The two-day festival, held on Friday and Saturday, saw a huge response despite the heavy downpour.
“I feel honoured that my wife Nina and I were felicitated at the 10th Khazana festival dedicated to the memory of the Kundan Lal Saigal. His was after all the first voice to record ghazals on a long-playing record,” said an overwhelmed Rajendra Mehta, who along with his spouse, were conferred the Lifetime Achievement award for four-and-half-decades of singing ghazals.
The two-day festival, held on Friday and Saturday, saw a huge response despite the heavy downpour.
Pankaj Udhas, who initiated the Khazana festival in 2002, told DNA, “I have seen what cancer does when it takes away a beloved, and so has Mehta. It is only befitting that the ghazal fraternity comes together for this charity event proceeds from which go to the Cancer Patients Aid Association and the Parents Association Thalassaemic Unit Trust.”
While 22-year-old Pooja Gaitonde’s choice of ghazals and her mellifluous voice set the tone for the festival, Kavita Seth in her signature style brought in a Sufi air with her rendition of the classic Amir Khusro composition Chhap tilak sab cheeni re mose naina milaike.
The festival, which in the past has been dedicated to legendary vocalist Begum Akhtar and music composer Madan Mohan, brought together an eclectic mix of voices.
“In doing so, we open up spaces for collaborative work between musicians of different genres,” explained Udhas.
“Ghazal exponent Talat Aziz’s jugalbandi with Ustad Rashid Khan is an attempt in that direction,” he added.
While Aziz presented some of his well-loved ghazals in his velvety voice, Ustad Khan matched him note for note recreating the same magic with bandishes (Hindustani classical compositions) set in the same raga.
A modest and reclusive Aziz insisted, “We just make an effort it is up to the audience. I am honoured they liked my effort.”
Echoing his views, Ustad Khan pointed out, “Music is devotion. There can be no high and low based on form and genre.”
Other well known names who performed included Kirana gharana father-son duo Ajay and Abhijit Pohankar and the man who is better known for his bhajans, Anup Jalota.
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