Naushad

Naushad Ali (Urdu: نوشاد علی, Hindi: नौशाद अली) (25 December 1919 – 5 May 2006) was an Indian musician. He was one of the foremost music directors (composers) for Bollywood films.

Early life and education

Naushad was raised in Lucknow, a city with a long tradition as a center of refined North Indian culture. His father, Wahid Ali, was a munshi (court clerk). As a kid, Naushad would visit the annual fair at the Deva Sharif in Barabanki, 25 km from Lucknow, where all the great qawwals and musicians of those days would perform before the devotees, and Naushad would sit there, listening to those wondrous melodies. He studied classic Hindustani music there under Ustad Ghurbat Ali, Ustad Yusuf Ali, Ustad Babban Saheb, and others. He repaired harmoniums.

As a lad, he joined a junior theatrical club and was appointed as the club's music maestro for their theatrical presentations. He used to watch silent films at the Royal theatre in Lucknow. Theatre owners would hire a team of musicians to play the tabla, harmonium, sitar and violin. The musicians would watch the film first, make notes, finalise the scales required. When the show began in the evening, they would sit in front of the screen and play music for the scenes. This was a great way to be entertained and learn music at the same time. It made him grasp the nuances required in composing a film's background music score.

In time Naushad formed his own Windsor Music Entertainers or just Windsor Entertainers, so named because he had seen the word "Windsor" around Lucknow and liked its ring. It led to the Indian Star Theatrical Company in a theatre at Golagunj colony in Lucknow. He was trained under Laddan Khanhad where he became capable of working independently as a composer. There he also developed the sense to pick rare musical jewels from the folk tradition of Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Saurashtra during the company's sojourns in those regions. The traveling players got as far as Viramgam in Gujarat, where they discovered penury, even after selling off theatrical props and musical instruments. The company limped back to Lucknow through the kindness of one of Naushad's friends.

Naushad had already become a cinema fan in the silent era, and then, in 1931, Indian cinema got voice and music that further fascinated the 13 year old boy. But his family was strict follower of Islamic diktat of prohibition of music and his father gave him ultimatum to leave music if he has to stay at home. He ran away to Mumbai (then called Bombay) in the late 1937 to try his luck as a musician.

Career

In Mumbai, he initially stayed with an acquaintance from Lucknow at Colaba and after a while, shifted to Dadar opposite the Broadway theater where he would sleep on the footpath. He assisted music director Ustad Jhande Khan who was at the peak of his success those days, at a monthly salary of Rs 40. The producer was a Russian and the studio was at Chembur. The film could not be completed. Naushad was a piano player so he worked as a pianist in composer Ustad Mushtaq Hussain's orchestra. He then polished off an unfinished film score and got a credit as assistant to Hussain. Then the film company collapsed. Composer Khemchand Prakash took him on as his assistant for the film Kanchan at Ranjit Studio at a salary of Rs 60 per month, for which Naushad remained extremely grateful and, in interviews, had called Khemchand his guru.

His friend, lyricist D N Madhok trusted Naushad's unusual talent for composing music and introduced him to various film producers. Chandulal Shah, the owner of Ranjit Studios, offered to sign Naushad for one of his forthcoming films. Naushad composed a lilting bhajan for this film, ‘Bata de koi kaun gali gaye Shyam’, but the film never got on the floors. He was assistant music director for the Punjabi film 'Mirza Sahib' (1939).

He composed for his first Independent film Prem Nagar in 1940 that had story set in Kachchh for which he did a lot of research into the folk music of the area. With A.R. Kardar's film Nai Duniya (1942), he got first credit as "music director" and he began to work regularly for Kardar Productions. He however had a flexibility that he could work outside Kardar Productions, and this arrangement continued ever after. He first got noticed with A.R. Kardar's film Sharda (1942) wherein 13-year-old Suraiya debut with Panchhi Ja song for the playback for heroine Mehtab. It was Rattan (1944) that took Naushad right to the top and enabled him to charge Rs 25,000 a film then.

