FOR NADEEM - SHRAVAN

How do you plan to pick up the threads of your career now?
I have kept myself busy, composing tunes for projects to be taken up after the after charges against Nadeem are sorted out. I have composed more than 125 tunes, very melodious ones, for film songs, about 25 tunes for bhajans and almost 40 tunes for folk songs of various regions. I am also trying out someting different. Like I devoted a lot of time to compose some Goan music and songs for people in South India.

I am grooming my sons Sanjeev and Darshan so that they are ready to accept offers from any region and those from important banners in Mumbai. Alongwith my brothers Vinod Rathod and Roopkumar Rathod, I will be coming up with a romantic album of geets to help a friend, which should be released in mid 1998.

Coming to the films for which the music is yet to be completed, they will all be completed by me this year.

What do you have to say about losing out
on Smita Thackeray’s Haseena Maan Jayegi, which will now have
music by Anu Malik. Have you lost out on any other film?
I would like to point out that the first choice of the producer was Nadeem-Shravan. We had composed some enchanting music for Binda bhai’s (Binda Thackeray) Agnisakshi. Maybe the producer thought that it will take time for Nadeem to return to India, and preferred to opt for another music director, our colleague Anu Malik, who has been composing some real good music, as you have seen in films like Border and Virasat.

We haven’t lost out on any other film. As I said, I will be completing the music of the films we have signed. I will complete all the assignments of Nadeem-Shravan by the end of the year.

You have announced that you won’t take on a new film till
Nadeem’s case is pending. Won’t that result in a lull in your career,
and there is the danger that you might be out of circulation?
The name Nadeem-Shravan can never be out of circulation because it conveys a spirit of joy. Music lovers have full faith in us because we have been entertaining them with good music. The quality of our music has been our hallmark right from Aashiqui. We have bagged more than 100 awards and the gross sales of our audio cassettes have fetched handsome profits to the different music companies. We have had to slow down, but at the same time songs from our two films, ABCL’s Saat Rang Ke Sapne and Naseeb, are already featuring in the countdown shows of various television channels, which clearly indicates that we are very much present on the Indian music scene. I keep getting offers from Mumbai, Calcutta and Madras producers, but I have requested them to hold on till Nadeem’s return. However if things do not work out in the right direction, I will think about the next step to be taken and announce it in due course of time.

Do you feel lost without Nadeem?
I do feel his absence very much but it cannot be helped. The facts are already known to our fans spread throughout the country.

The general feeling is that Nadeem might not come back for a long time.
If that happens, will you go solo?
This is a hypothetical question and much depends on the outcome of the decision of the U.K. court in the extradition proceedings pending against Nadeem. And whatever the outcome, I always want to keep the Nadeem-Shravan name alive.

Your names were blanked out on the audio cassettes of Saat Rang Ke Sapne. But you haven’t reacted in any way. Isn’t it time you took a stand?
No comments.

You won the Screen Videocon award for Pardes. Has it made any difference to people’s attitude towards you?
There is hardly any producer or director who has not congratulated me, besides sending huge bouquets with their good wishes. Many producers want me to start out as an independent music director. I respect their wishes and have requested them to wait for some time, since I have not yet taken a decision on going solo.

Though the industry doesn’t associate you with crime, what has been your fans’ reactions after the unfortunate incident?
The fan mail we get is mostly in praise of our music in Pardes, Judaai and Mohabbat which boosts my spirits. My wife, Vimla, helps me in replying to the letters. Many of these are emotional, and bring tears to my eyes. Most mention that they like the song Yeh mera India from Pardes, which was beautifully written by Anand Bakshiji, and was well-picturised on Amrish Puri and Mahima by Subhashji (Ghai). This proves that the efforts which go into composing good tunes are always rewarded by fans. I must mention here that during the recording of the song, Subhashji gave us full liberty and never imposed any financial constraints. It took us 10 days to complete the song. I admire Subhashji for his patience and the qualities he posseses truly makes him the ‘Showman of India’.

How have you coped up with the hardships in the recent times?
God is always there by us, and I being a fatalist, I feel all my needs are being looked after by the Almighty. And the best wishes of my admirers have seen me through the bad times. I hope that I will forever be regaling the music lovers in India and abroad with my compositions. My fans want me to work for them and I shall not disappoint them.

Do you keep in touch with Nadeem?
Though Nadeem is in U.K., his memories are always with me. We have worked together for almost 23 years, and the bond of love that binds us can’t break off easily.

When Sanjay Dutt was in jail and he knew he would’t be able to do Trimurti, he told Subhasha Ghai to take another actor. Has Nadeem done something similar, and told you to go solo?
No, Nadeem hasn’t told me anything as yet.

Subhash Ghai has announced his new film, and has signed on
A.R. Rahman. Are you disappointed that he didn't sign you on?
Subhashji loves us like his younger brothers. It is not binding on him to take us as the music directors for every film of his. I would like to point out that we had replaced Laxmikant-Pyarelal, who too are his favourites. He has signed a popular music director from the South for his next film Taal and I wish him good luck. And I pray that this film of Subhashji’s becomes a bigger success than Pardes.

After Border, Anu Malik declared that he is the undisputed number one. Yet he didn’t win any awards for the film’s music. What do you feel?
Anu Malik is a hard-working and a talented composer who knows his job well. He deserved an award for Border because such compositions happen once in 10 years. My best wishes for him in the coming years and hope God helps him to win many awards. Last year he did come up with some brilliant work.

If at all you decide to go solo, how do you expect to be credited?
It will always be as Nadeem-Shravan. Our names will always go together. I want people to remember us as Nadeem-Shravan forever.