Hindustani Classical Concert

A Masters degree in microbiology, a doctorate in biochemistry, a beautiful and sweet voice able to move across the three octaves effortlessly...all in one named Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande! She is one of the leading vocalists of 'Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana', of Hindustani Classical music.


I got a chance to go to this concert the other day at Karnataka Sangh hall in Matunga...where Ashwini Tai performed in front of a very small audience. The hall is comparatively smaller than other auditoriums in Mumbai I have been to and it was a free entry...yet there were very few people and most of the seats were vacant...for me the good thing was that I was able to see all the artists quite clearly from such short distance. I could see her face...sometimes smiling....concentrating at other times... She was looking so graceful, in a silk sari sitting with a tanpura in her one hand, eyes closed as if in meditation..!  The swaras (notes) were coming out with such ease yet with utmost purity and with perfect emotional quotient.


She started with Raag - Tilak Kamod...what sweet, pleasant and peaceful raag (Reminded me of a concert recording of Mehdi Hassan, wherein he mentioned about this raag, that 'Tilak Kamod' and 'Desh' are quite close in their structure..and it needs skills and caution so as to not to mix the two while singing).  A relaxed and gradual unfolding of the raag with emphasis on emotions was the trademark of Ashwiniji's style. Since I am a novice in the classical music field and have had no classical training, my limited understanding and knowledge has come solely from listening to the maestros through such concerts and recordings..especially in the last few years, ever since I joined my job in Mumbai. So mostly I am not able to follow much on the rhythmical patterns and other technicalities of a typical classical composition...but I think I do have some patience to wait and listen...and more often than not, the patience pays off..I am more for the emotional appeal of the composition...and if the intricate 'taans', 'harkat' or 'murki' are all for bringing out the emotions and the 'rasa' of the raag...then that's what I am looking for! And precisely that's what I got in Ashwiniji's all renditions last night...sweet singing...well prepared and cultured voice...and a graceful and joyous stage presence.


Her second composition was in a raag, the name of which I could not hear exactly...probably some form of 'Kanada'. It was a quite unique composition..with many short and lightening fast taans. I was able to grasp that some note or the other, is oscillating between two adjacent notes..which was giving a mystic yet soft touch to the song...and when I tried to play out the notes today on my keyboard (Thankfully I had recorded some part of the song in my mobile!)...it turned out to be two such notes - G (Gandhar) and Ni (Nishad) which were 'Andolan'. Again, my knowledge about andolan was purely based on the great Mehdi Hassan's old gazal recording, wherein he talked about the raag in which he composed his gazal 'Ek bus tu hi nahi, mujhse khafa ho baitha'..he explained then, about 'andolan' swara or note...that it can not be played on a Harmonium as it is oscillating between 2 notes...it's neither one note nor the other...it's something in between. Just found out about it on internet today that a note is called 'andolit swara' when a note oscillates between 2 adjacent notes.


She was going to end it there, but due to audience insisting, she ended the evening with an 'Abhang' (A devotional form of marathi poetry in praise of Lord Vitthala - an incarnation of Lord Krishna) in raag 'Bhairavi' (I am told that, that's the custom - usually Bhairavi is sung/played at the end of a concert!). I think I have never ever heard a devotional piece with so much sweetness...when I looked around...the audience was literally swaying sideways in a pure devotional atmosphere...the feeling was of being at the peak of the bliss!


The average age of audience must be atleast 50-55 years...that too..very few people arrived! You can guess the situation..me encircled by handful of elderly gentlemen and ladies with hardly 1 or 2 youngsters! It's indeed demotivating to see very few souls around you in a concert hall. For most of the performers that's not a very encouraging sight either. Well...I was least bothered about it once Ashwiniji started singing.....and I suppose she herself was hardly bothered at all...being totally immersed in her music.