But his Lucknow based family remained against music and Naushad had to hide the fact that he composes music from his family. When Naushad got married, the band was playing the tunes of the super hit songs of Naushad's film Rattan while Naushad's father and father-in-law were condemning the musician who had composed these songs, and Naushad dared not tell them that it was he who had composed the music.

1946 brought Anmol Ghadi in which he worked with Noorjehan and Shahjehan and paired with K L Saigal, both films and the music became super hit.

on 14 August 1947, Pakistan was created and on 15 August 1947, India got independence. Communal riots broke up in entire country and everything got divided among the religious lines of Hindu and Muslims. Several Mumbai-based Muslim film-makers and artistes migrated to Pakistan, but some of those who had established themselves remained in Mumbai and were left alone as such. But newcomers were victimised and isolated. Meetings held by some anti-Muslim prominent artists, film-makers and journalists.

From 1942 until the late 1960s, he was one of the top music directors in Bollywood. While he did less than a hundred films during his lifetime, 26 of those films celebrated Silver jubilees (25 weeks run) -- 8 celebrated golden jubilees (50 weeks run) and 4 celebrated diamond jubilees (60 weeks run). (inclusive count - a diamond jubilee film also celebrated Silver and Golden jubilee)

Naushad worked with several lyricists, including Shakeel Badayuni, Majrooh Sultanpuri, D. N. Madhok, Zia Sarhadi, and Khumar Barabankvi.

Mother India (1957), for which he had composed music, was the first Indian film that got nominated for Oscar.

Naushad completed Pakeezah (1972) after its Music Director, Ghulam Mohammed's death, who had worked earlier as his assistant for several films.

In 1981, Naushad was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. In 1988 he worked in a Malayalam Film Dhwani starring Ever Green Hero Prem Nazir. In 1995 he gave music for Shahrukh Khan starrer, Guddu of which a few songs became popular. In 2004, when a colorized version of the classic Mughal-e-Azam was released, Naushad was a guest of honor at the premiere^[1].

He composed the tunes of Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story (2005) at the age of 86, thus becoming the world's oldest composer.

5 films have been made on his life and work Naushad Ka Sangeet, Sangeet Ka Badshah, Naushad (T. V.) 1972, Biography-by Doordarshan; B. C. LONDON T. V. 's Movie Mahal Naushad, and T. V. Serial 'Zinda Ka Safer Biographical books published are Dastaan-E-Naushad (Marathi) by Shashikant Kinikar; Aaj Awat Man Mero (Gujarati); Hindi and Urdu biographical sketches in Shama & Sushma Magazines respectively, titled "Naushad Ki Kahani, Naushad Ki Zubani"; the last one was translated into Marathi by Shashikant Kinikar. Kinikar also came up with a book titled "Notes of Naushad" which puts together some interesting anecdotes of Naushad's life.

He set Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's verse, Unki yaad kare, to song in 2006, rendered by A. Hariharan in lead voice with 40 chorus singers, produced by Keshav Communications. The poem is dedicated to those who have lost their lives defending the country's border.

He also loved Angling and the beauty of Nature. In 1962, he caught his largest fish, a 52 lb. CATLA.

Naushad died on 5 May 2006 in Mumbai. He is survived by six daughters Zubeda, Fehmida, Farida, Sayeeda, Rashida, Waheeda & three sons Rahman Nauahad, Raju Naushad & Iqbal Naushad. Rahman Naushad and Raju Naushad had assisted him in some of his films. Also, Naushad composed music in two movies 'My Friend' & 'Teri Payal Mere Geet' which was directed by Rahman Naushad.

Naushad had requested Maharashtra state government to sanction a plot for the Academy for promoting Hindustani sangeet which was sanctioned during his life time & 'Naushad Academy of Hindustani sangeet' was formed.

