Classic Harmonies

Attended a concert titled 'Classic Harmonies', an orchestra of Hindi oldies. Singers were Anjali Marathe, Jitendra Abhyankar and Dattaprasad Ranade. Musicians were Ninad Solapurkar (Keyboard), Rohan Vanage (Octopad) and Vishal Gandratwar (Tabla). Dr. Amit Tribhuvan was the anchor of the program. This program was organized by Maharashtra Mandal Abu Dhabi (MMAD) at Indian Islamic Center, Abu Dhabi on 19th Feb 2016.

Since the program was on Shiv jayanti (Chatrapati Shivaji's birth anniversary) they started with 'Jaydev Jaydev jayjay Shivraya (जयदेव जयदेव जयजय शिवराया)' from album 'Shiv Kalyan raja (शिवकल्याण राजा)'.

Thereafter they presented their main Hindi program. They started with ''Aaiye meherbaan (आईए मेहेरबाॅं). Audience immediately asked for 'once more' which was duly complied. Then they presented 'Dilka bhavar kare pukar (दिलका भॅंवर करें पुकार)' from film 'Tere gharke samne (तेरे घरके सामने)' & 'Yun hasaraton ke dag (यूॅं हसरतोंके दाग)'. The singer went out of tune in this song. Then they presented a medley of Kishore Kumar songs that included 'Ye Jo mohobbat hai (ये जो मुहोब्बत है)', 'Lena hoga janam hamein (लेना होगा जनम हमें)' & Dilbar mere (दिलबर मेरे). Hemant Kumar's 'Yaad kiya dilne kahan ho tum (याद किया दिलने कहाॅं हो तुम)' was next.

Dattaprasad Ranade, who was silent until now, started his performance with Mehdi Hasan's famous Gazal 'Ranjish hi sahi (रंजिश ही सही)'. Audience applauded with clasps the moment he started. He informed that this Gazal was originally not written for mehbooba but for Pakistan's democracy. Audience gave him a big applause and demanded 'once more'.

There was another medley that included 'Jaminse hame (जमीनसे हमें)', 'Ye ratein ye mausam (ये रातें ये मौसम)', 'Dil ki najar se (दिलकी नजरसे)' & surprisingly 'Tumse milke (तुमसे मिलके)'.

Anjali's Raat akeli hai (रात अकेली है) was applauded by the audience. 'Kahin dur jab din dhal jaye (कहीं दूर जब दिन ढल जाए)' was applauded for keyboard play. 'Janeman janeman (जानेमन जानेमन) from film 'Chotisi baat' was next. Lead singers demonstrated good chemistry in this song. 'Jhumka gira re (झुमका गिरा रे)' was also widely applauded. Dattaprasad presented one of the most famous and meaningful film gazal 'Chitthi ayi hai (चिठ्ठी आई है) in his soulful voice. Needless to say audience demanded 'once more' and got it. In 'Neele neele ambar par (नीले नीले अंबरपर)' Jitendra sung some wrong words but quickly rectified. Though Ninad played keyboard commendably, absence of guitar was strongly felt in this song.

Then they presented 'Dil cheez kya hai (दिल चीज़ क्या है)', Ghulam Ali's most famous Gazal 'Chupke Chupke (चुपके चुपके), the evergreen 'Ai meri joharjabi (ऐ मेरी जोहरजबी) & 'Kajra mohobbat wala (कजरा मुहोब्बतवाला) where Anjali sang in two scales.

Gazal medley consisted of 'Hothon se choo lo tum (होठोंसे छूलो तुम)', 'Tumko dekha to ye (तुमको देखा तो ये)', 'Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho (तुम इतना जो मुस्कुरा रहे हो)', 'Hanske bola karo (हॅंसके बोला करो)' & 'Ye daulat bhi lelo (येदौलतभी लेलो)'. This medley should have come earlier.

In grand finale Jitendra sung two songs: First was 'O sawariya (ओ सावरीया)' from movie 'Half Ticket' in male as well as female voice like KK and second was 'Laga chunarimein daag (लागा चुनरीमें दाग)' with its ageless Tarana.

Some of the songs were played with live music and some were karaoke. I did not understand logic of singing with karaoke when there was an ensemble of seven artists.

Dattaprasad was best singer of the night. Anjali and Jitendra sung well. Jitendra presented some of the songs for second  or third time in Abu Dhabi in last 3-4 years. Musicians also played well.

Anchor had a deep voice and conducted the program in Hindi with some sprinkling of Marathi. He narrated small incidents and trivia about these songs making his narration interesting. However he presented oldies one after another without choosing any theme to follow. Thus he jumped from one time period to another, once musician to other, one style to other. Though all songs were good, they were haphazard & I did not find it orderly.

Acoustics of this auditorium are not good. The hall was not full and that worsened the situation as the sound echoed. But it was better than some if the previous programs.

As stage property they used posters of eight movies on wing curtains but ironically did not sing a song from any of them.

I noticed something different in medleys. They started all songs of medley from mukhda insured of antara.

Program started half an hour later and was attended by about 200 to 250 people.

Some artists probably drank too much water and had to take break mid program when they were not performing.

MMAD should probably think about organizing a Gazal special one day.

Entertainment rating 8/10.