At the end, I must mention that all the accompanists were playing for the first time (Tabla - Prasad Padhye and Harmonium - Sidhhesh Bicholkar), with Ashwiniji, but it never appeared so. At the back were two girls with tanpuras, I think probably were the 2 disciples of Ashwiniji and they added their voices from time to time at Ashwiniji's nod. Ashwiniji was encouraging and appreciating all her accompanists with smile on her face..and I am sure they were all enjoying to accompany her. Few days back I had mentioned humility is endangered in today's world...but I stand corrected today..it isn't....as long as true artists like Ashwiniji are there!


For the first time I was disappointed for not having a high-tech mobile with bigger screen, higher resolution camera etc...when I was trying to record whatever I could with my poor samsung mobile 3 mp camera! :-)


I have become a fan of her singing now...I need to collect her recordings now to quench my thirst...as I checked in my music folder and found none of hers.

Rafi, the versatile..!

Wadiyan mera daaman...raste meri bahein...
Jao mere siva....tum kahan jaoge...


Jab churaoge tan....tum kisi baat se...
Shakh-a-gul chhed degi mere hath se...
apni hi zulf ko...aur uljhaoge....


Jab se milne lagi...tumse rahein meri...
Chand sooraj bani...do nigaahein meri...
Tum kahin bhi raho....tum nazar aaoge...


Mohammad Rafi...a voice immortal...the emotions speak through his voice...as I promised myself to write about my affection for Rafi saheb's singing..here I go!


I don't remember when did I fall in love with Rafi saheb's voice...it just happened..I think it was the musical show 'Saregama' with Sonu Nigam as host....some participant sang a Rafi song 'Tere mere sapne ab ek rang hain'..and probably it hit some chord within me... and then Sonu being himself a fan of Rafi..used to sing a lot of his songs..once he sang  'Do sitaro ka zameen par hai milan aaj ki raat'...wow I thought if it sounds so well in Sonu's voice..then the original song must be wonders. One of the participants sang ' Aanchal me saja lena kaliyan..zulfo me sitare bhar lena...' and the other 'Man tarpat hari darsan ko' and yet other one 'Aaiyaiya karoon mai kya suku suku.. and I thought all of these songs of different moods have been sung by the same Rafi..I was amazed by his versatility...


It wasn't like I had never heard him before...as a child and a fan of 'Chitrahar & Rangoli' of the good old DD-1 (That was the only TV channel available those days), I must have listened to many Black & white and eastmen colour era songs...but as I have mentioned before, it was only in the age of  the musical show 'Saregama',  I started to take notice of the melodies of old, and the maestros who composed and sang them!


Mohammad Rafi belongs to the golden era of Hindi Film music....and his contribution to make it 'Golden' is really immense. His was a classically trained voice of Punjab, with so much sweetness and continuity..that many times his voice seems to be effortlessly dissolving into the infinite sea of swaras..! Am I making any sense here...?  He has sung for numerous bollywood actors and his one specialty was to be able to mold his voice according to the characters played by those actors in the movie.


When you listen to 'huyi shaam unka khayal aa gaya' .... just see how he caresses each word like a silk touching past your skin..! All the sweetness of the world in voice..while he sang this beautiful gazal...bringing out the pain & unsuccessful attempts of a separated lover to forget his beloved!


Another song with somber mood..'Din dhal jaye raat na jaye' ...is a trademark Rafi song...delicate pronunciation of words and small vibrations in voice..that's called 'Expressions'....an intoxicated & dejected Devanand comes in front of our eyes while listening to this song!


When you listen to 'Man tarpat hari darshan ko' ...you can see the God thirsty devotee in front of you...can't you? A divine journey...is what his voice takes us through...!


He has also sung numerous peppy and fast numbers like 'Aja aja..mai hu pyar tera', 'yahoo chahe koi mujhe jungli kahe'...and you are awestruck with the range and versatility of his singing.


