An entire musical era, spanning 60 years came to an end with the death of Naushad Ali, who became a legend with his Indian classical music laced composition in Hindi films in the 40s and 50s, when the movie industry was at a nascent stage, died of a cardiac arrest on Friday (5th May, 2006).

He was 86, and is survived by six daughters and three sons. Born in Lucknow on 25th December 1919, he studied under Ustad Ghurbat Ali, Ustad Yusuf Ali and Ustad Babban Saheb.

His passion for music took him to Mumbai in the 1030s, where he spent several nights on the footpath. However, the music in his heart never let him down. He went on to composed music for 66 films during his 62 years stint in the film industry.

A self-confessed devotee of sufi gharana of music, Naushad was the first and perhaps only music composer of Hindi cinema whose name appeared before the actors of the films. Many film personalities believe Naushad was the star of the films for which he chose to compose music.

His first film as an independent Music Director was Prem Nagar in 1940. His first great music success was with the film Ratan. Out of the films for which he had composed the music, 35 have been Silver Jubilee, 12 Golden Jubilee and 3 were Diamond Jubilee.

The music in films like Shahjehan, Dard, Dillagi, Aan, Mother India, Ganga Jamuna, Mere Mehboob, Anmol Ghadi, Anokhi Ada, Andaz, Mela, Babul, Uran Khatola, Mughal-E-Azam, Palki and Baiju Bawara remain a fine example of his greatness. Naushad also has the distinction of having introduced singers like Mohammed Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor, Suraiya and Tuntun in the world of Hindi cinema.

Naushad was one of the first to introduce sound mixing and the separate recording of voice and music tracks in playback singing. He was the first to combine the flute and the clarinet, the sitar and mandolin. He also introduced the accordion to Hindi film music and was among the first to concentrate on background music to extend characters’ moods and dialogues through music.

Naushad won Filmfare Award in 1953 (First Ever Filmfare Award) for Baiju Bawra, Lata Mangeshkar Award in 1984, Padmabhushan in 1992, BFJA Award for Best Music Director Ganga Jamuna in 1961.

He slowed down in the last two decades due to ill-health. His last composition was for Akbar Khan’s Taj Mahal which was recently released in Pakistan. Incidentally the colored version of Mughal-e-Azam which also released across the border had music by the ace composer.

With Nashaad we have lost a great composer of inordinate talent. However, his music will never die. It will live and inspire for generations.