A mellifluous evening

It was an evening filled with music and art, and some wine thrown in. ‘Art for Causes’ hosted an evening of ghazals where popular musician Vidya Shah rendered classic numbers that were known to be the iconic ghazals of the legendary Begum Akhtar, one the foremost gramaphone record players of India, who was the pride of the mehfils of pre-independent India into the late 60s.

She began the concert with the famous ghazal “Deewana banana hai tho deewana banade’. Known in her circles as Akhtari before her marriage, the singer who has had strong traditional roots and training also showed inclination towards light music on radio. To showcase this aspect Vidya presented “Jiya mora lehraraae, chaa rahi kaali ghata”.

‘This is dedicated to the wonderful weather of Hyderabad,’ she said. Apparently the shayars (poets) of her time would feel privileged if Queen of Ghazlas as Begum Akhtar was known, chose their poetry to sing on stage. Shakeel Badayuni was one of her favourite shayars. His “Ae mohabbat tere anjaam pe rona aaye” marked a grand finale to the beautiful evening.

Vidya had earlier given her concerts in the city of Nizams and each time she received tremendous response, and her fans from across the city flock to the venue. The tribute to Begum Akhtar was held at the Grand Ballroom of Taj Krishna and it was full house that swayed to the soulful music and engaging anecdotes about Begum Akhtar.

Danish, the Dastangoi was there to strike an engaging conversation on stage and with the audience on the life and times the ghazal singer. The event also had the exhibition of paintings and art prints, the proceeds of which will go towards funding various social initiatives under the guidance of the founder, Amita Talwar.