BOMBAY, 6 May 2006 — Noted music director Naushad Ali passed away yesterday at the Nanavati Hospital in Bombay due to old age. He was 86-years-old. The late music composer was the winner of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award.
Naushad, who migrated to Bombay from Lucknow in 1937, was one of the most successful music composers in the Indian film industry. Naushad composed songs for films that achieved phenomenal commercial success, such as “Baiju Bawra,” “Mother India,” and “Mughal-e-Azam.”
Showing no interest in formal education, Naushad completed high school and departed on a quest for music, which became the focus of his life. In his early days he established an independent label, “Windsor Group” to give some clear expression and direction to his pursuits and talents.
After struggling professionally in Bombay, Naushad established his reputation as a capable composer in the world of Hindi films. His illustrious career started as assistant music director with his first successful film “Mirza Sahiban” in Punjabi. Success came around 1942 with the film “Station Master”.
With the resounding success of his first musical blockbuster “Ratan” in 1944-45, he established a solid reputation as a composer of extraordinary talents.
Naushad presented a unique change in the exciting system of music recording. 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. He introduced the voices of eight top singers, including Suraiya, Uma Devi and Mahendra Kapoor.
Naushad was the first composer to understand and emphasize the importance of background music, and made effective and influential use of it. Naushad was greatly responsible in tuning the voice of Lata Mangeshkar, and it is no coincidence that his tunes occupy the upper part of Lata’s long list in terms of popularity and artistry.
