Remembering Naushad Saheb: A Solemn Tribute on His Death Anniversary

The generation born after the 90s may not recognize Naushad Sahab, but Naushad Sahab's name has always been written in golden letters in the history of Indian music. He has spread the magic of his music in more than seventy films like 'Baiju Bawara', 'Mughal-e-Azam', 'Aan', 'Mother India', and 'Ganga Jamna'.

But was Naushad Saheb, who holds the status of a maestro, a born artist?

Born in Lucknow in 1919, Naushad was the son of Munshi Wahid Ali. Like other Muslim families, it was forbidden for them to have an interest in music, etc. But at a young age, Naushad used to go to Deva Sharif Dargah in Barabanki, 25-26 km from Lucknow, to listen to Qawwali. It was from here that he started getting addicted to music, even though he didn't realize it. Going to the Dargah was an occasional affair, but he felt hungry for music every day, what to do now?

His passion for music started with royal theatre

There used to be a Royal Theater in Lucknow in which silent films were shown. But the atmosphere of those silent films was not silent. Before the release of the picture, it was narrated to the composer and he used to make notes while watching it. Then, after practicing on it, the musicians used to sit near the screen and live music played in front of the film. Naushad used to go and listen to this live music.

Worked in a musical instrument shop to practice music

There was a shop of musical instruments in Lucknow, Naushad Saheb used to go there every morning and used to stand and watch. There were all kinds of musical instruments in that shop like tabla, sarangi, sitar, violin, etc. Naushad would just stand there watching the owner of that shop, Gurbat Khan, sometimes playing and sometimes repairing.

One day Ghurbat Khan interrupted, “Barkhurdar, I have been watching for many days that you come here, stand there looking at me, and then go away. What are your intentions, please tell me.”

So 12-13-year-old little Naushad said very hesitantly, “Master, I just watch you playing and repairing these musical instruments, if you allow me, can I request something?”

Gurbat Khan was in a good mood, and said “Say whatever you want”

“Master, if you wish, I will come here in the morning and do the cleaning and incense, incense, etc.” Naushad Said

Ustad Gurbat Khan felt that the boy might need some work for pocket money. He approved.

Now every morning, Naushad would bring the keys from his house, do the cleaning, burn incense and incense, and try to imitate exactly the music he heard in the Royal Theatre. On the other hand, just before Gurbat Khan's arrival, he would leave the harmonium and sit somewhere in the corner.

Got caught while doing Riyaaz

One day Naushad was engrossed in his Riyaaz, neither looking here nor there, after all, there was still time for the Ustad to arrive. They were engaged in Riyaz when there was a sound of Ustad's throat scratching and Naushad felt as if there was no blood. When he looked back, it was Ustad Gurbat Khan.

He said, “Yes, so this cleaning is going on.” You come here not to clean the shop, but to clean your hands.”

Naushad was frightened and said, “Master, I made a mistake today, please forgive me, I will not touch you again.”

“Well, you will not get forgiveness.” Even the maestro was in no mood for mercy. “Where did you learn that you were destroying our new instrument?”

Naushad said that he goes to the Royal Theatre, where he was practicing the music of the musicians he heard playing. Naushad said like he had committed a crime, “Forgive me this time, Ustad, in future such impudence will not happen.”

The shopkeeper offered him the instrument to practice

Gurbat Khan said with a slight smile, “Brother, you will not get forgiveness, you will get punishment, and your punishment is that you have destroyed our new instrument, you take it with you and go practice on it.”

Naushad could not believe his ears. There was no point in him having any instrument.

Joined theatre as a junior musician

Then after some time, he joined a theater in Gopalganj as a junior musician.

His father also came to know about this. Naushad once again stood with folded hands like a criminal. The father said in strict words that dancing and singing are not possible in our lifetime, all this is prohibited in Islam. If you want to live in this house, you will have to leave all this and take up some legitimate work.

