Music composer Aadesh Shrivastava dies of cancer

Mumbai, September 5

Bollywood singer-composer Aadesh Shrivastava, who was battling a relapsed cancer, passed away post midnight in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital here. He was 51.

Shrivastava had been undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital in Andheri for over 40 days.

“Aadesh Shrivastava (51) expired at 12.30 am in Kokilaben Hospital due to cancer,” Dr Ram Narain of the hospital told PTI.

Shrivastava is survived by his wife, Vijeta Pandit, a former Bollywood actress and sister of music-composer duo Jatin-Lalit, and their two sons — Anivesh and Avitesh.

Last evening Shrivastava’s brother-in-law and composer Lalit Pandit had told PTI, “He has been undergoing chemotherapy but he is not responding to it. So, the doctors have stopped giving him chemotherapy. They have an alternate theory. The doctors are trying to do their best and Aadesh is fighting it bravely.”

Shrivastava, who battled cancer five years ago, was diagnosed with the same disease again. He was said to be in a critical condition when he was admitted to the hospital.

“Terrible. Terrible. Terrible News. Too young to Go Aadesh Shrivastava,” film director Anubhav Sinha said on Twitter.

Over the course of his career, Shrivastava had composed music for over 100 Hindi films, including “Chalte Chalte”, “Baabul”, “Baghban”, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham”, “Rajneeti” and others.

He got his first big break with film “Kanyadaan” in 1993.

However, the film could not be released and its songs went unnoticed.

Shrivastava delivered chart busters like ‘Kya ada kya jalwe tere Paro’, ‘Haathon mein aa gaya jo kal’, ‘Sona sona’, ‘Shava shava’, ‘Gustakhiyaan’, ‘Gur nalon ishq mitha’, ‘Mora Piya’ among others.

He was a judge on the talent hunt show “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa” Challenge in 2005 and 2009.

Shrivastava took to direction with his short film on child prostitution, “Sanaa”.

His colleagues from the industry, including Amitabh Bachchan and superstar Shah Rukh Khan, were keeping a check on his health.

“Amit ji (Amitabh Bachchan) has been keeping a check on his health regularly over phone. He has been very helpful.

Besides, Shah Rukh Khan had come to visit him too. Tina Ambani has visited him twice and she is also taking special care,” Lalit had said.

“People from the music industry like Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan also have been visiting him regularly. Shekar Kapur, Govind Nihalani, Poonam Dhillon and others had come to see him too,” he had said.

A host of Bollywood personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Anees Bazmee, Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan and others paid their last respects to music director Aadesh Shrivastava at Oshiwara crematorium.

Rajiv Kapoor, Pahlaj Nihlani, Shekar Kapoor, Kunal Ganjawala, Pandit Jasraj, Ismail Darbar, Sajid-Wajid, Alka Yagnik too attended the last rites. — PTI