SHRAVAN RATHOD (OF NADEEM SHRAVAN FAME) DIES OF COVID 19

SHRAVAN RATHOD (OF NADEEM SHRAVAN FAME) DIES OF COVID 19 JYOTHI VENKATESH REMEMBERS HIS DEAR FRIEND IN THIS OBITUARY

I was jolted yesterday night before I went to sleep when the news flashed on my mobile that Shravan of the popular Nadeem- Shravan Jodi of music directors, who had regaled us and kept us in trance with his melodious music for almost two decades, has passed away due to Covid 19 related complications after he was admitted at the S.L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim, after he was tested positive for Corona Virus.

Shravan was only 66 at the time of his death. What’s more shocking and also tragic is the cruel way in which the hospital authorities are behaving with the family of Shravan including his wife and sons Sanjeev and Darshan as I am writing this by demanding like Shylock that they cannot lay their hands on his body which is lying there unless and until they pay them ten lakhs of rupees even though he is covered by Religare Insurance.

Destiny had willed that he die soon, taking us away from our midst at such a young age. Or else Shravan, who is a staunch devotee who visited every temple would not have thought of going to Kumbh mela with his wife where he had caught the dreaded Covid 19 a few days before he came back to Mumbai. After Shravan was tested positive, his wife as well as both the sons also were tested Covid positive, . Darshan who is in home isolation for Covid is being allowed today to conduct his father Shravan’s last rites in Mumbai

Aashiqui, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Dil Ka Kya Kasoor, Jaan Tere Naam, Saajan, Sadak, Bekhudi, Deewana, Phool Aur Kaante, Sapne Saajan Ke, Damini, Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, Rang, Aatish, Barsaat, Raja, Agnisakshi, Jeet, Raja Hindusthani, Saajan Chale Sasural, Judaai, Mohabbat, Pardes, Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Haseena Maan Jayegi, Sirf Tum, Dhadkan, Kasoor, Ek Rishtaa, Haan… Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya, Yeh Dil Aashiqana, Dil Hai Tumhara, Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, Dil Ka Rishta, Yeh Dil & Raaz. One name was the common factor with all these films which boasted of hit and melodious music. It was Nadeem-Shravan.

Nadeem Saifi and Shravan Rathod, who were popularly known as Nadeem-Shravan, were among the most sought-after music composers of the 1990s. After they made their debut for the Bhojpuri film Dangal, it was with Mahesh Bhatt who gave Nadeem-Shravan their biggest break with Aashiqui (1990). The duo went on to compose music for Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Pardes (1997) and Raja Hindustani (1996), Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin and many other hit films. Together, Nadeem and Shravan delivered several musical hits. This included music for hit films like Deewana, Dhadkan, Raaz, Raja, Saajan, Sirf Tum, Sadak and Dilwale. After officially splitting in mid 2000s, the duo reunited in 2009 to compose for David Dhawan’s Do Knot Disturb.

You can conjure the image of a pleasant and smiling face of Shravan when you think of him. Most of the times he was wearing a pair of goggles which had become his style sense. Never have I ever seen him flaring up with any one in his entire career. I can vouchsafe since I have seen him grow up in stature right from the time Shravan had composed for Aashiqui in tandem with his partner Nadeem.Not many are aware of the fact that Shravan is the elder brother of playback singers like Vinod Rathod and Roopkumar Rathod

I have had the good fortune to interact with Shravan on many occasions. After their reign in the film industry as top music directors came to an end way back in 2005, Shravan was low on his morale though he continued to be the soul mate of Nadeem. When producers wanted to cash in on his name by offering him films to compose music, Shravan refused to compose for their films with the name Nadeem Shravan but asked his sons Sanjeev and Darshan to compose music for the films and chose to stay away from the limelight. Unfortunately for Shravan who was very keen that his sons Sanjeev and Darshan climb the ladders of popularity and become the top most music director duo in demand, his dream never materialized as his sons always were forced to live under his huge shadow.

I still remember how Shravan had invited me to his posh apartment in Lokhandwala Complex a few years ago when he wanted me to interview his sons Sanjeev and Rathoid when they were making their debut in films as music directors. Shravan and his affectionate wife proved to be such good ansd formidable hosts and after we had drinks and a sumptuous meal, when Shravan realized that it was almost 2 am, in spite of my offering to go on my own by a cab, he offered to drop me at my house in far flung Kandivali in his car.

On the way as bad luck would have it, his car had run out of petrol and after searching for a petrol pump, Shravan managed to locate one to fill his car with petrol. And then drop me at Kandivali and then go back all the way to Lokhandwala

Though the golden age of Bollywood music started coming to an end with the onset of the 1980s, melody lingered on for a couple of decades. When we think of today’s Bollywood music industry which is busy remixing old classics – we tend to appreciate the 90s all the more, especially since it is well nigh impossible to think of the 90s film music without the songs of the pioneers of melody- Nadeem-Shravan.

I will miss my soft spoken friend Shravan whose passion was melodious music at its best, because God up there makes creative people like Shravan very rarely. Today Shravan has been snatched away by God and the rich bank of music that he had built for us to savor will remain with us forever for us to cherish till our last