Background
As a child, Naushad would visit the annual fair at the Deva Sharif in Barabanki, where all the great musicians of those days would perform before the devotees. He studied Hindustani music there under Ustad Ghurbat Ali, Ustad Yusuf Ali, Ustad Babban Saheb. He also repaired harmoniums.
He joined a junior theatrical club and was appointed the club's music maestro for their theatrical presentations.
He ran away to Bombay in the late 1937 to try his luck as a musician.