When you think of some of the top hits of the 90s, you cannot forget the happening duo, Nadeem-Shravan. They got their first break with Aashiqui (1990). Its music is still vividly hummed by the listeners today.

With the break, Mahesh Bhatt put the duo out into the map. They went on to comparing hits like Saajan, Sadak, and Phool aur Kaante the very next year. They also composed albums such as Deewana, Hum hain rahi pyaar ke, Raja, Jeet, Pardes, Raja Hindustani, among others. They were terrific together. Shravan Rathod’s passing away is a huge loss to the industry which had once set the stage for him to shine. Naresh Sharma, a prominent music composer who for the record has arranged music for Nadeem and Shravan from the beginning to their very last project. They shared a solid bond. Learning the demise of the Shravan Rathod, “I cannot express my feeling through words, his loss is irreplaceable.” He said, on reminiscing about their work and love for each other he shared, “Being a music composer myself, I chose to arrange music for them, by this you can estimate the love and respect I had for them.”

Nadeem Saifi, with whom Shravan made some celebrated hit songs was mourning the loss. Speaking to Bombay Times, “I am in deep pain as I say this but my friend and my companion, my partner of so many years are no more. It has left such a vacuum.

Shravan Rathod passed away due to Covid-19 complications at the age of 66. He was admitted to Mumbai’s S L Raheja Hospital on Thursday evening. Being a celebrated artist, he was and a kind man at heart he wished the best for team Swar Aalap and especially Mr. Dinesh Ghate, the founder, for his unconditional support and service for valuing and honouring the legends and founding fathers of the Indian Music Industry.

“Around three years ago, I was sitting with Dilipbhai Thakker, owner of Ahmedabad’s only authentic Gujarati thali restaurant ‘Gopi Dining Hall’ in Anandnagar area. The restaurant was just about to close. Suddenly, Dilipbhai got a call from a person who said he was bringing Shrawan to have thali. Within few minutes, Shrawan dropped in, sporting his trademark goggles. He was a frugal eater and asked for some Bhindi sabji. Dilipbhai immediately got it cooked. We all chatted for some time. While leaving, I asked him his favourite composition and he did not think twice. It’s “Pardesi Pardesi Jaana Nahi”.  He came across as an extremely soft-spoken person who had no airs of being one of India’s best composer duo.

– Tushar Prabhune (Senior Journalist, Ahmedabad)