”˜Nostalgic Nineties’ evoked endless memories of the past

By Rekha Rajvanshi

Nineties in Bollywood cinema was the era of family-centric romantic movies. Some of the most  memorable movies and music was produced in the decade of nineties, which we continue to listen and enjoy time and again.  Those old, nostalgic songs we grew up with hold sentimental value in our lives.

Avijit Sarkar, music Guru of Sydney, took audience down the memory lane to nineties’ songs of Hindi Cinema. Redgum Function Centre was fully packed with music lovers on June 16, 2018 to enjoy their favourite songs. The concert was organized to raise funds for Motor Neuron Disease in Australia. For those who don’t know Motor Neurone Disease (MND)  is the name given to the group of diseases in which nerve cells/neurones – controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow; undergo degeneration and die. Avijit has organized many fund raising concerts in the past too, and Sydney community looks forward to attend his concerts.  Avijit, a former All India Radio and Doordarshan artist has been in the music industry for more than 35 years and has given over 1700 live concerts in Sydney and beyond.  He has composed music for Australian documentary films, radio and theatre in Sydney.

”˜Nostalgic Nineties’- Natraj Academy’s production brought together Avijit’s past and current students, who whole heartedly entertained Sydney’s audience with super hit songs of 90s. Popular RJ Manbir Kohli was the Emcee for the evening. He introduced Avijit and his team.    Avijit Sarkar then took over and gave a brief introduction of each song and the singer before their performance.

Program started with a ghazal ”˜Hosh Walon ko khabar kya’ from the film ”˜sarfarosh’ sung beautifully by Bharat Gohel, followed by ”˜Sanso Ki Zaroorat’ by Hemal Jayawick Rama. Other solo artists in the first half were Revathi Venkatraman ”˜Tum Mile Dil Khile,’ Deepankar Choudahury ”“ ”˜Jadoo Teri Naar,’ Aakanksha Srivastava ”“”˜Mere Khvabon me jo aae,’  Devanshi Panchal ”“ ”˜Pyar Hua chupke se’ Rajshree Malgaonkar ”“ ”˜Choli ke Pichhe’ and Sumedha Munjure ”“”˜Chane ke Khet me’.

There was a twenty minutes interval when people enjoyed sumptuous food prepared freshly by Shirley and Jacob of Royal India catering services. Men and women dressed in beautiful attire chatted with each other. Some sipped masala chai while others took selfies to put it on social media.

After the break, Kerman Mistry started with ”˜Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane.’ Audience loved listening to Rashmi Chandra’s ”˜Yara Sili Sili.’ Poornima Bhatt mesmerized audience with ”˜Bahut Pyar karte Hain’ followed by another hit song ”˜Morni Baga Me Bole’ sung ably by Aditi Janveja. Other singers in the second half were Sonali Parikh ”“”˜Rangeela re’, Rajesh Hegde ”“ ”˜Albela Sajan Aayo re’ , Mamta Shirsat ”“Didi Tera Devar,’ Lalitha Chellapan ”“ ”˜mera piya ghar aaya’ and Amit Anand ”“”˜Ye Kali Kali Aankhen.’

Some popular duets were also sung at the concert, Poornima & Munish ”“ ”˜Jab Koi Baat’,’ Amit and Aditi –   ‘Jhumma chumma de de’,’ Darshik and Aakanksha ”“ ”˜Chura ke Dil Mera’, Kerman & Mamata ”“ ”˜Pehla Nasha’, Rashmie and Devanshi ”“”˜Kahin aag lage’ and Rajesh & Sumedha ”“”˜Tu Cheez Badi hai’.

Sydney’s most talented musicians accompanied the singers.  Avijit Sarkar, an expert of Western and Indian instruments was on various Percussion instruments, Anuram on Dholak, Sanjeev Raja provided sound effects that have a special place in the live music orchestra that was created with Rakesh playing Drum, Sumanatho on Base Guitar, lead guitarist Sadik Rehmani, and Vishal Lakhia with his keyboard. At the end of the show, Avijit could not but thank all his musicians, artists and the audience for an excellent concert that Sydney witnessed on the night.

No doubt, ”˜Nostalgic Nineties’ evoked endless memories of the past. Natraj Academy proved that we do not need to be a “born” artiste to sing songs. We can learn at any age even if we have never touched upon the arts before. Well done to Natraj Academy to use music as a media to support such a good cause.

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