Interview 2
NADEEM ‘Miracles do take place’

With two thumping hit scores, namely Dhadkan and Kasoor, Nadeem-Shravan have staged a comeback. The duo had never looked back after their impactful debut with Aashiqui. Then came the lull while Nadeem was fighting his extradition case in London. But even as the case was being fought, producers signed up the duo since they knew the composer-team would deliver. And they did. Now that Nadeem has won the case, and the highest court of London has declared him innocent, he is back to his passion with renewed vigour. Already, their music in Amitabh Bachchan-Akshay Kumar-starrer Ek Rishta is a rage, and Nadeem has a dual cause to celebrate. We spoke to Nadeem in London on the occasion, and the triumphant composer shared with us his agonies and ecstasies...

Of the composer duo Nadeem-Shravan, it has always been Nadeem who has been making news. But more for his outspokenness than for his charismatic personality. It was due to Nadeem’s insisitence, pointing out that a music director also contributes to the success of a film, that composers started getting their due recognition and share of glory on the film publicity posters and inlay covers of music albums. At the same time, his brash statements like “We are the best” did ruffle a few feathers. But hit scores in film after film, namely Deewana, Saajan, Rang and Pardes to name a few, silenced their critics and detractors.

Today, Nadeem is a changed man. The trials he has gone through have mellowed him, as we discovered while speaking to him on the phone. Gone is the brashness and outspokenness, and in its place come thoughtful words and measured statements. But he is back to his old self when talking about music, busy as he is with his music sitting with filmmakers, who don’t mind going all the way to London, to work on their film scores.

As Nadeem munched on his breakfast in London, when it was past lunch-time in Mumbai, and indulged his seven-year-old son Samar (he spoke to us on the phone like an Englishman), the composer shared his feelings. Excerpts:

How does it feel to have won the extradition case and declared innocent?

It feels wonderful. It’s a gift from God. I now believe that miracles do take place. It’s a miracle that I am working on films from London. I feel relieved that all the allegations against me have been cleared.

Did you at anytime feel that the odds were against you?

It was a tough battle no doubt. But all along I had faith in the Almighty and in justice. I have always been pronouncing my innocence from day one. And contrary to the belief and the story that was circulated, I didn’t flee to London after being allegedly accused on the basis of some fool’s statement. I was already holidaying in London, when the unforunate incident happened. Every year I would take two breaks from my work, one was to visit Mecca for the Umrah, and the other a holiday in London. The fact that I have won in the highest house of London, The House of Lords, who rejected the appeal in favour of me, makes me feel vindicated.

You’ve made a comeback with a bang. Did it come as a surprise?

We were always sure that we were making good music, and I had an inkling that the music in Dhadkan would work. But the stupenduous success of Dhadkan and Kasoor is like a shot in the arm. It also shows that whatever the police in India may say, the public is on our side. Our recent music in Ek Rishta is also doing well, and the filmmakers’ faith in us has been restored.

Were you feeling letdown by the film industry?

Never. I am very grateful to Bollywood because they had faith in my innocence. The film industry was always with me. They made me feel a part of the one large family. Shatrughan Sinha, Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt were in constant touch with me, expressing concern. Two months after the accusations were levelled against me, and while I was in London, we won the Screen award for Pardes, and the whole industry gave us a standing ovation. It showed that deep within the film industry cared for me, and though they couldn’t voice their opinion, the showed their support passively.

What touched me most was that the people of India knew I was innocent, and believed in me. Even the Indians in London would come up to me and enquire about my well-being. They all love me here and want me to do shows for them. People in London keep calling me up to know if I need their help. That’s heartening.

Looking back on the ordeal, how do you feel. How would you surmise the experience?

The past seven years have been traumatising. When I was in London holidaying, I was falsely implicated. My wife was expecting and after this incident, she lost the child. Nothing can compensate this grevious loss. An innocent man was made to suffer due to the whims and fancies of a few men. My life had become a whirlpool and I didn’t know what hit me. I was shocked and angry at the same time, and I swore on my child’s grave that I would not rest till I was proven innocent. Only Allah has helped me to come out of this trial unscathed, and to fight all that 3000 pages of rubbish, all cooked-up stuff written against me. I am grateful to my few friends who stood by me, and my lawyers in London Clive Nichols Q.C. and James Lewis, who fought my case.

Which was the first film you signed in London?

There is a radio service called Sunrise Radio in London which caters to the Indian listeners. I heard director Kuku Kohli giving an interview on it, and called him up. We had worked together on Phool Aur Kaante. When we met, Kukuji offered me his film Yeh Dil Aashiqana and that was the first film I signed in London.

