An Unforgettable Evening - Master & His Magic, Jagjit Singh

Sometimes merely a single moment changes the flavor of a day and stamps it in mind with its mesmerizing memories forever. On 5th of Feb, as usual when I was reading Mumbai Mirror and Jagjit sahib's sepia effect picture took my attention. when I read further I came to know about function on Jagjit Ji's birth anniversary. In keeping with Jagjit sahab's vision to encourage promising young singers, on the eve of Jagjit Singh ji's birth anniversary, Chitra Singh offered them this prestigious platform of Jagjit Singh Foundation.

 

 After reading this, I quickly decided to make of this at any cost. I never got the chance to attend Jagjit Ji live though, I remember; way back in 2005 it was almost scheduled for a Live Gazal Concert and even we had managed to get the passes but unfortunately it never worked out. We dint attend it due to some problem. Now this time, though he is not among us but his enigma and those Gazals were enough to create that magic. I looked at the bottom of advertisement and found, it will be held on 07th Feb at Manik Sabhagruha, Indian Education Society. Just two days prior I was reading about it and I knew it will be difficult to get the pass if I miss to get it on same day. luckily I thought to ask Andrea ji for help, since I was not able to go to bandra till late in the evening and her chapel road residence was just a Lilavati Hospital building behind to the venue, so I messaged her with detailed request and address to get the passes and to my relief that nice lady called me up in hardly 30 min confirming she got the pass. I jumped in excitement to thank her;  She made it so easy and like dream come true. I was deeply excited to attend the Master's magic. On same day at evening I collected the pass, when opened it felt so nice. There was same sepia effected photo of Jagjit sahab which was on print ad.
 

 Finally day arrived, luckily I could escape an hour early from office which helped me to reach venue on time, and as I expected I wasn't the unique excited case; there were lot more to hear those magical Gazals again. While moving in the line towards gate I heard those fixed statements from some people behind, "line me chalo sab... piche kya hum aise hi line laga ke khade hain?...." etc but I know it wasn't any typical chaos, it was just that excitement of Jagjit Ji's fans  which was loosing its control, thanks to the gatekeeper who managed it so well and let everyone pass inside smoothly.

Now that, usual auditorium chilling which always makes me so serious that I barely feel to speak anything, but this time I was all alone so I could continue my habit. curtains were still closed and my excitement was at its peak; and I was calculating and counting myself which Gazal tracks will be played and which should not be missed... after much waiting, curtains raised to visually treat the eyes with lovely decorated stage, unattended podium at left and in middle sitting arrangement for singers and musicians with their instruments kept artistically with shielded big screen from back; with texts over it, "The Master & his Magic, The Legend lives on... A Celebration" whereas at the right side, Jagjit Sahab's portrait in black suit, without garland hugging around the frame and a lamp near to it with flowers at the bottom of it. the entire stage was looking really nice, that empty stage was often making my mind believe that now the undisputed kind of Gazal will make his grand entry waving his hands towards crowd and take his seat at harmonium, but I knew; now; only ears can be pleased with closed eyes. soon the stage started loosing its emptiness when Tom alter took the charge of Podium. He was the hosting the event and I really admired that person's anchoring. Typical Indian traditional apparel dressed around foreign skin looked somewhat different but when Padma Shri awarded Tom Sahab passed sher-o-shayari with so much accurate accent, his gesture was loudly appreciated by audience through their continued clapping.

Further to the event with passing time, Tom ji called upon stage the musicians and introduced them to the audiences followed by lightening of lamp by Yesteryear actress Tanuja along with 90's silver screen queen Kajol to inaugrate the concert. Kajol's sister Tanisha was also present in white Indian traditional outfit. Kajol in her soothing green saree was looking very stunning, her glow was unavoidable. Lamp lightened and show stepped to its main lap. In order to keep Jagjit sahab's vision flaming to spread the young talents across masses, Chitra ji formed Jagjit Singh Foundation, and this was their first event on the auspicious eve of Master's birthday. Short, documentary played on the screen in tribute to the Legend Jagjit Sahab.

The first talent, Tom announced upon stage was Aman Trikha. a young good looking guy dressed stylishly in Indian traditional outfit appeared on stage and took his place at center, surrounded by musicians.After his short devotional speech for legend, Aman began with first selection of gazal "Yaad nahin kya kya dekha Tha, Sare manzar bhul gaye..... " I heard loud Waah from balcony audiance. Aman sung very nicely with next to the list Jagjit Sahab's gazal from Joggers park "Badi Nazuk hain yeh manjil, Mohabbat ka safar hain..." this time Aman succeed taking audience in their individual world to collect the lost moments in their very own personal stories.

Koi sun le na yeh kissa, bahot dar lagta hain...

Magar dar hi se kya hasil...

Magar dar hi se kya hasil...

