Ghazal for everyone

And the poet who shone throughout the evening was our city8217;s offering, Irshad Kamil. The power of his lines was such that it gave a greater impact both to the singer and the listener for Vinod seemed to enjoy singing them more than other couplets. And the audience received with thunderous applause Irshad8217;s ghazals8217;, especially Dhoop ka ek tukda rehta hain in palkon ki chhaon mein, Acha khasa shahar basa hain, ek chote se gaaon mein.

But the boorish backbenchers could not leave either the singer or his avid listeners in peace to savour whatever was doled out. For all they wanted were Punjabi numbers and Vinod8217;s famous chart busters. Since he realised that it was better to give milk to the crying baby, who would otherwise keep on disturbing the rhythm of the concert, Vinod gave them their first farmaish, Chhod aaye hum woh galiyan8230;. Though there was a lack of instruments and the accompanying three singers of the original, Vinod could recreate the sense and sentiment of the crowd-pulling song and leave the audience thoroughly spellbound.

Vinod had a bunch of young and talented accompanying artists. Prem Kumar and Gyan Chaurasia provided the lilt of tabla in measured tone that went hand in hand with Arshad8217;s smooth Dilruba and Sushant8217;s soft guitar notes. Since Vinod is quite at ease with Punjabi songs as well, the audience got them in equal quota and the evening8217;s pick was Laung da lishkara.

Nevertheless ardent fans of the ghazal format wished for more of the effervescent ones that could emerge through the twisting registers of Vinod immaculately. But it was an evening well-spent, after a long time.