There also was an announcement that Carter Road, where Naushad's residence was, would be renamed to 'Sangeet Samrat Naushad Ali Marg' and it was done by Maharashtra government (M.C.G.M.) on 5 May 2008.

Writer

Naushad was also a respected and published poet and formally launched his book of Urdu poetry entitled Aathwan Sur ("The Eighth Note") and the Navras label's album titled "Aathwan Sur - The Other Side of Naushad" having 8 ghazals as part of Hounslow's book fair and festival "Bookmela" in November 1998. The album has lyrics and composition by Naushad, are arranged by Uttam Singh.

Track list:

1. Aabadiyon Mein Dasht Ka Munzar Bhi Aayega - A. Hariharan - 7:08
2. Aaj Ki Baat Kal Pay Kyun Taalo - A. Hariharan & Preeti Uttam Singh - 6:17
3. Ghata Chhaayi Thi Saawan Khul Ke Barsa - Preeti Uttam Singh - 7:19
4. Kabhi Meri Yaad Unko Aati To Hogi - A. Hariharan & Preeti Uttam Singh - 6:18
5. Mujh Ko Muaff Kijiye - A. Hariharan - 5:35
6. Peenay Waalay Bekhudi Say Kaam Lay - A. Hariharan & Preeti Uttam Singh - 8:13
7. Saawan Kay Jab Baadal Chhaaye - A. Hariharan - 6:50
8. Tanhaa Khud Say Baat Karoon - Preeti Uttam Singh - 7:49

Music style

Naushad was known for his deft adaptation of the classical musical tradition for movies. For some movies like Baiju Bawra, he composed all scores in classical raga modes. He could easily work with Western instruments, including the clarinet, the mandolin, and the accordion. He could incorporate Western musical idioms in his compositions, and compose for Western-style orchestras.

During early 1940s, recordings were done in quiet parks and gardens after midnight because the studios did not have sound-proof recording rooms. In the gardens, there would be no echo and disturbances, unlike the studios where the sound reverberated because of the tin roofs. The echo effect he used in Rattan was achieved through a very crude but effective technique when he kept a microphone in a toilet which had ceramic tiles and then played the music so that the sound reverberated against those tiles, producing an echo effect.

For films like Uran Khatola and Amar, he recorded the voice of a particular artiste on a scale of 90, then recorded it on 70, then on 50 and so on. After the complete recording, it was played for the scene and the impact it created was terrific.

He was one of the first to introduce sound mixing and the separate recording of voice and music tracks in playback singing. He was the first to combine the flute and the clarinet, the sitar and mandolin. He also introduced the accordion to Bollywood film music and was among the first to concentrate on background music to extend characters’ moods and dialogue through music. But perhaps his greatest contribution was to bring Indian classical music into the film medium. Many of his compositions were inspired by Ragas and he even used distinguished classical artistes like Amir Khan and D.V. Pulaskar in Baiju Bawra (1952) and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in Mughal-e-Azam (1960). Baiju Bawra (1952) demonstrated Naushad's grasp of classical music for which he won the first Filmfare Best Music Director Award in 1954.

For Aan (1952), he was the first to use a 100-piece orchestra, He was the first composer to have developed the system of western notation in India. The notation for the music of the film Aan was published in book form in London.

In Uran Khatola (1955), he recorded an entire song without the use of orchestra, having replaced the sound of musical instruments with choral sound of humming.

For Mughal-e-Azam (1960) song Ae Mohabbat Zindabad, he used a chorus of 100 persons. He asked Lata Mangeshkar to render a part of the song "Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya" in a bathroom that had glazed tiles and then recorded the music to get the echo effect.

For Ganga Jamuna (1961), he used lyrics in chaste Bhojpuri dialect.

He used just 6-instruments in the title song of Mere Mehboob (1963).

