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Stirring protest, musically
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Songs of resistance get a fresh lease of life in Shubha Mudgal’s enchanting voice at a concert in New Delhi
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Strength of unity Vocalist Shubha Mudgal.
The milieu was sombre. It was meant to be. Though its immediate intent was to remember 59 innocent lives who met with a tragic death at a city theatre hall 11 years ago, the purpose was also to put together a collective consciousness for the common good, and help those present to take home at least a sliver of that perception.
With rows of garlanded pictures of the victims of the Uphaar tragedy, their near and dear ones present in full strength, the occasion was a recital by well-known vocalist Shubha Mudgal in New Delhi this past Sunday. Organised by AVUT (Association of the Victims of Uphaar Tragedy), it was thoughtfully called Pratidhwani, an evening of songs that echoed marvellous poetry, of protest and awakening.
At the Chinmaya Mission auditorium, Shubha set the evening rolling by announcing that the songs she would sing for the audience were not tailor-made for AVUT (meaning their ongoing struggle to deliver justice to the victims) but that they were songs that can make us aware of our rights and the wrongs we commit, and stir us to raise a voice of resistance.
She started off with an anonymous composition written for Anhad, a non-governmental organisation, which came up with a booklet of protest songs some time ago. A superb composition, “Chale chalo” has the layman’s language and the fortitude of the most resolute. It is a call for coming together and has shades of Tagore’s “Ekla chalo re”.
Shubha’s next rendition was a poem by Sahir Ludhianvi. The great poet-lyricist wrote it in memory of his mother whom he had lost for some years during Partition. Introducing the striking verses, Shubha explained, “Here Sahir sahib said I have always brought to you (the readers) the beautiful sights and stories, but today I have nothing nice to offer but only violence and bloodshed.”
Shubha sang a number of renditions to an all-attentive audience, including one which she announced was “quite appropriate for Bal Thackeray”. Jocularly, she added, “Many among you might know that I now live in Mumbai, the city which is throwing out people from other places.”
In her inimitable style, Shubha often pointed her finger at the audience making each one conscious of the true meanings of the lines, like “Haq achcha. Par uske liye koi aur mare to aur achcha…”
She concluded the evening with a beautiful poem by the late Pakistani poet Habib Jalib about the pain of living amidst violence. Jalib was jailed in his country for many years for ideological differences.
SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