Mohabbat ka safar hain......

Aman's voice and Jagjit Sahab's gazal already received the favorable confirmation by audiences. resonance of clapping was audible even after Aman left the stage. followed by Tom Sahab announced another talent, Budhaditya Mukharji. Another young talent appeared on stage in green traditional kurta and bowed to the audience. He began with "Hoshwalon ko kahabr kya.... " I found his way of singing much similar to the legend. Mukhariji was the first one who received big hands just at the start up of his first Gazal, noting his selection of Gazals were many of audience's favorite one, but auditorium shaken by loud cheer when he began "Zuki Zuki si nazar, bekarar hain ke nahin.....," This Gazal made people sing softly along with singer. Moreover this young legacy continued by Bikaneri talented singer Shehzad Ali. Till now all the singers were amazing but every one was leaving their mark like 'better than previous one'. Shehzad sung "Pyar ka pehla khat likhne me, waqt toh lagta hain..... " magical voice he has got. it created buzz when he dedicated and sung "Chitthi na koi sandes, Jane woh konsa desh jaha tum chale gaye..... " this song really made people miss the maestro. Shehzad was the last performer in young talent, followed by matured but prominent talent Ghanshyam Waswani.

Waswaniji has got great command over his voice, it was audible treat to hear him singing Jagjit Sahab's Gazal. He started with "Tum ko dekha toh.....yeh khayal aaya" which received big applause from audiences. It is my personal favorite, and Waswani sahab was doing justice with it. Next he selected, Lyric Nida Fazli Sahab's "Uske dushman hain bahot, aadmi accha hoga" This was also liked by people. Followed by Jayashree Shivram. She sung Devotional and then "Mitti da bawa". After that Jaswant singh performed. I personally liked this man's singing. It was very close to Jagjit Sahab. He commenced with "Apane Hothon par sajana Chahata hu.... " Amazing Voice, very penetrating voice and such a beautiful gazal. It was wow experience. He finished one and started another of his best performance, and this time it was my turn to say "Waahhhh!!!". Since beginning I was wondering when this gazal will be played and to my belief finally it was playing. Jaswant Ji, in his magical voice began "Woh kagaz ki kashti....woh barish ka pani....." Every row every one was lost in bliss and appreciating it by "Waah...Wahhh".... It was difficult to come out of ecstasy and find where miracle lays, was it Jaswant Sahab's Voice or Jagjit Sahab's already marked milestone with this gazal, whatever it is but it was making all emotional & nostalgic with the lyrics. 

Soon after Jaswant Singh's performance some of the people thought its almost over since, Tom ji had already mentioned about 6 singers only. So some handful Audiences left the auditorium. There was another feather in crown of this event, Padmashi Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt Sahab, but before that Tom request Subhash Ghai ji to say few words on Legend. Subhash ji walked to podium but this showman narrated very intersting story about Jagjit ji. Those were the days when Ghai Sahab and Jagjit ji were common friends through their respective college's youth festival. In Banglore, during college days, in inter collegiate youth festival; Jagjit sahab was performing some classical signing, and those days he used to wear turban, which was making him look like typical sardarji. When audience seen Turban wearing sardarji came for perform in classical, all started laughing. Jagjit Sahab calmly began singing, still all were laughing, but eventually after some time people remained silent, jagjit sahab were still singing, everywhere was pindrop silence, people started clapping, and at the end of the show people were clapping like mad. This was Jagjit Singh.  His short but such a sweet story made everyone proud of their star. Ghai Sahab steped down of stage by sharing such an untold story to the audience.

Now, control of stage was taken by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Tabla player Hemanshu. Soon all fall in love with Bhatt Sahab's Mohan Veena. The way he played it, unbeatable. It was purely magic we were witnessing. A Grammy award winner, literally made people drop their Jaws open, for some people it was something never seen in life before. Speechless performance it was. That event had already achieved the milestone by Jagjit Sahab's gazals and young Talent but Bhatt Sahab's performance took this extravaganza way beyond imagination of audiences. It was treat for ears and also for eyes due to Jugalbandi of Bhatt Sahab and Tabla player Hemanshu. Incredible Jugalbandi I should say. Tom alter marked this performance in his sher-o-shayari andaz...

Jane wale mehfil chod gaye, unhe kya pata...

Woh mehfil chod nahin Jodd gaye...

Moreover Bhatt shahab, also sung Jagjit ji's one of the favorite... "Hothon se chu lo tum...Mera geet amar kar do".  He also made everyone sing along with him, all signers, artist joined back and all were singing and paying tribute to the legend. It was very blissful and unforgettable evening. This event always will be cherished in my mind. 

Today its Jagjit Sahab's Birth anniversary.

"Hazaron khwaishey aisi.... ke har khwaish pe dum nikale"