Condolences pour in from the Hindi music industry after the demise of singer Wajid Ali due to Coronavirus. By Team Viva
“Meri toh duniya bilkul alag thi
Andaaz woh kho gaya
Dekhna doobna ho gaya
Doobna tairna ho gaya
Kya asar mere saath hai
Mukhtasar mulaakat hai...”
It was singer Wajid Ali’s voice which made this song from Teri Meri Kahaani (2012) quite a favourite among youngsters. The singer later revealed that he had initially composed the song for his own album but then decided to use it for the film because it matched the situation. Alas, the song’s meaning now matches Wajid’s current situation. His demise at 42 due to Coronavirus has come as a shock to many connoisseurs of Bollywood music as well as the Indian music fraternity.
He had tested positive for Coronavirus a few days ago and was also suffering from a kidney ailment, had undergone a kidney transplant recently. He had been admitted to Surana Hospital at Chembur where his condition had deteriorated and was on a ventilator for the last few days. He breathed his last in the early hours of the day.
Priyanka Chopra, who starred in the song, tweeted, “Terrible news. The one thing I will always remember is Wajid bhai’s laugh. Always smiling. Gone too soon. My condolences to his family and everyone grieving. Rest in peace, my friend. You are in my thoughts and prayers.”
Wajid has judged various reality shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, alongside other prominent names from the industry. Shekhar Ravjiani, who judged the 2018 show alongside Wajid and Richa Sharma, expressed his grief by mailing us some of their photographs from the show sets and said, “I’ll miss my friend.”
It was Salman Khan’s Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya (1998), for which the Sajid-Wajid composer duo first scored music for with Teri Jawaani. The actor tweeted, “Wajid will always respect and remember you as a person. Love you and may your beautiful soul rest in peace.”
The duo went on to compose several hit numbers for Salman starrers including Laal Dupatta and title track of Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Tere Mast Mast Do Nain and Hud Hud Dabangg in Dabangg (2010), Mashallah in Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and more.
Music composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan wrote, “I am just not able to come to terms with this. It’s shocking! Good bye dear brother. Love you! Till we meet on the other side. Prayers for your peaceful journey Wajid bhai.”
Singer Sona Mohapatra, who has also judged alongside Wajid in a reality singing show, recalled her experience during the time. She told us, “I know that Wajid was going through kidney ailments for a long time now. Even two years ago, on the sets of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, he had a small accident, where he had hurt himself but things became complicated because of his other medications and low immunity.”
She added, “He was a generous, affectionate and lovely person who had come up the tough way. A tabla player, a composer, who had the intention to do good always. He would bring home-cooked food for all of us on the sets and used to be full of enthusiasm. I really got along with him very well and deeply regret losing touch during the lockdown.”
Sona had also tweeted, “Heartbreaking news. Wajid is no more. Spent time on the SRGMP show with him as a co-judge and he was so kind and generous. I know he was ailing for a while, regret not picking up the phone on him in this lockdown. Stunned and sad.”
Singer Mamta Sharma, who lent her voice to Anarkali Disco Chali, Fevicol Se, among other popular Sajid-Wajid numbers, expressed her grief by recalling her work with him as she considered him to be her “guru” and “mentor.” She earlier said, “I am not in a clear state of mind right now because he was really close to us. Wajid bhai was just like family. I am too shocked to say anything. Last week, I spoke to him over a video call. He was absolutely fine and I thought he would be discharged in a few days. Meanwhile, this happened. I am still not out of this trauma. I cannot think of anything right now. Whatever I am today, it is because of him. Over the call, I was in tears looking at him but the smile on his face was intact and he was consoling me and saying ‘Don’t worry, I am ok, I am good, I will be alright’. He was such a strong person and a pillar of positivity.”
“Rest in harmony my friend. Had the pleasure of working with both Sajid-Wajid most loving and brilliant. My condolences to his family and especially Sajid. #RIPWajidKhan,” Abhishek Bachchan tweeted.
“Gone too soon,” music composer A R Rahman tweeted.
—With inputs from TN Raghunatha