Dear Friends,

Came across a article written by Naushadji on Pancham on his b’rthday carried
out by noted Bengali film Mag. Anandalok in their June 2003 issue. Very
emotional in content & has very interesting views. Was going to Jamshedpur on an
official work & one of the co-passenger was reading it. Took the mag from him &
the brief text below is an representation which may not be line by line
translation but a gist nevertheless of that article.
After alighting in Tata even dragged the person in a photocopy shop & xeroxed
it.

(Remembering Pancham: Pancham Did not keep his Words (Excerpts)

--Naushad Ali

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 intially was quite worried about RD but I reassured him that
that it’s diffcult 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 unparalalled which inspired a whole generation then & MD’s
even today……

Sometimes I fail to comphrehend 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 its 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 todays & 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.)


----Indranil



___________________________________________________
Click below to experience Sooraj R Barjatya's latest offering
'Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon' starring Hrithik, Abhishek
& Kareena http://www.mpkdh.com