Naushad sets PM's verse to song

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Bombay

Yesteryear music composer Naushad has set Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's verse to song.

"We have recorded one song, Unki yaad kare, four days ago. Hariharan has sung it; there are 40 chorus singers," says the legendary composer to rediff.com.

The poem, Unki yaad kare, is dedicated to those who have lost their lives defending the country's border. "We want to highlight this other facet of Vajpayeeji. He is a good poet and we want to broadcast this to Indians," Naushad said.

The song is being produced by Keshav Communications. They had approached Naushad after the Prime Minister gave them the go-ahead. Admits Naushad, "They (Keshav Communications) had approached me eight to ten months ago."

Earlier, Padmaja Phenani Joglekar had released a music album on Meri Kavita, written by the Prime Minister.

Naushad, however, admits he hasn't met Vajpayeeji after he composed the song: "There's too much security around Breach Candy hospital. Besides, we cannot play the song on a tape recorder at the hospital."

"Keshav Communications plans to picturise the song and it will be telecast on August 15.

Asked whether Vajpayee was aware that he was composing music for his poem, he says, "Yes, he knows I'm composing the music for him. After all, Keshav Communications had his before approaching me."