Renowned Indian ghazal singer Talat Aziz paid a musical tribute to departed ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh during a musical evening organized here on Thursday.
One of the most successful and loved artists of his time, Jagjit Singh, passed away on Oct. 10, 2011.
The evening termed “Sham-e-Ghazal” was made memorable by versatile Talat Aziz, who treated the cognoscenti with a flawless rendition of some of the finest ghazals amid “wah-wah” (cheering) and clapping from the receptive audience. His selection of ghazals included the best from various eras — from Mir and Ghalib to Faiz and Shaharyar — packaged into an evening of musical magnificence.
His musical show put to rest the skepticism over the preeminence of ghazals as part of the traditional music forms of India.
Speaking to Arab News, Aziz, who has been in the field for around three decades, said, “Ghazal is an integral part of the subcontinent’s culture and with its long history and it cannot disappear.”
“Some people now say ghazal is a dying form but I see a bright future for it.”
However, he added, “It will get a boost if efforts are made to attract the younger generation to this form of singing.” He told Arab News that he has started an initiative for this purpose through Mehfil-e-Samaa” to promote ghazals in India and abroad among today’s generation.
Aziz enthralled hundreds of lovers of this genre with the reproduction of some of Jagjit Singh’s all-time hits, some of Begum Akhtar’s and his own compositions. It was like revisiting the past without breaking connection with the present.
Aziz’s voice was dramatic and melodious, his rendering of the difficult rhyme, his flawless Urdu pronunciation and his sweet voice, kept the audience spellbound.
The musical extravaganza was enjoyed by a large number of Indian expatriates, both men and women, including workers, executives, professionals including Centrepoint General Manager Najmul Haq, Deputy General Manager Babyshop Ashraf Saudagar and retail head for Splash Mohd Hazi attended the event.
A perfectionist to the core, Aziz’s talent in singing ghazal was evident throughout the night and he brought to fore the richness of this singing form.
His classic offering of Jagjit’s composition “Tumko dekhaa to ye khayaal aayaa zindagii dhuup tum ghanaa saayaa,” and “aaj jane ki zid na karo” set the tone for the evening.
His rendition “Kal chaowdhwin ki raat thi, shab bhar raha charcha tera,” and “aina mujhse meri pehli si soorat mange,” had the crowd in an uplifting mood. His presentation of “Ab kya ghazal sunawoon tujhe dekhne ke baad,” got rapturous applause from the audience.
Aziz sang many ghazals in his modulated voice and kept the audience engaged throughout.
A thunderous response set the tone for an engaging association of an able artist and appreciative audience that went on well till late in the night. Hi mesmerized all with rendition of “Ye daulat bhi le lo, ye shoharat bhi le lo; bhale cheen lo mujhse meri javaanii; magar mujhko lautaa do bachapan kaa saavan; vo kaagaz ki kashtii, vo baarish kaa paanii,” was an instant hit with the audience.
The evening reached its crescendo with Aziz's adaptation of late Shaharyar's famous ghazal “Zindagi jab bhi teri bazm me lati hai mujhe, ye zameen chand se behtar nazar aati hai mujhe.”
Kidwai and Consul Commercial and Culture Shakeel Ahmad, who anchored the show, were present all through the show which lasted for three hours. Hyderabad born Aziz's true inspiration in ghazal singing is legendary Mehdi Hassan. About his master Aziz says, “He brought a revolution to ghazal singing with his unique style of blending classical ragas with ghazals.”
Earlier, the musical treat, organized by the Consulate General of India in association with Centrepoint, started with the formal lighting of candle by Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai.