“Rahul and I—Bhupinder remembers Pancham”--a tribute to Pancham by Melody Chime at Kalamandir,Kolkata on 4th Jan,2011 on the death anniversary of Rahul Dev Burman.
By
Kaushik Bandyopadhyay
A long 17 years have been passed since he left us on 4th Jan,1994 but he is still alive…alive in our heart…on 4th Jan,1994,he got immortallity for ever…he,i.e.,Rahul Dev Burman,the musical wizard and the greatest musical phenomenon in India for ever…
On 4th Jan,2011 Tuesday,I reached Kalamandir,Shakespeare Sarani,Kolkata at sharp 17-00 hrs.The front of the hall was thickly crowded by hundreds of RD-lovers.Shubhendu(Bandyopadhyay) and Anirudha(Bhattacharjya) had already arrived there.We met and I was introduced with some other Panchamites like Balaji Bhittal(Co-author of the recent RD-book alongwith Anirudha to be published by Harper & Collins),Siddhartha(Compere and host of this program),Shantanu Bhattacharjya and others.Quickly we had a cup of tea and I was waiting for Shantanu(Das) with his wife Suparna and 3-year-old son Roddur and my silent(killer) Panchamite friend Partha with four premium-class tickets in my blazer’s pocket.
Suddenly a Bollero arrived on the portico and alongwith some musicians the man got down was the great Bhanuda(Gupta),RD’s famous guitarist.We quickly approached him and with folded hands I greeted him with a “Namaskar,Bhanuda”.At once he returned the same to me and putting his right hand on my left shoulder he smilingly asked in bengali,”And,how’re you all?”
I demanded from him,”Bhanuda,we all want you to rock tonight." Bhanuda replied with melancholy,”Today is Pancham’s death anniversary.Hence there’ll be all soft music today.” We nodded agreeably as we know there is no dirth of soft music in RD’s treasures also.
This time Bhupiji(Bhupinder Singh) came out after a short rehearsal inside and Shantanu(Das) asked him,”In Ghar,who played that immortal guitar piece?”Bhupiji smilingly replied,”It’s me.”
By the time a long queue was formed for entry into the hall and we joined that and entered the hall at 18-10.We took our seats in ‘H’ row i.e.8th row from the front….ohh,so close to the stage.
First Half
At 18-40,the curtain started lifting and we saw all the musicians glowing the stage with Bhanuda at the front right with guitar,Kishore Sodha at front middle with trumpet and Fudal Horn and Shyam Raaj at front left with his English flutes.
So the musical gala night started with the gorgeous tune of “Tumi,kato je dure” in Kishore Sodha’s magnificient trumpet which ended with a huge claps from the audience.
Compere Siddhartha arrived stage now and started introductions of the great musicians of RDB on stage.Bhanuda remembered about a book in which 150 persons,after death,came back living in this world and also told about how he used to meet unearthly Pancham daily at 5-00 clock in the morning.Such strong was their relation in real life.Then Bhanuda played “Ye Dosti” in his mouth organ to remember Pancham.Shailaja Subramanium came on stage after this and started with RD’s Bengali superhit “Tolo Chhinnobinaa” followed by “Tere bina jiya jaye naa” from Ghar….manificient performance.
After this,she sang the ‘Essence of Music’ from Dil Padosi hai—“Satwa baar bole bangshi”.This one was followed by ‘Gum sum kiyu hai sanam” from Kasme Waade by Shailajaji.Then Shyam raaj ji started with his English Flute….the immortal “Tumse milke” from Parinda.Shailajaji then sang another eternal melody…’Mera kuchh saamaan “ from Izzazat.
Now,Kishore Sodha played “Pyar ke mod pe” from Parinda in his Fudal Horn accompanied by Shailajaji with her vocal.Then came the title song of Jhuta Kahin Kaa excellently sung by Shailajaji.
With all these performances,the musicians on the stage were all simply superb,accurate and gorgeous.Curtain again dropped for interval
2nd Half
When curtain lifted again we saw Bhupiji and Mitaliji sitting with harmonium in the middle of stage alongwith the musicians.They received a huge applaud from the audience.Bhupiji started with “Yaad hai baarishon ke din” from his album with Gulzar.
Then came interview of Bhupiji by Bhanuda on stage….
Reminisciences of Pancham by Bhupinder…Bhupiji told about Pancham’s unparallel improvisations of music,successful experiments and applications with newer musical instruments,his confidence on his musicians etc.Once,after bringing a new instrument,Pancham,when asked who would play this,replied that Bhupi would play that.Bhanuda described Bhupiji as the best musician that Bombay had ever produced.
