Chandigarh : A musical bonanza based on the theme of spring was presented by Ms. Dolly Guleria at a programme organized by Chandigarh Senior Citizens’ Association at Tagore Theatre last night. The occasion was the highlight of the Association’s on-going 16th Anniversary Celebrations.
Her daughter, Sunaini Sharma, MD of Nightingale Music Academy, who was the compere of the programme before joining Dolly on stage, explained that the theme had been especially conceptualized for the variety of flavors and fragrances, also bearing in mind the connoisseur audience comprising of avid music lovers and many prominent poets amongst them.
The programme was presented in varied genres including poetry of Sufi poets; Modern poetry of Prof. Mohan Singh, Amrita Pritam and Shiv Kumar Batalvi; Ghazals penned by prominent ‘shayars’, semi classical, folk and some surprises too.
Verses of ‘Farid’ Bulle Shah and Shah Hussain set the mood for the Sufi Kalam, which concluded with Tere Rang Wich Reh Ke Jeena written by Dolly herself.
The next flavor of the bouquet was works of the stalwarts of Punjabi Poetry:
Prof. Mohan Singh’s Gal Suni Jaa Ve Maarhi,
Nimmi Nimmi Tareyan Di Loh by Amrita Pritam, and
Bhatti Waliye by Birha Da Sultan- Shiv Kumar Batalvi.
Dolly selected compositions in Raag Pahari, mostly done by her father, Late Prof. Jogindra Singh Sodhi.
Ghazals of prominent shayars sung in her released and to-be released albums including ‘Dhoka’ by Kedar Nath Kedar, and ‘Kaisa Karvaan Hai Zindagi’ by B.D. Kalia were presented as a special ‘nazraana’ as the poets were present among the audience.
A Classical based ‘bandish in SINDHI BHAIRAVI which Dolly ji learnt from her Guru Late Khan Sahib Abdul Rehman Khan of Patiala Gharana ( guru to famous artists such as Nirmala Arun : the 1st female thumri singer, Lakshmi Shankar, the sister of Pt. Ravi Shankar, Mohd. Rafi, Pushpa Paghdhare, Suman Kalyanpur, Madhu Rani, Surinder Kaur and Dolly and her daughter Sunaini as well.) had the audience spellbound with her musical expertise and dedicated years of training.
Followed a segment of selected songs from her solo albums , starting with ‘Nikka Jeha Sadda Dil Mahiya’ penned by Gurcharan Rampuri and recorded in 1982 as Dolly 1st solo song which won her tremendous appreciation and fans in India and abroad. Songs like ‘Mohabbat Kar Baliye’, ‘Karni Main Tere Naal,’ ‘Bhul Jaaveen Naa- Saanu Yaad Rakheen’ were applauded by the keen audience.
A surprise segment which was dedicated to singers whom Dolly has admired since she was a little girl, included songs like ‘ Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh’ sung by Lata Mangeshkar, ‘Saanu Neher Wale Pul Te Bula Ke’ sung by Begum Noor Jehan, ‘Akhiyan Ne Jhadiyaan Layiyan’ by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and ‘Baat Nikle Gi’ by Jagjit Singh.
The finale of the evening was begun with Sunaini joining her mother to sing a collection of Surinder Kaur and Prakash Kaur songs which are deeply imbedded in the hearts and minds of Punjabis all over the world. ‘Maavan Te Dheeyan’, ‘Sassi Punnu’, Bajre Da Sitta, Jutti Kasuri, Chann Ve Ke Shaukan Mele Di, Sue Ve Cheere Walya, Kala Doriya, Katan Preetan Naal Charkha Channan Da, Lathe Di Chadar in which Dolly asked her 10yr old granddaughter Rhea also to join in to compliment the legacy , leading to the 4th generation……and all three generations ended the show with the popular ‘Ambarsare De Papad’ .
Sh KK Sharma, Advisor to the Administrator, was the Chief Guest of the evening.