away... Pancham wasn't the jealous type. He knew that I had
made some mistakes. He understood that no human being is perfect.
Living apart as you did, what sort of a social life did you share?
Earlier I used to accompany him to parties but I found myself drinking cups of
chai throughout the night. I couldn't do that for long, it would have affected
my voice. Moreover, I had to remain fresh for my recordings the next day. So I
stopped going to parties with him.
I'll always cherish whatever little time I snatched with him.. I wish we could
have been together forever.
Of late his career had reached a stalemate. Did his health slow him down?
Not to the extent of affecting his career. But the industry is a harsh place, if
a couple of your films do well, you are put on a pedestal. One flop and you're
pulled down into the gutter.
How did he react when other music directors copied him and raced ahead?
He would get angry about this but wouldn't say anything. He knew some people
were imitating his style of music and getting away with it. At times when I came
home after a recording, he'd smile, "Aaj tumne mere style mein gaana gaaya kya?"
Couldn't you have refused to do such songs?
I was helpless. I had to do what the music directors told me.
Wasn't he upset when his regulars like Shakti Samanta and Dev Anand switched
to other music directors?
He couldn't possibly have gone out and begged for work. Pancham was a very
self-respecting man. He didn't like what was happening, but he was also very
conscious about maintaining his dignity. After all, he was a raja's son.
Which are your ..... |