Just few days back, I came across a documentary on a TV channel about Rafi...wherein his son quoted an incident when once Rafi saheb came back home in an exited and a child like joyous mood and told his sons that today the superstar Amitabh Bachhan came to meet him in the recording studio or something like that...he was really exited that he was singing for a superstar like Amitabh, and Amitabh himself came to see him!!  Such a humble and innocent man he was.....that he didn't even know that he was a superstar himself!


I am not sure if the same can be said about today's singers and composers whom we often see fighting with each other in the musical reality shows on TV! But alas...that's the scene in each and every field today...not only music. Humility is indeed an endangered species today!

The Golden Era of Hindi Film Music

The piano start...and there enters tabla...Rafi Sahab starts the first line...'Kaisi haseen aaj...baharo ki raat hai.....ik chaand aasma pe hai ik mere sath hai'.... here comes Talat Mehmood...'O dene wale...tune to...koi kami na ki.....ab kisko kya mila....ye muqqadar ki baat hai'...!  It's a unique jugalbandi of the two legends..two stalwarts of expressions...if one wants to learn the importance of pronunciation and expression of words while singing...then what better way could be, than to listen to these two maestros...learning and joy at the same time!


Mohammed Rafi and Talat Mahmood belonged to the golden era of Hindi Film music...(I guess 'Hindi Film music' is a musical genre of one of its own kind in this world), when some great composers of the likes of MadanMohan, Naushad, Khayyam, SD Burman, RD Burman, OP Naiyer, Roshan, Salil Choudhary and many more, created some unforgettable melodies for the Indian masses...when poets of the likes of Hasart Jaipuri, Majaruh Sultanpuri, Kavi Pradeep, Shakeel Badayuni...poured their hearts out in their poetry... It seems, to match up to such legendary composers and poets...God had to send these beautiful voices in the form of Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, Lata, Asha, Kishore da. And as they say, rest is history....a new musical genre was born, like classical, folk,western etc...'Hindi Film Music'! Even today, the music...the melody created by them is alive...those songs still have the very freshness and originality...and people like me (and I am sure there are many more...:-) ) still love to listen those songs.


I was never a fan of Moh Rafi in my college days....I was more for Kishore da's lively and macho voice and free flow singing....but gradually when I was exposed to more of Rafi songs specially composed by SD Burman and OP Naiyer...I started following him more....what versatility..what expressions..a playback singer in true sense! Sure I would need a separate blog solely for him!
Talat Mahmood was another gem of a singer... with his unique vibratory voice..giving a vulnerable texture I would say...don't know how to express it otherwise! His voice..just perfect for Gazal singing... 'Jalte hain jiske liye' is my most favorite.


Let me come back to the song....Naushad sahab always methodical and cultured in his music arrangements...has used western instruments more like piano in this song..but the emphasis is more on singing part as always. He successfully managed to bring these two greats together in an emotional melody...utilizing their uniqueness...giving both of them a stanza each, and keeping the last stanza of the song for both of them. Let me take you through my experience of listening to this song:


1st Stanza by Rafi:
Chhaya hai husno ishq pe..ik range bekhudi...(Typical Rafi harkatein...in 'ik range bekhudi')
Aate hain zindagi me ye..aalam kabhi kabhi....(Observe singing of 'Zindagi' and 'Kabhi kabhi')
Har gam ko bhool jao...khushi ki barat hai... ik chaad aasma pe hai ik mere sath hai..

2nd Stanza by Talat:
Aai hai wo bahar ke....nagme ubal pade (Different dhun from the 1st stanza...in lower notes..perfect for Talat!)
Aisi khushi mili hai...ke aansu nikal pade...(Really results in a drop or two from eyes!)
Hotho pe hai duaayein...magar dil pe hath hai....ab kisko kya mila...ye muqqadar ki bat hai. (Oh..what moving voice...god damn!!!)


If this wasn't enough....the last Stanza by both:
Masti simat ke pyar ke gulshan me aa gai....(Rafi brought in masti..)
Meri kushi bhi aapke daman me aa gai....(Watch how delicately Talat sings 'aa gai' at the end...awesome)
bhavra kali se dur..nahi sath sath hai.....ab kisko kya mila ye muqqadar ki baat hai.


