Ruchira captures a musical journey on DifferentTruths.com, bridging generations through nostalgic melodies and grand tributes to Bollywood’s golden era.

“Naam gum jayega, chehra yeh badal jayega …meri awaaz hi pehchan hai,” thus sang the protagonist (the beautiful Hema Malini) in the Bollywood blockbuster, Kinara. This line aptly highlights the ephemeral quality of human life. However, there is a note of resilience palpable to the discerning listener: good deeds and a person’s achievements are sure to be remembered, even after they have departed from this world.

Today, the realm of Bollywood’s classical and golden era vocals stands empty, gaping. The mesmerising voices and soulful melodies that set the audience’s hearts thumping have been hushed forever. As Lord Tennyson had aptly said, “Old order changeth, yielding place to new.” All the luminaries have gone away to a better world. This year, Asha Bhonsle departed, following her sibling Lata Ji, who left nearly four years ago. A couple of months later, the melodious voice of Suman Kalyanpur fell silent.

Nevertheless, the grateful public and multitudes of music lovers – albeit saddened by the vacuum – enjoy their melodies wholeheartedly even to this day.

On a personal note, the ageing Indian population (I am in it too) grew up hearing these songs from aunts, uncles, grannies or perhaps a next-door neighbour. Gen Z is blissfully unaware of or, at best, remotely connected with this genre of Bollywood songs.

It was in tune with this spirit that a Delhi-based musical group, Swarchhanda, recently organised a grand musical gala tribute to the singers of yesteryears under the banner A Trip to Nostalgia: Yaad kiya dil ne…. The venue was the popular Bipin Chandra Auditorium in Chittaranjan Park (aka mini-Kolkata) in New Delhi.

The fundamental idea was to bridge the yawning chasm between the divergent generations through a two-pronged approach: first, rekindling memories of not-so-long-ago times, and second, widening the vistas of Bollywood’s musical treasure trove for those who missed it. 

For today’s Bollywood music enthusiasts, some of the most renowned playback singers include the Mangeshkar siblings, Geeta Dutt, and Suman Kalyanpur, among a few others. However, researchers at Swarchhanda have diligently compiled a much longer list that features many more names, such as Suraiya, Noor Jehan, Shamshad Begum, Mubarak Begum, Hemlata, Preeti Sagar, and more. If you name any singer from that era, you’ll likely find them on their list.

The singers formed a motley crew – from reputed, well-established choirs of Delhi NCR to locally popular soloists; besides very young, budding artists, they performed marvellously, entertaining the audience thoroughly.

The ditties sung on the occasion included Piya Milan ko Jana, Inhi logon ne chhina dupatta mera, Kajra mohabbat wala, Sun (3) zaalima, the passionate and pleading Lag Ja Gale se… Nayan deewane ik nehi mane (Hindi version of Tagore’s Shedin dujone), the highly seductive Aaiye Meherbaan, the sentimental Ek pyaar ka naghma hai, as well as the significant Waqt ne kiya…   

It was delightful to hear the tiny tots of Icchebitan – a musical nursery for kids – singing Naani teri morni ko mor le gaye and Lakde ki kathi, popular, unforgettable children’s hits.

A few of the songs were accompanied by dance performances by the eminent Kathak artist Sudip Chakraborty, along with many budding dancers.

Narratives about the origin and antecedents of the songs, presented by eloquent individuals, made the songs seem larger-than-life, as if you were virtually transported to the venue and could feel the ambience.

On that humid July evening, the auditorium was packed to capacity. The audience felt as if they had been transported to a bygone era when these songs were frequently played on radio programmes, recorded on vinyl and cassette, or broadcast by the early television stations that began in India in the late 1950s.

Flawless rendition by the orchestra – keyboard, guitar, tabla, octapad, dhol, percussion et al. – and impeccable anchoring, not forgetting lighting and sound effects, made the evening truly a memorable one.

The master brain behind the entire show, Suvrangshu Chakraborty, certainly deserves kudos for conceptualising and smoothly executing this musical “kaleidoscope”         

Throughout the recital. The partner lapsed into boyish mode – humming, drumming with fingers, and foot tapping to boot. Later that night, as we sped home, I couldn’t help but hum to myself a couple of my favourite numbers presented that evening. A refreshing, rejuvenating outing indeed!

Picture design Anumita Roy

Ruchira Adhikari Ghosh

Ruchira Adhikari Ghosh brings a liberal, wide-ranging outlook shaped by extensive travel across India and abroad. Educated at Holy Child School, New Delhi, Sacred Heart Convent, Ludhiana, and Panjab University, Chandigarh, she holds a Master’s in English Literature and a postgraduate diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. With three decades in media, she writes on travel, books, music, performing arts, women’s issues, and especially food, drawing inspiration from rich life experiences. She is our Features Editor.