Musical memories and Naushad nostalgia...

10

The soothing tones of Naushad's music playing out on every news channel came as a much-needed relief from the usual humdrum of the newsroom...a mesmerising spell broken only by the realisation that the veteran octagenarian was no more. Then began the usual running around, and the momentary musical bliss got overshadowed by hysterical, not-so-musical yells of "break the news" and "write an obit" - something my ears get auto adjusted to. In this day and age where nasal renditions top music charts and crass remixes sell more than their original counterparts, naushad's music stands out. Who can forget Lata Mangeshkar's priceless rendition of suppressed agony as she sang Yun hi koi mil gaya tha with a haunting whistle playing out in the background for the effects (Naushad took over Pakeezah from the legendary Ghulam Mohammad when the maestro died), or the extremely enjoyable Madhuban mein raadhikaa naache....