In 2004, a colorized version of the classic Mughal-e-Azam (1960) was released, for which Naushad had the orchestral music specially re-created (in Dolby Digital) by today’s industry musicians, while maintaining all the solo vocals from the original soundtrack. To elaborate, the playback vocals (though not the chorus) recorded four decades ago are mixed with orchestra tracks created in the present millennium.

As Indian film music gradually assumed a Western bend starting in the late 1960s, Naushad came to be considered old-fashioned. Composers who could compose rock-and-roll and disco-inflected music started getting increasingly popular. Naushad was still esteemed as a maestro, but his talents were sought mostly for historical movies where traditional scores were appropriate.

Filmography

Music Director

Malayalam Film

• Dhwani (1988), Director: Abu A T, Cast: Jayabharathy, Jayaram, Prem Nazir, Shobhana, Lyrics: Yusaf Ali Kechery

Tracklist:

1. Aankuyile Thenkuyile, Singer(s): Yesudas
2. Anuraga Lola Gathri, Singer(s): Yesudas and S. Janaki
3. Manasa Nilayil, Singer(s): Yesudas
4. Oru Raga Mala Korthu, Singer(s): Yesudas
5. Rama Rama Janaki Jane, Singer(s): P. Susheela
6. Rama Rama, Singer(s): Yesudas
7. Rathi Sukha Saramayi Devi, Singer(s): Yesudas

English film

• Such a Long Journey (1998), Director: Sturla Gunnarsson, Music: Jonathan Goldsmith, Cast: Roshan Seth, Soni Razdan, Om Puri, Nasiruddin Shah,

In this film, the song from film "Pakeezah" (1971), "Thaade rahiyo", lyrics: Kaifi Azmi, rendered by Lata Mangeshkar, was played during the end casting.

Producer

• Maalik (1958) Music Director for this film was Ghulam Mohammed
• Uran Khatola (1955)
• Babul (1950)

Storywriter

• Palki (1967)
• teri payal mere geet(1989)

Awards and recognition

• 1954: Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Baiju Bawra
• 1961: Bengal Film Journalists' Association's best music director Award for Gunga Jumna
• 1975: "Naushad Ali", a 30-minute documentary film produced by Television Centre, Bombay
• 1981: Dada Saheb Phalke Award
• 1984: Lata Mangeshkar Award (Madhya Pradesh state government's)
• 1987: Amir Khusro Award
• 1992: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
• 1992: Padma Bhushan
•  : Maharashtra Gaurav Puruskar

Positions Held

• President of Cine Music Directors Association
• Chairman of Indian Performing Rights Society
• President of Maharashtra State Angling Association
• President of Alam-E-Urdu Conference (Delhi)
• The title of Special Executive Magistrate, Bombay

Naushad and Raaga

Here is a list of Naushad's songs based on different raagas. (raaga, song, singer, movie)

Bageshri:

1. chah barbaad karegi - saigal - shah jahan

Bahar:

1. man ki been - lata, rafi - shabab (with a line in basant)

Bhairavi:

1. aye dil tujhe kasam hai - lata - dulari
2. aai diwali - zohrabai - rattan
3. diya na bujhe re aj hamara - lata - son of India
4. insaf ka mandir - rafi - amar
5. khamosh hain khewan - lata - amar
6. jadugar katil - asha - kohinoor
7. jab dil hi toot gaya - saigal - shah jahan
8. tu ganga ki - rafi, lata - baiju bawra
9. do hanson ka joda - lata - ganga jamuna
10. main to payar se teri piya - lata - saathi
11. Tumhare Sang Main Bhi Chalungi - lata - sohni mahiwal
12. Tute Na Dil Tute Na - mukesh - andaz
13. yeh zindegi ki mele - rafi- mela
14. mere paas aao nazar to milao - lata - sanghursh

Bhimpalasi:

1. aj mere man me - lata - aan
2. tere sadke balam - lata - amar

Bihag:

1. ai dil bekarar jhum - saigal - shah jahan
2. challenge teer jab dil - lata, rafi - kohinoor
3. hamare dil se na jana - lata - udan khatola
4. mari ladli re - lata - andaz
5. tere payar mein dildar - lata - mere mehboob

Brindavani Sarang:

1. Saavan Aye Ya Na Aye - asha, rafi- dil diya dard liya ( some say its Suddha sarang)

Darbari Kanada:

1. daiya re daiya laj mohe lage - asha, rafi - leader
2. gujre hai aj ishk mein - rafi - dil diya dard liya
3. kabhi dil dilse takrata - mukesh - anokhi ada
4. mohabbat ki jhuti kahani - lata - mughal e azam
5. o duniya ki rakhwale - rafi - baiju bawra
6. duniya badal gayi - talat, samsad - babul
7. darbari alap - ustad amir khan - baiju bawra
8. yaad mein teri jag jag - lata, rafi - mere mehboob

Desh:

1. door koi gaaye - samsad, lata, rafi - baiju bawra

Desi:

1. aaj gaawat man mero - ustad amir khan, pandit d v paluskar - baiju bawra

Dhani:

1. ajnabi thehero jara - hariharan, preeti uttam - taj mahal

Gara:

1. mohe panghat pe - lata - mughal e azam

Gaud Sarang:

1. aaye na baalam waada kar ke - rafi - shabab

Gorakh Kalyan:

1. dil ki kashti - lata - palki

Hamir:

1. madhuban mein radhika nache re - rafi - kohinoor

Jaijaivanti :

1. Yeh Dil Ki Lagi Kam Kya Hogi - lata - mughal e azam
2. Zindagi Aaj Mere Nam Se Sharamati Ha - rafi - son of India

Janasamohini/shubha kalyan:

1. koi sagar dil ko - rafi - dil diya dard liya (some say its kalawati)

Jhinjhoti:

1. mere mehboob tujhe - rafi - mere mehboob
2. mere mehboob tujhe - lata - mere mehboob

Kaafi:

1. gham diye mustaqil - saigal - shah jahan

Kalingda/bhairav:

1. mohe bhool gaye - lata - baiju bawra

Kedar:

1. uthaye ja unke sitam - lata - andaz
2. bekas pe karam - lata - mughal e azam

Khammaj:

1. chunariya katati jay re - manna de - mother India
2. dhal chuki sham e gham - lata, rafi - kohinoor

Lalit:

1. Ek Shahenshah Ne Banvaa Ke Hasin Tajmahal - lata, rafi - leader

Malkauns/ Malkaush/ Kaushik:

1. man tarapat hari darshan - rafi - baiju bawra

Mand:

1. Bachpan Ki Mohabbat Ko - lata - baiju bawra
2. Jo Me Jaanthi Bisarat - lata - shabab
3. Phir teri kahaani yaad aayi - lata - dil diya dard liya
4. Mar gaye hum jeete jee - lata - shabab
5. Kal raat zindagi se mulaqat - rafi - palki

Marwa:

1. payaliya bawari - lata - saaz aur aawaz

Megh:

1. Ghanan Ghanan ghan garjo re - ustad amir khan - baiju bawra

Megh malhar:

1. dukh bhare din - asha, manna, rafi, samsad - mother India
2. tan rang lo ji - lata, rafi - kohinoor

Mishr desi:

1. aye shahare lucknow - rafi - palki

Miya Malhar:

1. apni zulfein - hariharan - taj mahal (slight use of jhinjhoti)

Multani:

1. daya kar he giridhar - ustad amir khan - shabab

Nayaki kanada:

1. Chala Diye Deke Gam - lata - son of India (some say its Bilaskhani todi)

Pahadi:

1. Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki Salami Le Le- rafi - ram aur shaym
2. Awaz De Kahan Hain - noorzahan, surendra - anmol ghadi
3. Bata De Sakhi Kaun Gali Gayo Shyam - parveen sultana - pakeezah
4. Dil Todnewale - lata, rafi - son of India
5. Do Sitaron Ka Zamin - lata, rafi - kohinoor
6. Javaan Hai Muhabbat - noorzahan - anmol ghadi
7. Koi Pyara Ki Dekhe Jadugari - lata, rafi - kohinoor
8. O Dur Ke Musaphir Hamko - rafi - udan khatola (some identify it as raaga Durga)
9. Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki - rafi - dulari
10. Tod Diya Dil Mera Tune Ai Bewafa - lata - andaz
11. Tora Man Bada Papi Sanvariya Re - asha - ganga jamuna

Pilu:

1. Chandan Ka Palna Resham Ki Dori - hemant, lata - shabab
2. Dhoondho Dhoondho Re Saajna - lata - ganga jamuna
3. Hai Hai Rasiya Tu Bada Bedardi - asha - dil diya dard liya
4. Jhule Mein Pavan Ki Ayi Bahar - lata, rafi - baiju bawra
5. Mera Pyar Bhi Tu Hai - mukesh, suman - saathi
6. More Sainya Ji Utarenge Paar - lata - udan khatola
7. na maanu na maanu - lata - ganga jamuna
8. pi ke ghar aaj pyari dulhaniya - samsad - mother India
9. chehre se apne aj - rafi - palki
10. o ghadiwale - samsad, rafi - mother India

Patdeep:

1. jis rat ki khwab - rafi - habba khatun
2. anuraga lola gathri - yesudas, s janaki - dhwani (malayalam)
3. saaz ho tum Awaz hoon main - rafi - saaz aur Awaz (patdeep and madhubanti mixed)

Puriya:

1. yeh kaun mujhe yaad - ajay chatterjee - taj mahal (puriya kalyan mixed)

Puriya Dhanashree:

1. tori jai jai kartaar - ustad amir khan - baiju bawra
2. Tareef e Meena Bazaar - couplet - taj mahal
3. Mumtaz Tuze Dekha - hariharan - taj mahal

Rageshri:

1. shubhadina aayo rajadulara - bade gulam ali - mughal e azam

Shahana:

1. mehalon mein rehne waale - rafi - shabab

Shivranjani:

1. ishq ki dastaan - kavita, preeti uttam - taj mahal (yaman mixed)

Sohini:

1. prem jogan - bade gulam ali - mughal e azam

Tilang:

1. Meri Kahani Bhulnevale - rafi - deedar
2. Yahi Arman Lekar Aaj Apne - rafi - shabab

Todi:

1. insaan bano - rafi - baiju bawra

Yaman/Kalyan/Yaman Kalyan:

1. dilruba Maine tere - rafi - dil diya dard liya
2. dil e betab ko - rafi, suman - palki
3. janewale se mulaqat na hone - lata - amar
4. tere husn ki - lata, rafi - leader
5. ai ishq zara jaag tujhe husn jagaye - rafi - mere mehboob
6. khuda nigehbaan ho tumharaa - lata - mughal e azam

Raagmala:

1. piu piu karat - rafi - baiju bawra - 4 raagas used (lalit, gaur malhar, puriya, bageshri)

References

External links

• Khayyam remembers Naushad
• Naushad: Composer of the century by Raju Bharatan
• Glowing tribute to Naushad: the Hindu
• Pandit Jasraj on Naushad
• Biography at upperstall.com
• Naushad at the Internet Movie Database
• Naushad Ali Naushad Ali's Relationship with Mohammed Rafi
• Fan Site of Naushad
• ghazal "mein ne jo geet" from Naushad sung by Mehendra Kapoor
• Songs of Dhwani (Malayalam)
• Lyrics of Dhwani (Malayalam)
• Songs and lyrics of Dhwani (Malayalam)
• Naushad's book Aathwan Sur
• Read a ghazal by Naushad
• Hear Naushad's voice. Probably his last interview
• Naushad's Letterhead