It took us 17 years to become an overnight sensation with the film ‘Aashiqui’- Shravan Rathod (Nadeem- Shravan)

“It took us 17 years to become an overnight sensation with the film ‘Aashiqui’. To the Indians, we have given a wonderful time of music and have touched the hearts of audience. By this thought, I feel very happy and proud of us. So, never get dejected with rejections and always keep smiling, as, you never know when life smiles back at you”

– Shravan Rathod (Nadeem- Shravan)

Shravan Rathod, of the superhit musical pair Nadeem– Shravan, is a composer, music director, well known in Bollywood.He was one of some more successful music directors in the decade of the 1990s, until the 2000s with Blockbusters including Aashiqui, Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahi, Jaan There Naam, Dilwale, Pardes, Phool Aur Kaante, Raja Hindustani and many more.

Q.You are renowned music composer and inspiration for many, your name needs no introduction. It would be great to know, how your journey started?

It was the year 1969, the film “Aradhana” starring Rajesh Khanna was released. I was just 15 years old and got very influenced by the songs in it and really admired Mr. S.D.Burman. Actually, I got music in heritage and belong to ‘Pandit Aditya Ramji Vyas’ Gharana. My father Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod was a Drupad- Dhamar Samrat. He was well experienced in the field of classical music and his programs were held all over India, that time.  So, when the film ‘Aradhana’ influenced me, I wanted to be a music composer. Though got music in heritage, I did not want to become a classical singer. Once, I asked my father, what does the music in film mean? ‘It is called light music’, he replied, ‘music which comes between classical and folk music is called light music. Knowledge of Ragas is very important.  A composer should have knowledge of Shivranjani, Raag bhairavi, Raag bhairav, Raag Bhopali. I have learnt a lot from my father. I decided to become a music composer, when I was in 10^th standard.

Q.How and when the super hit musical pair of ‘Nadeem- Shravan’ formed?

In 1973, I met Nadeem Bhai. We were 19 years old that time. Yes our birth year is same – 1954. We met in a small function. Nadeem bhai wanted to be a music director and so do I. we thought of making a hit music pair of ‘Nadeem -Shravan’, similar to the pairs of Lakshmikant – Pyarelal, Shankar-Jaikishan and Kalyanji- Anandji. I discussed with my father and he got us connected to Mr. Bacchubhai Shah, who had produced a Bhojpuri film ‘Bidesiya’.

Q.How your journey as music composers started?

We got our first film ‘Dangal’ (Bhojpuri film) in 1973, which released in 1975.  Mohammad Rafi Sahab, Manna De ji, Suman Kalyanpur ji and Asha Bhosle ji sang for our film. she blessed us with success and that happened too. Film was super hit and music too.

Q.You did your first film (regional) in 1973 and you got blockbuster hindi film, ‘Aashiqui’ in 1990. How and why such a long gap?

After success of ‘Dangal’, we started getting offers for Bhojpuri films, but we wanted to get into the mainstream Bollywood cinema. I still feel that was a difficult era for new music composer to enter in Bollywood. Lakshmikant- Pyarelal were doing 125 films, R. D. Burman had uncountable films, Kalyanji-Anandji were doing many films, Ravindra Jain also entered into the industry, Rajesh Roshan, Bappi Lahiri were also there, giving hit music. 

Q.How difficult was the gap of 17 years?

Very difficult! We could not sign a big banner film or big star cast film. We were getting small films with new comers. It was a difficult phase. During those 17 years, we did 21 films, which were flop and were not getting noticed and could not get a single film, which could had been our launch pad.  It was really hard for us to pass those 17 years. My family use to scold me a lot. It is very difficult to have a struggling phase in your youth, primary, considered as future building phase. But, we never gave up and use to smile during that phase, facing all kinds of problems and struggles.

Q.When things started changing for you?

In the year 1988, we got ‘Baap Numbari Beta Dus Numbari’. We recorded the first song with Mohammad Aziz and Anuradha Paudwal and once the song was over, they had tears in their eyes. That time, we knew, it is going to create magic in the market. T-Series founder, Gulshan Kumar ji heard the song and said, he will release the songs. Unfortunately, that film and songs were already taken by someone else. Then, Gulshan ji told that from now onwards, he will release our songs and asked to create a library of songs. 

After 17 years of struggling phase, we thought of coming up with a private album and recorded the first song ‘Nazar Ke Samne Jigar ke Paas’. Yes the songs of the film ‘Aashiqui’ were actually songs of our first private album, which were picked for the film later on

Q.We heard that the trend of using pictures of music directors on the cassettes, labels started with you. Is it?

For the album of ‘Aashiqui’, Nadeem Bhai gave an idea to Gulshan Ji that this is a private album without any star. A photo of Gulshan Ji, Nadeem -Shravan should be printed on every cassette, as we ourselves are the star of this album! Gulshan Ji liked the idea and promised that every cassette released, will have a photo of Nadeem -Shravan on it. 

