Dialogues with life

It all started about six years ago when poet Sandeep Khare and music director Salil Kulkarni felt the need to do something different.

At that time,musical programmes of old Marathi songs based on different themes were a concept that was attracting crowds. “But there was no satisfaction in doing the same things again and we wanted to do something creative,” says Kulkarni.

Back then Kulkarni was staging programmes of his new compositions independently and Khare was also performing in various poetry sessions. They knew each other and had worked together occasionally. “The drive to do different and creative work brought us together,” says he.

“The initial drive to perform was to present the new work in a simple and interactive format,” says Khare. “Initially we were skeptical,as to whether the audience will accept new things or not. But somehow it clicked,” he says.

Khare recites his poems in the programme and Salil sings some of them,which are also composed by him. “The concept is simple. We recite poems and songs on life. The poems are bound in a theme that portrays various stages of life and the sentiments attached to it. I think the programme clicked because the audience could relate themselves to what we recited as the poems. We talk about human emotions and feelings,” says Khare. In the past,Marathi poetry sessions enjoyed huge popularity. But after the 1990s,there was a slump,giving an impression that the young Marathi generation was ignoring Marathi literature. In that backdrop,Ayushyavar Bolu Kahi can be seen as a revival of Marathi poetry catering specifically to a middle class audience.

After the first 25 or so programmes,every event of Ayushyavar Bolu Kahi was houseful. Salil says,“The success lies in simplicity. There is no anchor for the programme and Sandeep and me talk to the audience after every two poems. I think the audience likes this direct contact. They feel better hearing about the process of a poem or a composition from the poet or composer himself instead of an anchor telling them about it. In a way it becomes an informal chat.”

The programme has been staged across the state and even abroad in the US,Europe and Gulf countries. “The response so far is excellent. Every Marathi middle class audience,be it in Satara,Kolhapur,Pune or New Jersey,can relate to the poems and that is our USP,” says Khare.

In the 500th programme,two more artistes,Bela Shende and Anjali Kulkarni,will sing some of the songs and actor Sunil Barve will be hosting it. While Aditya Athalye will lead the rhythm side of the music section,Satyajit Prabhu will be in-charge of melody side. Nitin Chandrachud will design the sound.

The duo will present some new poems and compositions in the 500th show. Even after so many shows,the duo has made it a point to present at least one new poem or composition in every programme. “It is challenging but that keeps us going for so long,” smiles Salil.