Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal starrer Aashiqui celebrated its silver
jubilee on July 23. On the occasion Dailybhaskar.com got in conversation
with music composer of the film, Nadeem Saifi (of Nadeem-Shravan fame)
who is currently based in London.
The music composer along with Shravan Rathod delivered great music
through films like Saajan, Deewana, Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, Pardes among
others. However all hell broke loose when the musician was named as the
main suspect in the murder of his mentor Gulshan Kumar in 1997. Since
then Nadeem has been on a self-exile and has made London his home.
Here he talks about Aashiqui and its music, his mentor Gulshan
Kumar, the Dheere Dheere Se remixed track, Aashiqui 2, his Bollywood
comeback and a lot more. Mentioned below are the excerpts of the interaction...
Q Aashiqui was your first association with Gulshan Kumar. You rose to fame with that film. How did you bag the project?
I have always maintained that Gulshan Kumar has been my mentor.
Many wouldn’t know that before Papaji (Gulshan Kumar), it was Mithun
Chakraborty who was like a mentor to me. He would introduce us (Nadeem
and Shravan) to various directors and producers. Thus it was Mithun who
introduced us to Papaji, and it was at his Madh Island, Mumbai home
where we had a meeting and things fell into place.
Q Any memories of Gulshan Kumar that you would like to share.
Papaji was a humble man and would not give a second thought if he
liked a certain idea. For example, for the song Jaane Jigar Janeman, we
decided to take a lot of wide angle shots as the lead pair runs through
woods and forests in the song. For the same, I suggested Papaji that we
should get two helicopters to can such wide angle shots. But an excited
Papaji instead jumped and said that let’s buy four helicopters. I was
amused to see his dedication and excitement to make the film
spectacular. Then I made him understand that instead of ‘buying’ four
helicopters we could rather just ‘hire’ two of them for the shoot.
Q Any fond memories of Aashiqui?
I remember Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal dancing live at an event. It
was a show organised by a diamond merchant in Mumbai where there was
live orchestra playing the film’s tracks and the lead pair dancing to
it. It got a fabulous response.
Q Today when a film becomes a hit there’s a big success
party hosted. How was it in the 1990s when Aashiqui was declared a super
success?
Aashiqui’s success party was a grand affair. I don’t exactly
remember but I guess it was hosted at Sun N Sand Hotel, Juhu in Mumbai.
We had the who’s who of Bollywood attending the do. Those were the days!
Buss kisine nazar lagadi unn dinonko.
Q Do you remember the pay cheque that you received for doing music for Aashiqui?
(Laughs) No, it’s been a long time now. However, at that time music
composers did not get the kind of money they deserved. They earned in
pittance. Things have become much better in the current day and age what
with royalties and all falling into place, it’s more fair play now.
Oh yes, Papaji gave us two cars for the wonderful music album. We
have received a lot of cars from producers at that time. I remember how
Subhash Ghai too gifted us two cars after the music of Pardes became a
big hit.
Q Do you know that Aashiqui’s famous track Dheere Dheere Se
is being remixed by Yo Yo Honey Singh. The new song features Hrithik
Roshan and Sonam Kapoor.
I don’t think Honey Singh is capable enough to do the remixed version of Dheere Dheere Se.
Q What do you think of the music of Aashiqui 2?
The music of Aashiqui 2 was not something new. It was made on the
basis of the original tracks which we composed. In fact the song Tum Hi
Ho as per my knowledge is the copy of a Moroccan song.
Q Do you follow the current Bollywood music? Who are your favourites?
I like Shreya Ghoshal. Even Palak Mucchal is a good singer.
Q It’s been long that you have been away from Bollywood. Don’t you feel like coming back?
I want to fly back to India right now. My parents are also unwell, I
need to see them and be with them. But I know things would not be in my
favour when I return to India. In London (where he stays) I won the
case. The IB, the CBI knows that my involvement isn’t there (in the
Gulshan Kumar murder case), but still government isn’t doing justice. I
am 100 per cent innocent. I won’t take this nonsense. I will fight for
my justice. Modi keeps saying achche din aayenge, hope mere bhi achchi
din jaldi aaye.
Q Are you in touch with Shravan? Or any other Bollywood film personalities?
Yes, I am in touch with him. Though he is not my work partner now,
he is like my brother. Shravan just messaged me four days back and I
replied back. I chat with Rishi Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Sonu Niigam, Alka
Yagnik, Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt. I have industry people coming down
here (to meet me).
Q In terms of work any plans of making a comeback to Bollywood?
I have given music for a Shabbir Boxwala production venture, the film is 95 per cent complete and should release in six months.
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