| Nadeem-Shravan | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Movie songs, Film music |
| Occupations | Composer, music director, singer |
| Years active | 1981–2009 |
Nadeem-Shravan (sometimes credited as Nadeem Shravan) was a music director duo in the Bollywood film industry of India. The duo derives its name from the first names of its two principals, Nadeem Saifi and Shravan Rathod.
Nadeem-Shravan were two of the most successful music directors of the 1990s till mid 2000s. They are known for their catchy songs that feature a strong rhythm (often accentuated by Latin percussion instruments) and great melodies. Major Hindi playback singers such as Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Abhijeet, SP Balasubramanyam, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam, Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Paudwal and many others have sung under their baton.
They composed soundtracks for many films including Aashiqui (1990), Saajan (1991), Deewana (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Dilwale (1994), Raja (1995), Barsaat (1995), Agni Sakshi (1996), Jeet (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Sirf Tum (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Kasoor (2001), Raaz (2002), Andaaz (2003), Tumsa Nahi Dekha (2004), Bewafaa (2005) and many others. Their music for Raaz was even appreciated by Sir Paul McCartney.
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The association of Nadeem and Shravan dates back to 1972 when they met each other at a function. Their first Hindi film assignment was Maine Jeena Seekh Liya in 1981. But they were stuck with the B-grade films until they got three big films in the form of Ilaaka, Hisaab Khoon Ka and Lashkar. Though the films were big, the music wasn't anything to be talked about.[says who?] These same B-grade film composers in the future would grow so popular to the extent that they were signed on by the biggest banners in Bollywood.[1]
Aashiqui (1990) brought Nadeem-Shravan into the limelight. Music mogul Gulshan Kumar gave them the break and the film saw the emergence of three superstars - Nadeem, Shravan and Kumar Sanu. Some hits include "Sanson Ki Zaroorat", "Nazar Ke Saamane", "Dheere Dheere Se", "Ab Tere Bin Jee Lenge Hum" and "Jaanejigar Jaaneman". Aashiqui ranks in the lot of the few films that have had a hit in each song. The joy ride continued with Saajan, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Sadak, Sainik, Raja, Dilwale and Phool Aur Kaante. Whether it was "Chehra Kya Dekhte Ho" (Salaami), "Adayein Bhi Hain" (Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin) "Sochenge Tumhe Pyar" (Deewana), "Aaj Raat Chandni Hai" (Kal Ki Awaz), they all had the distinct stamp of Nadeem Shravan.
They have composed all kinds of music, be it fast-track, sentimental or dance numbers. But their forte was always melody. Most of their compositions were inspired from old time ghazals, westerns and other charts (Example from Aashiqui, "Dheere Dheere Se" from Joyce Sims' "Come Into My Life" , "Tu Meri Zindgi" from Tasavvur Khanum, "Jane Jigar" from Robin Ghosh's "Bin Tere Jeena Nahi" were inspired songs.
It has been said that they don't have much variety; that they did not experiment too much. But this is where their strength lay, i.e. delivering the music that is traditionally Indian, yet having a fresh hint of modernity woven around it. But Nadeem Shravan wanted to prove to the whole world that they could be "conventionally different", if they chose to be. For that, they needed the support of a director whose script required all kinds of music and who could give them a free hand in composing. When Subhash Ghai's Pardes was released, a noted music critic said: "Nadeem Shravan should stop composing music... because there can't be anything better then [sic] this...Nadeem Shravan have reached their peak." The film had melodious love songs ("Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain"), pop ("My first day in America"), pain ("Ye Dil Deewana"), Qawwali ("Nahin Hona Tha") and "I Love my India". About the song, Nadeem said: "I love my India was not a mere song but it continues to convey my feelings for the country."
They got the maximum hits with Kumar Sanu, Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam, Udit Narayan, Vinod Rathod and Sonu Nigam. They have worked with lyricists like Anand Bakshi, Faaiz Anwar, Hasrat Jaipuri, Rani Malik, and many others, but their tuning seems to fit best with Sameer. When they arrived on the music scene, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Anand Milind were at the top. But subsequently their hard worked paid and they gave various hits in a row.[2]
Their songs often contain jhankaar / Conga / Bongos / Electronic drum fusion beats. They have insisted on sticking to lyricist Sameer and male singers Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan and female singer Alka Yagnik for most of their compositions.
