Subhash K Jha (DNA; September 6, 2015)

Having known Aadesh Shrivastava and his wife Vijayta for many years, I wonder how she is going to survive without him. “Please come and see him. You may not get to do so later,” Vijayta had sobbed on the phone last week. He passed away a few hours after his 51st birthday on September 4. It was a tough and unequal battle with cancer. After he was first diagnosed and treated successfully in 2011 Aadesh had said to me, “Abhi bahut kaam karna hai. Bahut kuch baaki hai. I am glad I am back from the dead. I’ve realised how important my family is to me. I’ll now work towards my two sons future. Jai Mata di!” Then the villainous disease returned.

Aadesh’s life-consuming cancer had struck him with a vengeful ferocity. An upright man who would never compromise with his conscience and work, Aadesh was the odd one out in the entertainment industry. Known as an outspoken firebrand he was specially known for his musical collaborations with Amitabh Bachchan. But there was much more to Aadesh than the Big B. He was a ferociously individualistic and original composer and did not hide his contempt for the successful plagiarists of the music world. Aadesh was one of those rare Bollywood composers who knew how to do a background score, so unfairly, big producers would let mediocre, but more successful music directors do the songs while roping in Aadesh to do the background score.

His work as a background scorer J P Dutta’s Border, Refugee and LOC Kargil speaks for itself. Ironically Aadesh’s last work as a background scorer in Welcome Back hit the screen hours before death whisked him away. Laughter has been conspicuous by its absence in Aadesh’s life. His family has been stricken by one tragedy after another. A few years ago his elder brother Chitresh died in a road accident. Barely had the family begun to come to terms with this tragedy when his wife’s sister was murdered. Aadesh took all the adversities on the chin. “I am born fighter. I guess God is putting me through all these tests to make me a stronger man. God is great. Jai Mata di,” he’d say.

Anees Bazmee
The Welcome Back director was in state of shock on hearing of Aadesh’s death. “His last working days were with me brainstorming the background score of Welcome Back. I would say it’s a personal loss to me. I just pray his soul rests in peace, and his family gets the strength to bear this loss. Apart from being a great artist, he was a down-to-earth human being.”

Pahlaj Nihalani
The producer and Censor Board chief was one of the last to visit Aadesh in the hospital with a top-cop from Delhi who was a dear friend of Aadesh. Says Nihalani, “When Aadesh’s cop friend heard he was critically ill, he got in touch with me. We both went to visit Aadesh in the hospital. To see a man so jovial and lively and energetic, in that condition was nerve-wracking. I was one of the first producers to have given Aadesh a break in Dil Tera Diwana, Bhai Bhai and Uljhan. He was one of the few contemporary music composers with a firm knowledge of Hindustani classical music. At the same time his songs had tremendous popular appeal. He composed a very popular song Shivum Shivum for my film, which I hummed for Aadesh when I visited him. I thought it’d ring a bell. But he didn’t recognise me. But he recognised his cop friend and saluted him. He was a storehouse of jokes. I’d make him tell jokes every time we met. I was specially fond of a joke about a Japanese guy. I’d make him tell it repeatedly. Now who will make me laugh?”

Amit Trivedi
Composer Amit Trivedi says, “Aadeshji was a lovely musician and an amazing composer. This is a big loss to our music industry. And to die so young... It’s really sad. But his music will live forever.”

Anu Malik
Reacting to his death, the music director who had worked closely with Aadesh said, “He was a terrific musician, a great friend and talented composer, all rolled into one. I can’t believe he is no more. I am shocked. My heart goes out to his family and children. May his soul rest in everlasting peace.”

Prasoon Joshi
The ad guru and lyricist says, “I am truly saddened... It’s difficult to react. He was a friend, an instinctively blessed musician, who connected with the people, a warm human being and a dear friend. A fighter who picked himself, despite all adversities. His laugh and jokes will ring in my ears. I will never ever forget him.”