



India’s first Rockstar. That was the epithet bestowed on the flamboyant Nadeem Saifee, of the composer duo Nadeem-Shravan fame. Even before Mahesh Bhatt’s Aashiqui reached the theatres, the songs Dheere dheere se meri zindagi mein aana, Nazar ke samne… had become hugely popular. And love was back in fashion. Yes, Nadeem-Shravan rescued melody from the mayhem of potboilers and returned roses and romance to cinema. Giving a face to music, the hi-profile pair in the ’90s even came to enjoy top billing with stars on posters and payrolls! A string of chartbusters Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin, Saajan, Sadak, Deewana, Pardes… not only established NS as a hard-selling brand but also won the debonair Nadeem his own legion of fans.



But August 12, 1997 brought a ghastly overturn in Nadeem’s life. It can be called the grimmest ironies that the man who helped the duo waltz to glory – Gulshan Kumar of T Series, well, his shocking murder dragged Nadeem into a cesspool of accusations and infamy. It’s been 16 years since he chose self-exile, alternating between Dubai and London but yearning at all times for the country and career he had to forsake. Even as the Mumbai courts have exonerated him of all charges of conspiracy in the murder of his mentor, Nadeem is hesitant to return, fearing persecution from the powers that be. The buzz is Nadeem and Shravan will compose together once again soon for friends. And the prospect, of returning to his homeland, where not long ago, his tunes resonated, perhaps suggests a release from the incarceration of time… Excerpts:



Nadeem-Shravan is all set to return with a Mahesh-Mukesh Bhatt film and Guddu Dhanoa’s Deewana. Excited?

Yes! I’ve the greatest respect for my producers; they’re family to me. I not only make songs for them, I also pray for their wellbeing. Producers like Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt, Guddu Dhanoa, Ratan Jain, Dinesh Patel, Suneel Darshan, and Rikku Rakeshnath and so many others… stood by me in my bad times, despite so much pressure and fear. The same goes for some friends in the police who knew I was innocent. Bhatt saab (Mahesh) and Mukeshji (Bhatt) have an undying thirst for melody. I’ve the right drink to quench it.



Shravan has composed solo for some films. Would you also be going solo?

Yes, Shravan has done some films solo. We’ll do some films together and some individually. We are mature people. Times have changed. Each one can do his own bit. We’re free now to work together and as solo composers.



Shravan said in a recent Filmfare interview that he’d like to be paid a lakh more than AR Rahman...

(Laughs) I’d want to be paid 10 lakhs more than him. Rahman’s a great technician. On a personal level, he’s a great friend. I respect him.



Isn’t it uncanny that Gulshan Kumar, who was associated with your unprecedented fame, his murder turned your life upside down?

If Papaji (the late Gulshan Kumar) were alive, he’d have fought every allegation against me. He really loved me. He was killed a month after my being in London. When I came to know about Papaji’s death, I was in tears. It was unbelievable. But someone wanted to tear me apart. So vicious were the allegations! I didn’t know that my talent could trigger so much hate in people.



What would you like to say in your defence?

Five vicious police officers, one vicious ex-Home Minister and one public prosecutor fabricated the case against me. Can I ever get justice against these seven powerful people? No! Where do I stand in today’s India? I have hope in the Congress-NCP Government. They have to take a tough stand to ensure justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. They should not be afraid of losing their chair. It’s been 16 years but the police have no evidence against me. How can they have evidence against something which never happened? In fact, I have 219 material evidences against the police.



Go on…

I salute Sessions judge ML Tahilyani who said, “The conspiracy charges against all accused must fail.” I was accused of conspiring with Abu Salem. He is now in the custody of the Mumbai police and they haven’t pressed even a single charge against him with regards to the Gulshan Kumar case. So what accusations can I clarify in the Mumbai courts? But the strength of an innocent man is greater than any government. They made Abu Salem undergo a lie detector test in the Forensic Science Laboratory in Bangalore.

I saw the interview on TV. He said, “Nadeem is innocent.” The director at the institute, S Malini, reportedly said, that in the second stage of narco-analysis there was no chance for a person to lie. Also, I respect the CBI. It’s an impartial agency and I’ve great hopes from it.



What’s the saddest consequence of this imbroglio?

I have lost out on serving my parents and receiving their duas (blessings) because of this zulm (tyranny) on me. I could forgive them (the wrongdoers) for everything but this. My parents are around 86-87 and bedridden. I had sworn on the grave of my child (Nadeem’s wife reportedly suffered a miscarriage during that traumatic period) whom I lost because of these false accusations that I’d fight till I was declared innocent. But my parents said that I wouldn’t be given a fair trial.



Tell us something about your relationship with the late Gulshan Kumar.