Had you completed recording all the songs of Dhadkan in India?

Almost, except for two songs. Aksar is duniya mein and Tum dil ki dhadkan mein were worked on in London.

How do you go about working on a score from London, and how do you co-ordinate the recording with your partner Shravan?

Viva technology. Thanks to it, I can go about my work without any hitches. After the producer-director narrate the story, I compose the songs and then they are programmed here, after which, through internet I send it over to India. And during the recordings I am in touch and tuned in on the phone. I have some very capable and competent assistants to help me out.

In your recent scores, that typical Nadeem-Shravan trademark music isn’t evident. Is there a conscious attempt to change your style?

Not really. Our music is still very much in keeping with our style. The Nadeem-Shravan stamp has to be there. Over the years you do get influenced with different kinds of music, and since my stay in London I have been tuned in to all types of music from the world over. So maybe that has influenced a change in style. You tend to absorb some piece of music which has impressed you unconsciously. And the trends in music keep changing fast, so one has to keep up with the changes, and that too reflects in your music. Basically I compose straight from the heart. A tune can strike me anytime, anywhere, which is why I carry a tape-recorder everywhere. The score of Kasoor was done from London, and so was Ek Rishta. That may have made our music sound different.

Tell us about the films in your kitty? Are they all big banner films?

We have signed about 15 films, and filmmakers like Kuku Kohli, Suneel Darshan, Dharmesh Darshan, Mukesh Bhatt, who we worked with earlier, have repeated us. We are doing Pahlaj Nihalani’s Joshilay, two films with Venus titled Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai and Hum Ho Gaye Aapke, a film with Rikku Rakesh Nath, Vikram Bhatt-directed Raaz, Vimal Kumar’s Aashiqui Deewangi, Dharmesh Darshan’s Haan Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya, Lawrence D’souza-directed Dil Deke Dekho, Baba Film’s untitled venture starring Ajay Devgan-Karisma Kapoor, and a film with Vashu Bhagnani to name some.

As for big banner films, well for me all the films are big and important. I don’t discriminate, and work equally hard on all.

What is your work schedule in London like?

I work 19 hours a day. So strong is my homework that when the producers fax me the story, I am ready with the tunes within a few days. The songs for Ek Rishta hardly took much time. I met Suneel Darshan at the IFA Awards, which took place at the Millennium Dome here, and he narrated to me the gist of the story of Ek Rishta. So good was his narration, that by next morning I had the entire score of the film ready. In just one night I had outlined the tunes. Suneel was quite impressed.

You seem to have toned down a lot.

I have realised that it is best to keep a low profile. Publicity and popularity can harm you too. Human beings are basically selfish, and one person can’t digest another person’s success. He doesn’t realise that a lot of hard work and sweat has gone behind that success. People grudge other people’s fame.

Success and the pronouncement of success gave me only pain. Now I’d prefer that my work speaks for me. All that I have gone through has made me quite tough, and I am like a Mad Max now (laughs). It has taught me that in life you have very few friends, and Almighty God is your only true friend.

I am fortunate to have a career in music, because I strongly feel that music has the power to heal. Even as I was going through hell, and attending sessions in court, music was by my side. It was music which helped me keep my composure. Know what, I would be writing songs during the court proceedings.

Hey, your sounding quite philosophical.

It’s not philosophy, it’s a lesson life has taught me. I feel we are going back to the stone age, although we talk about computers. We are getting more and more intolerant, and religious conscious, and more and more barbaric. Human life seems to have has lost its value. I hope our good music can change this atmosphere of hatred into a romantic and peaceful one.

Is your relationship with Shravan the same as before?

Yes. Shravan is like my brother. Do relationships between brothers change?

Anuradha Paudwal continues singing for you’ll. Did you expect this after you were falsely implicated?

Anuradhaji is our mentor and she has always stood by us. She has recorded more than a dozen songs with us for our forthcoming films.

Amitabh Bachchan is said to have liked your music for Haan Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya starring Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor?

Amitabhji has always had kind words for us. He’s one man I salute because he emerged triumphant after a rough patch. Just like me. We are two of a kind. Goes to show that you can’t keep a good man down.

Does you son Samar show any musical inclinations?

He is just eight, but he has already started his piano classes. He is learning to play the drums too. He shows a keen interest when I have my musical sittings. He has a good sense of rhythm. When producers come here, they want to sign him up to act in their films.