Dr.Avnish Jolly ,Chandigarh, March 27 :An inimitable dance guru, an epoch-maker, a visionary, an able organizer and a true propagator of Indian classical arts, Guru Madan Lal Koser was much more. He had become a legend in his own lifetime, a distinction which is beyond majority of performers and organizers in the field of Indian classical music and dance has got. He was the name of a consciousness. More than anything else, he was a dignified and loving person. He had struggled but reached the acme of success. Undisputed monarch of cultural activities in Chandigarh, Guru Koser was belonged to that rare species of artists who for the cause of promoting other artistes sacrified his own performing career at a time when it was at the peak.
The Pracheen Kala Kendra organized a special concert here today at Punjab Kala Bhawan to pay musical tribute to its founder legendary Guru Madan Lal Koser who left for heavenly abode on this day last year. The artist of the evening was renowned ghazal and playback singer Vinod Sehgal who regaled the audience with his soulful gayaki.
The foremost disciple of ghazal king Jagjit Singh, Sehgal began the concert with a Sufi Kalaam “Kook papihe wali….” followed by the potent poetic composition of Shiv Kumar Batalvi “Sanu Rab ji ek geet udhara hor deyo…”. He established a romantic aura with rendition of Bashir Badr’s classic qalaam “Agar talaash karun…” in his mellifluous spell that gave a majestic start to his musical soiree largely attended by the well-wishers and friends of the Kendra and the Kosers.
Then he moved on to recite the ghazal of Salim Kauser “Ek dua ne bachha liya…” followed by “Tu kya jaane diwane” penned by Sudarshan Faqir. He created a spell exhibiting his versatility which was a testimony of his excellent playback performance in films like Machhis, Mirza Ghalib, Train to Pakistan and many TV serials.
Modulating his mellifluous voice, Sehgal brought alive the intrinsic dreamy fervor in Mirza Ghalib’s “Hain aur bhi duniya mein…”. He was at his best in a song from film Long Da Lishkara. The audience clapped in “laya” and “taal” at the culmination of every couplet.
On persistent demand of the audience, Vinod Sehgal doled out some soothing couplets with relative theme besides “Koi din gar zindgani aur hai…” and “Shayar se fitrat hoon main…”. The Maachis song “Chhod aaye ham woh galiyaan…” provided the grand finale. Vinod Sehgal brought the moods and passions in full play throughout the concert.
Articulating rhythm on the Tabla was Debashish Dhar along with Suresh Naik on the Dholak, Tilak Raj and Commando on the Guitar and the synthesizer respectively.