Papaji was first introduced to us by Dada, my mentor, Mithun Chakraborthy. We had a music sitting for Aashiqui at Dada’s Madh Island bungalow. Papaji, who called me Bade Bhaiya, loved the compositions so much that he said, “Aapko sau saal tak koi competition nahin de sakta. Hum aapki life banadenge.” Such was Papaji’s love for creating a good product that one day when Bhatt saab told him that a helicopter was required for a song in Aashiqui, Papaji said, “Let’s buy a few helicopters, the song should appear good.” He was the father of the music industry. It was only after him that music companies came to realise the potential of music.



How much credit would you give to your talent and how much to his marketing genius?

Fifty-fifty! But the best music without great publicity is like winking at a girl in the dark – you’re aware of it but she remains unaware! I’d told Papaji that we’d create history. Papaji, in turn, promised us phenomenal publicity. He kept his word, I kept mine. A new era in music began. Inshallah that renaissance will come again!



Aashiqui was followed by Saajan, Sadak, Deewana… how did life change?

Yes, man! Life changed completely. It was impossible to walk on the streets without being hounded for photographs and autographs. In seven years, we won four Filmfare Awards and 113 awards in total. Our songs were translated into 18 languages. We were treated like superstars just the way Rajesh Khanna was during the peak of his craze. Boys and girls wanted to talk to us, be photographed with us. We were invited for parties, award functions and as chief guests…



You were accused of arrogance and being unrelenting when it came to remuneration…

Isn’t it ironical that people fail to see the tears of struggle? Rather they chose to see the arrogance of success. A composer undergoes a lot! You sing for hours, you deliver with responsibility. I knew my worth. Also, humility is seen in your work. None of my producers suffered losses. You receive what you give.



Going back, please share some childhood memories.

We lived in Rogey cottage, close to the Mahim dargah. As a child, I was attracted to the drum set, bongos, darabuka, dholak, tabla etc. I formed a band with some neighbours. Later, we moved to Bombay Central (my father had constructed a building there). There I attended St Mary’s High School in Mazgaon. In the new neigbourhood, I formed a new band. This ‘drummer boy’ went on to become popular in school and later college. I sang my own compositions. I had a beautiful childhood and teens. The nightmare started after 40…



Who were the composers you admired?

Naushad saab, SD Burman and Shankar-Jaikishen... They had a distinctive style and romance in their tunes. There was sachai (honesty) in their compositions. I used to hear Jaikishenji play music at Gaylord restaurant where my parents took us for dinner. He’d be playing the piano and girls would be waiting outside to get a glimpse of him. ‘Bombay’ at that time was a romantic place. The police and the system were not corrupt. They had a dignified way of approaching people. Yet they showed stern action when needed. One could easily fall in love in that peaceful atmosphere. (Laughs) Today, you need romantic songs to induce you to fall in love.



(L) Nadeem Saifee with Sharavan Rathod and (R) a recent picture of Nadeem with wife Sultana in Dubai









What brought you and Shravan together?

We met at a music competition at the St Anne’s Girls School, where we were invited as judges. We were introduced to each other by common friend Harish Boppaiya. Those days, composers worked as duos. I thought why not get together and jam. So we, two teenagers, set out to take on the world. Of course, we had our share of struggle. Bachubhai Shah’s Bhojpuri film Dangal (1979) was our first assignment. It was our first golden jubilee hit. But Shravan changed over the years. He wanted his sons to pursue music and perhaps began to view me as competition.



Belonging to a well-placed family, your struggle happened in cars. True?

Yes, you could say I struggled in a car. I guess it was a Ford. My father worked hard and raised my brother Sohail and me with the right values - honesty, integrity and responsibility. My father, a well-to-do businessman, did a lot of charity with my mother. The British government had conferred the title of Khan Bahadur Saheb on my grandfather. But sadly after all I did for my country, I was given the title of a ‘could be conspirator’. How unfair and biased can a governing organisation be so as not to differentiate between a loved music composer and a criminal? Of course, the current Congress-NCP alliance has realised the truth and has been trying to find a solution to end this lie.

I hope they gather courage to call a spade a spade and free me from these fabricated charges. Sorry… I drifted from the question.



What lessons did the hard times teach you?

There are few friends in bad times. God is your best friend. He sent a few genuine people in my life. Also, the family stands by you, no matter what. So hug your family at least three times a day.



Tell us something about your family…

My wife Sultana is my life. My daughter Saima is married with two children. My son Samar is 19. He’s a hunk and has received several acting offers. Hope the industry is kind to him as it was to me. I also consider Haseena, who was my son’s governess, as my daughter and part of my family.



Reportedly, you run a prosperous business in Dubai…

I run a successful perfume business called Arabian Attars, which is in league with Hugo Boss, Gucci, Channel and Christian Dior in the Middle East.



So, when will you return home?

Hum uss desh ke waasi hai jis desh mein Ganga behti hai… I miss India. As for now, first hear my songs… you’ll see me soon enough Inshallah! I am dying to come to India and win a dozen Filmfare Awards.