In 1997, the duo ran into negative publicity when Nadeem, while on vacation in London, England, was named a suspect in the murder of his former mentor, record executive Gulshan Kumar (the boss of T-Series Music Company). In India, by the investigating police and arrest warrants were issued against him. He was said to have paid a hitman for carrying out this task. His passport was revoked, and to avoid arrest, he stayed in England. The House of Lords upheld the London High Court's decision against the extradition in the 1997 murder case, and turned down the Indian government's plea for review of the decision. "In the findings given by the UK court which were confirmed by the House Of Lords, Nadeem Saifi was not only declared innocent, he was also a victim of conspiracy falsely involved in a serious charge of conspiring to kill Gulshan Kumar.".[3][4] In mid-2002, Nadeem Saifi was acquitted of any involvement in the Gulshan Kumar murder case by a court in the Indian city of Bombay. The judge said there was inadequate evidence to prove the charges.[5]
After being inactive for sometime, Nadeem-Shravan made a comeback of sorts with films like Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa, Ek Rishta, Kasoor, Hum Ho Gaye Aapke, Raaz, Dil Hai Tumhaara, Qayamat, Hungama, Andaaz, Bewafaa, Tumsa Nahi Dekha, Barsaat, Dosti and Do Knot Disturb.
Nadeem remained in the UK and despite the distance between England and India, he and Shravan continued to make music together. But they later split after Dosti.
Nadeem-Shravan have been accused of committing plagiarism on several occasions, some of their popular Hindi film songs have been inspired from Pakistani singers.
In 2005, the duo split. Nadeem started his own perfumes and bag company, also involved in solo compositions. Also Shravan was disinterested in continuing with his music, and instead focusing on his son's music careers and movie production. Another reason cited is probably the distance between the two.[6]
Nadeem-Shravan have won several awards during their music career including four Filmfare Awards, two Screen Awards and a Zee Cine Award for Best Music Director.
Nadeem-Shravan missed another Screen and Filmfare award for Raaz in 2002, as the songs were more popular than any other soundtrack that year, eventually the Screen award won by Ismail Darbar and Filmfare by A. R. Rahman for Devdas and Saathiya respectively.[7][8][9]
In total span of 17 years only 4 years (1998, 1999, 2004, 2006) are such which don't have Nadeem-Shravan's album in top 3. The year wise analysis is as follows.
| Year | Rank (in terms of sales in India) |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1 - Aashiqui |
| 1991 | 1 - Saajan 2 - Phool aur Kaante 3 - Sadak |
| 1992 | 1 - Deewana |
| 1993 | 1 - Hum Hain Raahi Pyaar Ke |
| 1994 | "Dilwale" |
| 1995 | 2 - Raja |
| 1996 | 1 - Raja Hindustani 3 - Agnisakshi |
| 1997 | 2 - Pardes |
| 1998 | none |
| 1999 | none |
| 2000 | 2 - Dhadkan |
| 2001 | 1 - Kasoor |
| 2002 | 1 - Raaz |
| 2003 | 2 - Andaaz |
| 2005 | 2 - Bewafaa |
All time music sales:[10]
| Rank | Film | Year | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aashiqui | 1990 | 18,000,000 |
| 3 | Raja Hindustani | 1996 | 11,000,000 |
| 8 | Saajan | 1991 | 7,000,000 |
| 9 | Phool Aur Kaante | 1991 | 6,000,000 |
| 10 | Pardes | 1997 | 6,000,000 |
| 11 | Dilwale | 1994 | 5,500,000 |
| 13 | Sadak | 1991 | 5,000,000 |
| 15 | Deewana | 1992 | 4,500,000 |
| 16 | Dhadkan | 2000 | 4,000,000 |
| 17 | Andaaz | 2003 | 1,400,000 |
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