Wow...they used to sing.. totally immersed in the song...Hats off to the legends!

Samvedna

"Door kahi..koi rota hai... tan par pahra...bhatak raha man...sathi hai keval soonapan...
bichhad gaya kya....swajan kisi ka.....krandan sada...karun hota hai....


Janam divas par...hum ithalate....kyun na maran tyohar manate...
Antim yatra ke avasar par...aansu ka ashakun hota hai".... (From album 'Samvedna')


When Atalji penned this poem during the emergency..(as described by him in the prelude)...in all probability...he wouldn't have imagined that his deep thoughts will be composed so beautifully..so aesthetically...yet so simply..! Jagjit Singh composed the music and sang it such that....these simple words just got dissolved in the veins...permeated right through...!! - Don't know if I am able to express myself here properly...
What use of Violin, Strings and Flute...subtle and beautiful...contributing in bringing out the right emotions... A sense of peace...melancholy...a sense of loss....everything..!!


"Ek baras beet gaya.... Ek baras beet gaya.....
Jhulsata jeth maas...sharad chandni udaas....
siski bharte saavan ka....antar ghat reet gaya...


Path niharte nayan....ginte din palchhin..
laut kabhi ayega...man ka jo meet gaya..."


Beautiful words by Atalji...( His style of saying 'siski bharte savan ka antar ghat reet gaya' ..is just awesome! :-) I still remember his election rally some 15 odd years back..when he came to Jabalpur...never have seen any better orator than him!) and Jagjit sang in a very slow tempo...and in low scale...as if the world has stopped and you have all the time to watch it..feel it...feel the 'jhulsata jeth maas', the brutal Indian Sun of May-June...feel the 'sharad chandni'....the winter sky filled with stars..!


Most of the poems of the album Samvedna, are in slow tempo...are of philosophical demeanor...but the music grows on you. Every song starts with a small commentary by Atalji where he either gives a little background of time when he wrote that poem or he utters the first 2 lines of his poem in his unparalleled & relaxed style. These songs remind me of my initial days in UK's chilling winters...some memories to remember!

Tribute to Jagjit Singh

Jagjit Singh ji is no more....a loss to Gazal gayaki and sensible music. As it happens with me always....I didn't realize what does this loss mean to me? Though I got the news and said to myself and friends it's sad etc etc...but as such I was unaffected...I was busy with my normal daily routine..going to office...coming back and so on...suddenly one day while on-route to office in the bus, when I switched on my iPod and selected a song from 'Samvedana', an album by Jagjit where he composed for Atal Bihari Vajpayee's poems, it struck me that this person is no more in this world..whom I am listening to right now..! I am not going to see him again...! (it's not as if he was my neighborhood friend and I used to see him daily..but still) I used to attend his concerts in Mumbai, as & when I got a chance...and although off-late I used to get a bit disappointed with his singing in concerts as he used to experiment too much...but yet his uniquely deep & sensitive voice always used to enthrall & amaze. Often I have craved for his earlier concert singing...especially when I listen to some old concert recordings...like 'Duniya jise kahte hain' , 'Fir usi rah guzar par Shayad', 'Shola hoon bhadakne ki guzarish nahi karta' etc. I often wished I was there to attend his concerts when he was at his prime!


For me, he along with Ghulam Ali has been a great influence....I grew up in a family where hindustani classical music was the most played music(till we arrived on the scene! :-) ) my father & grandfather both knew playing Tabla & Sitar respectively. But we children.. were hardly impressed by classical music and looked at it as boring stuff. :-) Though now I appreciate classical music much more.


