and Atal

New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee have expressed deep grief over the death of doyen of Hindi film music Naushad Ali, who breathed his last in Mumbai today, saying his death was an irreparable loss to the music world and the film industry.

However, he has composed a kind of music that will always remain alive, they said.

''Naushad made a unique contribution to the world of art by popularising the classical music through his film compositions and a large part of credit for the success of films like Mughal-e-Azam and Baiju Bawra goes to his music,'' the Vice-President said in a message here.

''His deep love for the Indian classical music and his human qualities had earned him a great respect all over the country,'' he said.

In a messsage here, the Prime Minister said,''With Naushad Saheb's departure, an era of melody and virtuosity has come to an end.'' ''In his long and illustrous innings, glittering with memorable compositions in classics like ''Mughal-e-Azam'' 'Baiju Bawra', 'Mother India', 'Ganga Jamuna', 'Anmol Ghari and many others, Naushad Saheb sealed phenomenal heights of popular music,'' Mr Singh said.

He said despite being an uncompromising stickler for the grammar of classical music, the composer had also an amazing grasp of the popular mood.

''As a pioneer of various musical trends and mentor of numerous musical prodigies, Naushad Saheb had virtually shaped the broad contours of film music in the country,'' the Prime Minister said.

Mr Vajpayee in his tribute to the late composer said he had provided new avenues to the Indian film music by his unmatched compositions.

''The void created by the death of Naushadji is difficult to fill,'' said the former Prime Minister.

Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said Naushad was the only composer who never compromised with melody and his music was enjoyed even after 50 years of its composition.

''The colossal loss caused by his demise was impossible to replace,'' he said.

UNI NAZ SC KP1643