Left the house to be a musician

Naushad went to his room. Now he could not do any legal work, so he left home and came to Mumbai. Here he slept on the footpath for some days and ate dry food, but did not lose courage. Now both sound and music had come into cinema. Then he got the support of Ustad Jhande Khan who was a top musician in those days.

Here Naushad was hired on a monthly salary of Rs 40. Then he met Khemchand, who started paying him Rs 60 a month and Naushad accepted him as his guru.

During this time, with the help of his friend and lyricist D-N Madhok, he composed a thumri “Bata De Koi Kaun Gali Gaye Shyam” but this film was never released.

His career as a music director.

Then in 1940, the film 'Prem Nagar' came and Naushad started his career as a music director with this film. Let it be known that his age at that time was only 21 years.

He made the debut of 13-year-old Suraiya with a song from AR Kedar's film 'Sharda'. This song named “Panchhi Jaa” was filmed by actress Mehtab.

Became a top music director

Then after giving the music of the film 'Ratan' in 1944, Naushad became a top music director overnight. After this film, he started charging Rs 25000 per film.

Trends say that AR Kedar had made the film 'Ratan' for Rs 75,000 and only the LP discs of this film had given a profit of more than Rs 3 lakh in the first year.

The superhit song of this film was “Ankhiyan Mila Ke, Jiya Bharma Ke, Chale Nahi Jaana Re” or “O Jaane Waale Balwa, Laut Ke Aa Laut Ke Aa”. Not just one but dozens of songs have been made by copying the tunes of these two songs. There were 10 songs in the album of this film.

His father was not aware of him being a musician

The lyrics of this film were also written by his friend D-N Madhok. Look at the fun, during that time Naushad's marriage was fixed. But his father Wahid Ali did not know what Naushad did. During the wedding, the band played only songs from the movie Ratan and Naushad's father and father-in-law were surprised and asked, “From which movie is this song being played? The music is good, but whose music is it?”

Now how could Naushad explain that this was a song composed by him and from his film?

Never looked back

After this Naushad did not look back. He gave a musical hit film like ‘Baiju Bawra’ in 1952. Every song and every raga is memorable in itself.

Naushad Saheb was the one who introduced Mohammad Rafi. “Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki, Na Jaane Kab Aaoge” was a bumper hit song.

Naushad Sahab was also very experimental, he used a 100-piece orchestra for Dilip Kumar's film 'Aan' in 1953, whereas in the film 'Udan Khatola', he composed all the songs without any orchestra, with the help of natural sounds. Were.

He introduced the folk song in Dilip Kumar’s ‘Ganga-Jamna’

In Dilip Kumar's film 'Ganga-Jamna', he also included a folk song in his music, "Nain Lad Jaihen To Manwa Ma Kasak Huibe Kari", this was a very popular song of the 60s. Even today, when people listen to it, they cannot help but hum along.

Worked with Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahab

Naushad Sahab had worked with Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahab in the classic film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’. There is no need to write separately about the songs of Mughal-e-Azam and how hit they were. “Prem Jogan Ban Ke” and “Shubh Din Aayo Raj Dulara” were sung by Bade Ghulam Ali.

‘Mother India’, which received an Oscar nomination, was also composed by Naushad Sahab.

From silver jubilee to diamond jubliee

From Mohammed Rafi to Hariharan, Naushad Sahab's composed films have received 25 Silver Jubilees, 12 Golden Jubilees, and 3 Diamond Jubilees.

The film ‘Taj Mahal The Eternal Love’ was released in 2005, in this film “Apni Zulfe Mere Shaanon Pe Bikhar Jaane Do” sung by Hariharan became very famous.

On May 5, 2006, Naushad Saheb, who gave new heights to music, Naushad Saheb who was awarded Dadasaheb Phalke and Padma Bhushan, Naushad Saheb who smiled with innocence, left this world.

But his music became immortal forever.

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