I remember listening to Ghulam Ali first time when I was a child and my father would often play his cassettes. Then later on I was introduced to Jagjit Singh by my elder brother when he entered his engineering 1st year. That was the time when a musical program called Saregama had also started on TV with Sonu Nigam as an anchor. For me, this program really generated an interest in the old Hindi Film music and other non-film music genres such as folk & gazals and even classical music...otherwise till then, for me music meant the then trendy hindi film music with numbers like...'tu cheez badi hai mast mast'  :-).  So from there on, I got attracted to Jagjit's deep voice with his unique small vibrations (harkatein). Jagjit and his wife Chitra  made a really great singing pair...their contrasting natures of voice (While Jagjit's voice is deep & at lower octave..kind of outside-in, Chitra's is at higher octave...inside-out) seemed to complement each other's singing.


I have associated different phases of my life with one or the other Gazals of these two maestros. So whenever I recall past..the associated gazal comes first in mind! - That's the kind of attachment has been with Jagjit Ji & his gayaki, for me. But I often think that.....that's the beauty of these legends...they have left a legacy..they have given the world which will remain there even after them...even after they have passed away...the music..the compositions created by Jagjit will always be there with me...with other fans!


To conclude with one of his composition.. this is what he means to me - 'Jate jate wo mujhe achhi nishani de gaya.....Umr bhar doharaunga..aisi kahani de gaya.'

Concert update

It was to be a concert bringing the two greats...two maestros of 'Gazal' (Gazal can be termed as a light classical indian musical genre...wherein poems written in Urdu language are sung expressively) together...Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali..for the first time! I have followed these two greats since my childhood...thanks to my father who was a fan of Ghulam Ali and my elder brother who became a fan of Jagjit during his college days..! I was looking forward to see them singing together.. interacting together..but something unfortunate happened. :(

I was on my way to the concert..when I got a sms from organizers that Jagjit Singh would not be able to perform due to health reasons and instead..Hariharan is going to join Ghulam Ali. I was a bit disappointed ..though Hariharan is a wonderful singer...but expectations were already set to see the two Gazal maestros together whom I have admired for years. I sincerely pray to God for his quick recovery...a great singer who made Gazals accessible and popular among masses...Jagjit Singh ji...you have been an idol for me!

Hariharan started with some of his popular gazals like ‘kash aisa koi manzar hota’.. ‘mai khayal hoon kisi aur ka’ , 'mareez-a-ishq ka kya hai’, ‘patta patta buta buta’….all with some wonderful improvisations and he created some breakthrough moments when you automatically start clapping and sighing ‘wah wah’….but with due respect to him…somehow that ‘rooh’ was missing…

Nevertheless he was simply superb when he sang what he calls ‘urdu blues’, a gazal from album kash ‘ye aaine se akele me’…. because according to him when he was composing this track the notes resembled a lot with ‘blues’…a western musical genre. I have been to few other fusion concerts..but none of them generated much interest..all sounded like an stretched & forced alliance of eastern & western forms! But here…it was a wonderful seamless fusion of western and eastern music..I just wondered how effortlessly Hariharan was playing with notes as he wished and all that play was making people wanting more & more! 

Then came the maestro himself…Ghulam Ali…but he was a pale shadow of his own brilliant past…age seems to have affected his voice…he had to put a lot of effort in singing….still he pulled it off quite nicely..through his unparallel earthy eloquence…there is a lot to learn from him in the art of engaging the audience in a performance…his style of singing  some brilliant ‘sher’s..2 liners, explaining meaning of difficult urdu words…polite manners…quoting some old interesting stories about his musical journey..cracking jokes…all was quite charming.  He was absolutely brilliant and sometimes unbelievable on Harmonium….he didn’t need another Harmonium player..he played all by himself….and it would have been just perfect if his singing was also like the old days…. I was able to understand his ideas..& what he wanted to sing but couldn’t. I was thinking oh God...if only I was born few years earlier so that I could have attended his concerts when he was at his prime...! :-)

The concert ended with a jugalbandi, Hariharan giving company to Ghulam Ali for ‘Barasan lagi’ a dadra in raag piloo (a semi classical form) …quite melodious…was good to watch audience humming the ‘dhun’ of a semi classical stuff which was not that famous either.

