Pancham did not keep his Words: Naushad

Came across an article written by Naushad ji on Pancham on his birthday carried out by noted Bengali film Magazine. Anandalok in their June 2003 issue. Very emotional in content & has very interesting views.

Remembering Pancham: Pancham did not keep his Words
(Excerpts) by Naushad-ji

Pancham is one of the most gifted music director Hindi film has ever seen & he has presented us with array of compositions representing different moods for us to savour……..SD initially was quite worried about RD but I reassured him that that it’s difficult to stop him from achieving superstardom b’cos of the rare talent he possess. From the very first film he showed his class. His ability to fuse Indian melody with western base & his terrific knowledge on Indian Classical & folk was unparalleled which inspired a whole generation then & MD’s even today……Sometimes I fail to comprehend when I think what made the genius, who composed such innumerable lyrical compositions like ‘Mere Naina Sawan’ both in Hindi & Bengali, compose few cheap songs like “Monica my Darling”, “Mehbooba Mehbooba” & “Duniya Main Logo Ka” …..I feel it’s just a waste of his huge talent…….

A stage came in his career when he got caught in vicious cycle of failures & when I thought that with the kind of potential he has, would make a huge turnaround, he simply wilted under pressure… In my life also I have seen dark clouds of failure & rejection, life seem to be endless tunnel with no light at sight but I fought back & that’s the reason I have reached the position I’m in now. But despite such great talent Pancham simply gave away…...

In 1989 he had undergone Bypass surgery & I thought that after such a major scare he would stay clear of all such things which took him to such a state. Even he promised to me that he will not touch wine after the operation. But he did not keep his words & again hit bottle to fight loneliness during that time…..A genius who ideally should have sailed in the Ocean of music & presented us with rare pearls of sur& taal instead immersed himself in the sea of wine....gradually pushing himself to the doorsteps of death. What a waste of potential & talent! Why Pancham, why did u do this?

A creative & a versatile genius who had lots of music left in him to again transform moribund music scenario of today’s & I believe only he could given a new direction to hindi film music died suddenly.... and a flower wilted before its full blossom.

(Pancham u did not keep your words.)
Copied and posted by Indranil Bhattacharya