The Naushad institute
V S Srinivasan
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Naushad in his heyday. Click for bigger pic!
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If you were an aspiring film musician and were offered a chance to learn from Naushad, would you refuse? It would be odd indeed if anyone chose to toss up the chance to train from the man who composed the music for Mughal-e-Azam, Baiju Bawra, Aan, Mother India, Andaz...
The opportunity exists, now that he has set up his Naushad Academy of Hindustani Sangeet to popularise and preserve Hindustani music. But with his background, he says he can't help but put in something on cinema too though he is hazy about the details now.
"Let it grow and we will talk about it in detail," he says. But we prod on, asking why he decided to get into teaching at a time when he has been consistently refusing movies, even from directors like Subhash Ghai. One film he did was Guddu starring Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. That, because he was given the liberty to do what he wished.
The academy was inaugurated last month by Pramod Navalkar, Maharashtra's minister for cultural affairs.
"In India, many bright and talented have died without even being noticed. Something must be done to stop this trend. Music must be kept alive by musicians. It is our prerogative to keep their names alive and in circulation. That the way the art can repay the artiste," says the composer who turned 78 last December.
But was it his own idea? Well, yes and no.
"A few music lovers approached me with the concept. They said since I had spent over six decades in film music, they would like me to head such a body. I myself had a similar plan in mind, but then I was short of resources. It was as if god had sent them to me to promote the music."
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Naushad now. Click for bigger pic!
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So a delighted Naushad offered some of his own suggestions for he didn't want it to be another make-more-money academy.
"There is a big difference between a well-planned foundation and an ordinary academy to which one lends one's name. I am very particular when I allow people to use my name. I don't want it to be an academy to which Naushad has lent his name just for the sake of it."
Pride and honour satisfied, Naushad okayed the plan. Today the trustees include vocalist Sushila Rani Patel, Maqbool Fida Husain and state police chief Arvind Inamdar.
The academy's executive committee include stalwarts like Uttam Singh (of Dil To Pagal Hai fame) and sitarist Shahid Parvez.
According to Naushad, the academy plans to groom three or four artistes every year in both classical and film music.
"A library will be set up to facilitate research, and deserving artistes will be helped with scholarships," he says. And it would be stalwarts from the music industry who would be assisting operations, he assures you.
He concludes with a digression about the way musicians are victimised for their political or religious views.
"I believe a musician has no religion or party." But, thanks to Naushad, he has at least an academy.
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