Overall a good concert...but one who has listened to Ghulam Ali’s old concert recordings…he’ll be disappointed…badly missing that voice and style.

Mera saya

'Tu jahan jahan chalega...mera saya sath hoga'.... did I ever write about Lataji? She is absolute bliss....her voice...with all the emotions of the world...my god....it brings tears to the eyes...listening to her songs...!!

What a voice...and what control...just perfect..isn't it? I really love to listen to her old hindi film songs...specially 60's & 70's ....when she worked with SD burman, RD burman, MadanMohan etc..

I think no one can match her when it comes to bringing out the mood and emotions of a song..theme..or a raga....and that's what makes her different...and far ahead of all other singers..!

I always wanted to sing...but alas....these days I don't feel like I can be any good in any field...the confidence is just not there....but music is the only thing where I feel at home...at peace...at my own self...hmm....now that's beer talking...!

Mehndi Hassan- A phenomenon of its own kind

I didn't know about Mehndi Hassan much....must have heard his name somewhere in the musical circle..nothing more than that. Well...I already had Ghulam Ali thanks to my father....and then I had Jagjit Singh and Hariharan....thanks to my elder brother..so already 3 gazal maestroes..I was familier with..and I admired all the 3....so there was no place for a 4th one..!!

But after college...during my initial days of Job in Trivandrum..sourthern part of India...a cassette happened to catch my eyes in a music shoppe...Ghulam Ali & Mehndi Hassan - First time together! I thought why not try this...lets explore who's this guy called Mehndi Hassan.

So that was my first introduction to Mehndi Hassan...and it was a wonderful experience...his voice had a unique calmness..and softness...totally opposite of Ghulam Ali's restless one!

I really took a liking to his beautiful number ' Mai khayal Hoon kisi aur ka'....a complicated and serious gazal 'Ab ke hum bichhde' in a rare raga Bhoopkali...and some Rajasthani Folk as well...and then I bought some more of his stuff...and it was really good.

His style is very relaxed and he takes his time to expand and express the meaning of gazal woven into a raga...displays all the intricacies of the raga. He normally composes the gazals in a single raga...not mixing 2 ragas..tries to maintain the purity of the raga. The calming and soothing effect is awesome...and there are no parallels to it.

Someone Somewhere

Aadmi aadmi ko kya dega...
Jo bhi dega...wahi khuda dega..


Gazal from the album Someone Somewhere.....the last from the duo of Jagjit & Chitra....after this Chitra just retired into seclusion....after the shocking death of their only son Vivek..in a tragic road accident.!!


Each & every gazal from this album is a gem....you will find a new sound...a new wave in every gazal!


Mere dukh ki koi dava na karo....
Mujhko mujhse abhi juda na karo..


Another gem of a gazal....a solo from Chitra...different sounds...interesting sounds...in every stenza.....I can feel the pain of a lover..who wants to be in a solitude!!


Pain can be sweet....if you are able to appreciate the talent of Jagjit & Chitra...!!!


Dekha to mera saya bhi....mujhse juda mila...
Socha to har kisi se....mera silsila mila...


Last from the album ....a solo by Jagjit...the masetro himself....typical deep voice..and small harkatein...which are trademark of Jagjit's gayaki...!! You want to listen it...again & again...that's the magic of Jagjit.


I often wonder...is this something...only I feel...or there are others as well...in this world...who do feel the sameway...?? God knows....who cares...!!!

Music & words

Expressions...?? what are they..?? Can feelings be expressed in words?? May or may not be..!! But then why there are few songs/poems ..which directly touch your soul & heart... definitely words can express feelings..to such an extent..that a dead heart can feel the beats again!!!