When ‘Aashiqui’ released, the photo of Nadeem- Shravan became a trend. We did 140 films after that and in all the albums there was a photo of Nadeem-Shravan. With God’s grace, our Pair got quite famous. On Big banners it was written music by Nadeem- Shravan. At that time, we became very popular. Our faces also, were quite famous.

With ‘Baap numbari Beta Das numbari’ and ‘Aashiqui’, the journey of our success begun. 

Q.How did you meet Mr. Mahesh Bhatt ?

For more than ten years, we were trying to meet Mr. Mahesh Bhatt but nothing was working out, as, there was not support with us. Then, our four songs got recorded,

(1) “NAZAR KE SAMNE, JIGAR KE PAAS.” 

(2) “DIL HAI KI MANTA NAHI.”

(3) “MEIN DUNIYA BHULA DUNGA, TERI CHAHAT MEIN.” 

(4) “DHEERE DHEERE SE MERI ZINDAGI MEIN AANA.” 

When we recorded all these songs Gulshan ji made Mr. Bhatt listen to those tracks. Mr. Bhatt said “these are outstanding songs, who is the music director?” He called us in his office and this is how we met Mr. Bhatt and got ‘Aashiqui’. We composed ‘Sanso Ki Zaroorat’ as per requirement and ‘Ab Tere Bin’ for the climax of the film.

Q.All your films were in award nominations, incredible!

Yes, all of our films were in award nominations, but only, four films were awarded. 

Q.The musical pair of Nadeem-Shravan got split. Can we see them together again?

Nadeem- Shravan pair did not break. Nowadays music direction has changed, 4-5 music directors compose for just one movie. Nadeem Bhai and myself decided that until we don’t get a better movie with good star cast and a good story line we won’t sign the movie. This was our mutual understanding. Nadeem Bhai did two films individually. 

Q.Do you miss working together or the moments you shared with each other?

We miss those moments very much. Also, working together and working individually has a vast difference. As God’s plan, pair Nadeem- Shravan, and as Shravan Rathod, worked a lot and discovered many powerful songs.

Q. Recently,you won an international  award for music, which one it is ?

I won ‘Black Swan’, a prestigious international award for outstanding contribution in Indian Cinema. 

“To the Indians, we have given a wonderful time of songs and have touched the hearts of audience. By this thought, I feel very happy and proud of us.” 

Q.What life taught you over these years?

The lesson I learnt from my life is all days are not similar. I have faced many ups and downs in my life. I was very light hearted person in 1997.After that life made a difficult turn and I became a serious person.  Family is very important, so, never take a decision that makes your family suffer.

Also, I tried making a film, which was the biggest mistake of my life. Ten years of my life were not easy, from 2008 to 2017. Now I’m a in a better phase of my life.

After all these different chapters of life, I realized, if you don’t face a bad dark night you’ll never end up with a rising and shining morning.

Q.How the industry has changed over these years?

There is a change in every 15 to 16 years. Through 1990 to 2005, it was a different period, very nice music were been released in the market, whether it be Nadeem- Shravan, Anand- Milind, Jatin-Lalit or anyone, everyone worked very hard. But after 2005 chapters of music industry changed a lot. 

You can take a look at the song of these days and if you listen to the older songs, you will see the difference. When we hear songs of S.D.Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal,  Kalyanji- Anandji, only the sound of these people give peace to your heart.

I’m a very big fan of Mr. Madan Mohan. He was like a compositing institution. We miss that melody. Now seems like it’s been lost somewhere. Music is changed now like some rap-music the youth like the voices of them very well. But now also, there are many composers, who like melody in music and  I would love to give all this credit to Mr. A.R.Rahman , as he has Indian folk and classical in his songs.

Recently, singer Badshah said, “music of DIL HAI KI MANTA NAHI” is the best. I feel very happy to listen that as, we’ve worked well on it. 

Q.What is or should be important for music?

I would like to say that the more and more importance should be given to lyrics. The songs should be composed in a way that people can sing and remember. In India, every family has one or two singers. If music and lyrics are complemented, the future of music will be very bright. In today’s time, I feel Pritam is the best music director, as he composes songs keeping in mind our Indian culture.

Also, while making music, we pay most attention to orchestra. But in orchestration, the melody of Indian-ness is must, whether it be an English or a film song, the melody and Indian-ness should never be missed. The sound of sitar is melodious and flute is also melodious. S.D.Burman ji, Shankar-Jajkishan  ji ,Lakshmikant-Pyarelal ji also used these instruments.

Q.Do you think music changes with time?

In the free period from 1975 to 1990, we hardly had producers and directors backing us.  Big banner did not sign us. We use to keep creating songs and compositions. We also wrote and composed, ‘Jo Bhi Kasme Khayeen Thi Tumne’, which was recorded in the year 2000. Music never gets old.

Q.What advice you wish to give to upcoming composers and content creators?

One should keep thinking and composing. Never keep brain empty, keep making songs. You never know, when right time comes. Be ready to take on the opportunity. Never get dejected with rejections and always keep smiling, as, you never know when life smiles back at you.