In 2001, we shifted to Mumbai and fixed up accommodation in a residential complex in four Bungalows, Andheri. Just behind the complex wall was a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. While the temple was relatively non descript by the usual standards of temples in our country, it had an almost iconic status as this was the place where in 1997 Music baron, owner of T series, Gulshan Kumar was gunned down by some contact killers. Gulshan Kumar ran for his life and his driver also tried to save his life, but Gulshan Kumar succumbed to his injury at young age of 41 years leaving behind his shocked family and a vast musical empire.
The reason for the above tragic incident suddenly coming to my mind is the last episode of Indian Idol telecasted last Saturday and Sunday in which participants sang songs originally rendered by Kumar Saanu, Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik. These were the songs of 90s and the first decade of this century. And while there were songs composed by music directors popular during that period namely Jatin-Lalit, Anand-Milind, Anu Malik etc, more than 75% songs that were sung in these two episodes were composed by Nadeem Shravan, the music duo that ruled the roost post LP, RD, KA and Bappi era! The duo’s flourishing career came to an abrupt end when Nadeem Saifi of Nadeem Shravan duo fled the country to England to escape being charged with murder conspiracy of Gulshan Kumar.
The aforesaid tragic incident led to breaking up of Nadeem Shravan duo and this ended a musical journey of more than a decade that brought us soulful music of such blockbusters as Deewana , Aashiqui, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Raja Hindustani, Saajan, Sadak, Phool Aur Kaante – actually the list is quite long and formidable. The duo won 4 Filmfare best music directors awards, with three in a row in the years 1991, 1992 and 1993.
The duo can be credited for having brought the melody back into the Bollywood music that suffered badly in 80s and early 90s with maestros like RDB, LP and Bappi Lahiri going into oblivion. And they didn’t have a Kishore, Rafi or Mukesh at their disposal, with Lata and Asha also becoming more selective and less prolific. But the ditties they created mainly with Udit, Saanu and Alka in 90s and early part of this century were brought back to us along with old memories and unbridled joy thanks to the last episodes of Indian Idol.
I wish that artists could only focus on their activity instead of indulging in non artistic themes! This is the lesson as in spite of their glorious work, no body remembers or at least wishes to remember or mention the name of the duo.
Arvind Arya blog 