Jalwa of Wajid comes to a premature end

October 7, 1977, to June 1, 2020

Blurb: Coming from rich musical lineage, he made his debut with Salman Khan

Nonika Singh

Bollywood woke up to yet another sad morning as the cruel jaws of death snatched one of its talented composer-singers Wajid Khan of the Sajid-Wajid fame. Gone too soon… the sentiment was unanimous, as the music director, younger brother of the famous jodi, passed away due to underlying medical conditions, including kidney ailments, exacerbated by Covid-19 infection.

The brothers made their debut with Salman Khan’s “Pyaar Kiya to Darna Kya” in 1998 and have been a constant in most of Salman’s films, including super-hit franchise “Dabangg”. They often admitted how Salman brought out the best in them and also how his attitude truly brought alive the flavour of their music.

Salman’s eternal favourites, the duo played a key role even in the songs, which the superstar brought out during the quarantine. While keeping the tradition of hit jodis alive in the Hindi film industry in a clutch of films, such as “Wanted”, “Garv”, “Tere Naam”, “Tumko Na Bhool Payenge”, “Partner”, Wajid was also a singer in his own right.

He delivered numerable hit songs and gave playback not just for Salman, but also Akshay Kumar in song “Chinta Ta Ta Chita Chita” from “Rowdy Rathore”. In sync with the boisterousness and chutzpah of film’s lead actors, the duo’s music has always been bubbling with the right fervour and spunk.

Despite belting out one super-hit after another, Wajid believed that each song decides your destiny. He did not believe in resting on one’s laurels, only raising the bar with each new number.

Even as guest composers in “Ek Tha Tiger”, they came out with foot-tapping “Mashallah”, which Wajid sang too in his inimitable style.

Sons of tabla player Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan, music in a way runs in their blood. Judge on music reality shows, Wajid himself was inspired by stalwart Pt Bhimsen Joshi, whose robust voice in a way determined their tune for the title track of “Dabangg”. His last conversation with Punjabi singer Mika Singh, “Dua karein mere liye…” alas will forever ring (and sting) in our ears. So would songs like “Baaki sab first class hai…” only there is nothing comforting as the jalwa of Wajid comes to a premature end.