The melody continues

Audience gathered at SAFMA enjoys timeless classics of Naushad Ali.

ISLAMABAD: The age-old, internecine debate of the merits of the timeless classic against those of the present day rhythmless ditty seemed to be alive and well among the audience members gathered at SAFMA attending a screening of the Indian documentary ‘Naushad Lives — The Melody Continues’; a brusque but certainly not laconic tour de force of the celebrated music directors life and works.

To at least the modern ear such sans souci, placid music as that of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s may seem an octave or two too slow  but  does not the song ‘ Sohani Raat Dhal Chuki’ from the film Dualri (1949) , a Naushad  film, instill a peace and a stirring calm? The song is indelible in its effect and though admittedly ignorant of the majority of his works, not being au courant with Indian film, one must say that the man was iconic and a musical savant.

Produced by the Film Division of India, and directed by Buddhadeb Dasgupta, the made for television documentary is a composite affair, covering the man’s life from truant childhood where he would steal away from school to go to the cinema, to aspirant musician, living under a staircase to becoming the face of Indian film music; its inspiration and its avant garde.

His career lasted almost 60 years, his last work being at the age of 86. During this time he worked with stellar talent that included Rafi, Lata and our very own Noor Jehan.

Of course the documentary very comprehensively covers this all, giving one an insight into the man and the music director; it achieves particularly by using footage of the musician in his last days, using a family film that was recording a meeting between Dilip Kumar and the ailing Naushad.

The director certainly laboured over the work, using previous interviews, reconstructions and considerable location shooting, especially of Naushad’s home town, Lucknow, to weave quite a complete story, welcomely scored to the composer’s music.

But where one must detract is its almost unjustified economy, its woefully short length that makes everything seem quite paced and even rushed, a thought not allowed to dwell upon.

Not even qualifying for feature length, the 37 minute running time is abysmally short and though indeed it covers the musician’s story, the hurried nature of the film leaves one with an introduction rather than an acquaintance. Sometimes almost too much is crammed into a segment and with the clock ticking, the ever rushing need to whiz past where one would want a breather, bears down upon one.

The voice over is especially grating ; it gushing forth like a ceaseless geyser, words lost in an endless parade, the only peaceable moments when the musician himself speaks, his steady old school eloquence like a respite in a deluge.

The subject matter is definitely worth further exploring, most certainly a deeper filmic insight. Of course till then, as is most often the case, the artist always speaks better through his own works  rather than a time pressed spokesman and for that one can go no farther than an evening listening to Naushad’s music.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2010.