InDepth

The pandemic was teaching us new things every day. Economic crisis was seen before, job losses were not that rare in the Western World. Even massive population getting sick due to an unknown wave of infection was recorded before in human history. I think the corona pandemic taught mankind a very cruel lesson which was by and large new – how to live alone! My first trip to Germany went smooth, I had got an apartment to share. I received a lot of help from my new company and my manager – many things which could have gone wrong were falling in its place. The only thing that was bothering me – and I am sure many of us – was the continuously growing mistrust in social life and the increasing seclusion and loneliness. Aloneness is very different from loneliness – the former one you choose on your own will, and it can be fulfilling and needed at times. But loneliness is pathetic, it is bitter, and it is a curse. We are humans and not animals. We have developed trust for thousands of years. ...

Rise to fame and self-confidence Naushad was a taskmaster. He took his assignments very seriously. For his early films he would study the script, understand the genre and compose according to the mood of the film. Often he would travel to the exact part of India where the story was based and find out more about the local dialect, the folk music prevalent in that area and then set his tunes accordingly.  He was an artist who grew in confidence. He developed his craft in steps and ventured into areas never seen in Indian films. The orchestration was completely overhauled under his direction. Naushad's early struggle and pains are reflected in many of his songs, of course through their tunes. But I have a feeling that the grandeur and opulent use of bandishes (Indian classical music composition) and musical instruments in some of his songs might have been a testimonial of his ambition to display something very huge so that it fitted in contrast to the struggles that he had...