“Aayen the woh saat sur leke
Chale gaye leke sabka swar
Khuda jaane aur saare duniyaa bhi
Woh the sangeet ka ek jaadugar” (Kaushik) (Contd)
By
Kaushik Bandyopadhyay
A long 17 years have been passed since he left us on 4th Jan,1994 but he is still alive…alive in our heart…on 4th Jan,1994,he got immortallity for ever…he,i.e.,Rahul Dev Burman,the musical wizard and the greatest musical phenomenon in India for ever…
On 4th Jan,2011 Tuesday,I reached Kalamandir,Shakespeare Sarani,Kolkata at sharp 17-00 hrs.The front of the hall was thickly crowded by hundreds of RD-lovers.Shubhendu(Bandyopadhyay) and Anirudha(Bhattacharjya) had already arrived there.We met and I was introduced with some other Panchamites like Balaji Bhittal(Co-author of the recent RD-book alongwith Anirudha to be published by Harper & Collins),Siddhartha(Compere and host of this program),Shantanu Bhattacharjya and others.Quickly we had a cup of tea and I was waiting for Shantanu(Das) with his wife Suparna and 3-year-old son Roddur and my silent(killer) Panchamite friend Partha with four premium-class tickets in my blazer’s pocket.
Suddenly a Bollero arrived on the portico and alongwith some musicians the man got down was the great Bhanuda(Gupta),RD’s famous guitarist.We quickly approached him and with folded hands I greeted him with a “Namaskar,Bhanuda”.At once he returned the same to me and putting his right hand on my left shoulder he smilingly asked in bengali,”And,how’re you all?”
I demanded from him,”Bhanuda,we all want you to rock tonight." Bhanuda replied with melancholy,”Today is Pancham’s death anniversary.Hence there’ll be all soft music today.” We nodded agreeably as we know there is no dirth of soft music in RD’s treasures also.
This time Bhupiji(Bhupinder Singh) came out after a short rehearsal inside and Shantanu(Das) asked him,”In Ghar,who played that immortal guitar piece?”Bhupiji smilingly replied,”It’s me.”
By the time a long queue was formed for entry into the hall and we joined that and entered the hall at 18-10.We took our seats in ‘H’ row i.e.8th row from the front….ohh,so close to the stage.
First Half
At 18-40,the curtain started lifting and we saw all the musicians glowing the stage with Bhanuda at the front right with guitar,Kishore Sodha at front middle with trumpet and Fudal Horn and Shyam Raaj at front left with his English flutes.
So the musical gala night started with the gorgeous tune of “Tumi,kato je dure” in Kishore Sodha’s magnificient trumpet which ended with a huge claps from the audience.
Compere Siddhartha arrived stage now and started introductions of the great musicians of RDB on stage.Bhanuda remembered about a book in which 150 persons,after death,came back living in this world and also told about how he used to meet unearthly Pancham daily at 5-00 clock in the morning.Such strong was their relation in real life.Then Bhanuda played “Ye Dosti” in his mouth organ to remember Pancham.Shailaja Subramanium came on stage after this and started with RD’s Bengali superhit “Tolo Chhinnobinaa” followed by “Tere bina jiya jaye naa” from Ghar….manificient performance.
After this,she sang the ‘Essence of Music’ from Dil Padosi hai—“Satwa baar bole bangshi”.This one was followed by ‘Gum sum kiyu hai sanam” from Kasme Waade by Shailajaji.Then Shyam raaj ji started with his English Flute….the immortal “Tumse milke” from Parinda.Shailajaji then sang another eternal melody…’Mera kuchh saamaan “ from Izzazat.
Now,Kishore Sodha played “Pyar ke mod pe” from Parinda in his Fudal Horn accompanied by Shailajaji with her vocal.Then came the title song of Jhuta Kahin Kaa excellently sung by Shailajaji.
With all these performances,the musicians on the stage were all simply superb,accurate and gorgeous.Curtain again dropped for interval
2nd Half
When curtain lifted again we saw Bhupiji and Mitaliji sitting with harmonium in the middle of stage alongwith the musicians.They received a huge applaud from the audience.Bhupiji started with “Yaad hai baarishon ke din” from his album with Gulzar.
Then came interview of Bhupiji by Bhanuda on stage….
Reminisciences of Pancham by Bhupinder…Bhupiji told about Pancham’s unparallel improvisations of music,successful experiments and applications with newer musical instruments,his confidence on his musicians etc.Once,after bringing a new instrument,Pancham,when asked who would play this,replied that Bhupi would play that.Bhanuda described Bhupiji as the best musician that Bombay had ever produced.
“Aayen the woh saat sur leke
Chale gaye leke sabka swar
Khuda jaane aur saare duniyaa bhi
Woh the sangeet ka ek jaadugar” (Kaushik) (Contd)
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