Whether you are a musician proficient in the subdivisions of All India Radio, or a layman with an ear for tuneful melodies, ghazal holds a special place as a genre. Although Bollywood music has inundated the radio and music channels, many still turn to ghazals for pleasant background music for a romantic evening, or simply to unwind after a long day when “party songs” seem too boisterous. Ghazal maestro, Padmashree Pankaj Udhas vouches for the audience of ghazal festivals adding that even some of his solo performances have 1000 to 10,000 audience members coming in. The great ghazal singer, along with his friends Anup Jalota and Talat Aziz had conceptualised Khazana, a ghazal festival spanning two evenings. The first installment of the festival was in the year 1992. Now, 15 years later, the group has multiplied exponentially with as many as 22 singers participating.
“What I feel now is an overwhelming sense of achievement, because we were not even sure whether we would be able to break even the first year,” says Udhas. “The idea, in the beginning, had been to revive the Khazana festival, which had been a rage between 1981 and 1985, before it was discontinued. We also wanted to donate the proceeds to a worthy cause.” What the singers settled on were The Cancer Patients Aid Association and the Parents Association Thalassemic Unit Trust. Indian classical singer, Mitali Singh, who has been a part of the festival since the beginning is also proud to be able to come together with others in the industry for a noble cause. “It’s all about togetherness for a cause,” she says, adding, “ I am more excited to sing this year to celebrate 15 years of Khazana.”
Khazana will be taking place today and on July 30, at The Regal Room, The Oberoi, Nariman Point
