Blissful musical poetry

Photo: Ridwan adid rupon

In his play “Twelfth Night”, William Shakespeare mentions, “If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die.” (Act 1, Scene 1). Poetry is thought to be the finest literary form while ghazal represents the crux of it. Ghazal is the medium of expressing the best literary essence through melody. All the forms of higher love, either human or spiritual, can be articulated through the metaphors of ghazal.
Accomplished ghazal artiste Aloke Kumar Sen poured all his emotions while performing in such a solo ghazal evening at Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC), Gulshan in the capital on December 27. Though Indian classical vocal music is the forte of Sen, he renders ghazal with expertise.
The artiste presented a number of ghazals originally recorded by Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hassan, Jagjit Singh and Anup Jalota. He also performed several songs popularised by Mohammad Rafi and a film song originally recorded by Manna Dey. Aloke Sen's offerings of murki and ornamentations of several classical ragas, ragdari and conspicuous taan presentation seemingly earned him rounds of applause every now and then. The singer thanked organisers IGCC authority for giving him the platform and dedicated the musical evening to his mother Shantana Sen.
Aloke Kumar Sen set off his musical flight with a patriotic song “Ei Banglar Matitey Mago Jonmo Amaye Dio” as homage to the month of victory (December). The artiste started off his ghazal rendition with a sad romantic genre “Hain dua yaad magar harf-e-dua yaad nehi,” written by Sagar Siddiqui. Set on Raga Sohini, eminent ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali recorded it. Performance of a soft melodious ghazal “Wohi palkon ka jhapak na” (recorded by Ghulam Ali) came next.
Sen enthralled the ghazal lovers with a popular number “Chupke chupke raat din” (set on Raga Bheempalashree) that was written by Mawlana Hasrat Mohani. Diffusing the sweet aroma of Khamaj, the singer soulfully rendered “Faasilen aise bhi honge”. His offerings of sher-shyari for both the numbers evoked the pristine performances by Ghulam Ali whom the artiste is deeply moved by. Based on Raga Bhairavi, the ghazal “Aawargi” that was written by Mohsin Nakvi was followed.
The artiste gripped the exact mood and melody of every ghazal he performed at the soiree. His performances (on request) of several melodious Mohammad Rafi records “Tu jaha jaha chalega”, set on Raga Nand, “Choudvee(n) ka chand ho” and “Yeh duniya yeh mehfil” captivated the audience too.
His repertoire included “Kuch din to baso meri ankho mein”, “Hangama”, “Aye husn-e-be parwa tujhe” and “Udas Shaam Kisi” ( all recorded by Ghulam Ali); “Mujhe tum nazar se” and “Duniya kisi ki peyar mein” (recorded by Mehdi Hassan); “Honsh walon ko khabor keya” (Jagjit Singh's record); “Ghum ka khazana” (Jagjit Singh and Lata Mangeshkar duet) and a Yaman genre “Chand angraiyan le raha hain” (recorded by Anup Jalota).   The artiste wrapped up his solo soiree with a Manna Dey record “Puchho na kaise maine rayn bitayi”. The soundtrack of “Meri Surat Teri Aankhe”, set on Raga Ahir Bhairav, impressed all the audience.      
The artiste was accompanied on tabla by Biplab Sharma, Selim Reza on guitar, Deba Paul on keyboard and Milon Das on octopad.
Moved by the two and a half hour long singing by Aloke Sen, acting director of IGCC Mridu Pawan Das thanked all and said, “I am running short of words here today. I have become deeply emotional, because I am mesmerised and spellbound! It was such a scintillating performance; soulful, melodious and magical. He transported us to a different state – a state of sharp bliss, a state of utopia where music of the highest quality reigns supreme!”