand Prakash was Naushad's mentor. "Kahin Deep Jaale Kahin Dill” as the "Mahal" song mentioned by the writer was composed by Hemant Kumar for the film "Bees Saal Baad". Any serious film music fan would know that the styles of Khemchand Prakash, Naushad and Hemant Kumar were poles apart from each other for one to be confused of.

Again, Pakeeza songs have been credited to Naushad Saab. Partly true. The songs stated were all composed by Ghulam Mohammad!!! Naushad Saab composed four pieces for Pakeeza, "Nazariya Ki Mari" by Raj Kumari, "Kaun Gali" by Parvin Sultana, "More Sajan' by Vani Jairam and an Alap by Lata Mangeshkar. Furthermore, Laxmikant and Pyarellal were not Naushad Saab's contemporary. To be precise "musically" they were 24 years junior to him!!!

But then why blame this writer only? The prestigious NDTV 24x7, covered him with the evergreen classic from Anarkali "Ei Zindagi Usiki Hai", a 1953 C Ramchandra composition!! And ETV Bangla India played Ghulam Mohammad's "Chalte Chalte" from Pakeeza for the same news!!! In this world of "remixes", this could only be expected and perhaps Naushad Saab could stand it no more. With pain he crossed the border sobbing "Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya Hum Ji Ke Kya Karengey", or for that matter "Mohe Bhool Gaye Sawariya".