Then words woven with music....make it more expressive...more easily absorbable...more touching!
So when the magician of words and the maestro of gazal singing come together...it becomes a treat to listeners..gazal lovers...!!! Yes...Gulzar and Jagjit Singh..the duo need no introduction...marasim is an album by them...gift for people like us.
"Haath choote bhi to...rishte nahi chora karte...
waqt ki shaakh se..lamhe...nahi toda karte..."


That's the 1st gazal...of the album...beautiful words..rendered beautifully by jagjit singh in his velvet voice.
The pain in his voice..can be felt...I don't know from where he brings that! Such a deep and effective voice takes you in a superficial world...they call it 'shoonya' !! I think heaven is not any where else..but on this very earth...!!

Gulam ka Gulam

Sochte aur jagte.... sanso ka ik dariya hoon main..
apne gumdashta...kinaro ke liye bahta hoon mai...


Gulam Ali sings this gazal and I keep on listening it agian and again!
Although not everything is easy to understand, due to the use of difficult urdu words in the poetry, but the melody is beautiful...the very inimmitable style of Ghulam Ali..free flow of voice...and classical touch...makes me to say... 'wah wah wah' .. :-)


Sometimes I feel that Gulam Ali is even more talented than many other classical singers.
His improvisations, and imaginations are really a treat to listeners.
If I can immitate atleast 1 gazal of him...then I will consider myself a singer...of good musical acumen.

My passion

Aapko dekhkar dekhta rah gaya...
kya kahoon..aur kahne ko kya rah gaya...


aise bichde sabhi raat ke mod par....
akhri humsafar raasta rah gaya....


when I listen this gazal sung by Jagjit Singh with my headphones ..full volume..it takes me to a different world...a world of emotions and imagination.... Jagjit Singh and his Gazals have always had a deep impact on me.... what a deep and sensitive voice he has got... gives his rendering of gazals a different edge... although not that technically complicated as compared to the other gazal maestro..Ghulam Ali.... but very effective.


I am not an emotional man...very little at emotions... so sometimes when I feel totally bereft of emotions....it is at this very hour....when Gazals.. and especially Jagjit's gazals help me... they charge me with emotions and sensitivity. I once again start to feel...feel for life.


Since I have been listening his Gazals for nearly 7-8 years now.... with each and every gazal I associate some or other memories from my childhood, from my college life...so a particular gazal of Jagjit takes me back in that time.


Sometimes I feel that I like to dwell in past much more than being in present...or imagining about future....!! probably that's the reason why I like to read about history related topics.
But people say that dwelling in past is a waste... but I cant help it...and I dont care about what others think about it.


duniya parai hui....mera thikana gaya...
ansoo hain sathi mere...ab muskurana gaya....


That's the song I am listenning to..right now... Hariharan's album 'Halka Nasha'.
What a wonderful singer he too..is.... great control over the fluent voice...and such a meticulus classical training...you can see in his songs.. he is one of the 3 great gazal singers I like.


The 3rd one is not to mention..one of the toughest to mimic..or copy...or immitate... the one and only..Ghulam Ali..! His rendition of gazal...thumri..or any other light classical forms..is such a master piece that no one can sing exactly with the same perfection.
His voice is not that sweet or deep as Jagjit's voice.... but still his style is unparallel to anyone.


I still remember those school and college days.... when me and my brother..who is also a gazal fan like me.... used to discuss for hours..on gazals... comparing these 3 maestros..trying to immitate their styles..and fighting over..as who is great out of the 3.
Similarly I got a great friend in my intial 2-3 months training in Trivandrum in TCS....he was also a music lover... specially gazals... and incidently we had to share the same room in the hotel...so here that room became like a recording studio..:-)


We used to sing...immitate...discuss over music...for hours...late night...now I really crave for such a musical company...especially the music that I like.... but alas..!!! no-one is here with that taste.. so sometimes I feel frustrated.
Anyways.... that's the way it goes...it depends on an individual...if he can find the company he wants...or if he becomes like the company he has got.
wow...!!.. that sounds poetic statement..!! :-)