CHICAGO: NRI Press Club headed by Madhu Patel and Dean Syed organized a farewell event for Indian Consul NJ Gangte in Mount Prospect, a northwest Chicago suburb. A highlight of the three-hour program was rendering of classical and non classical songs by renowned singers Sandip and his wife Susmita.
The rendering in the program at Brisstol Court were arranged in such a planned way that it reflected positively on competence of the organizers. The start was with Sandip’s rendition of khayals, an integral part of Indian classical music. Sandip’s rendition of the Ragas Kedar and Hansdhwani left the audience awestruck. His excellent tonal and voice quality mingled with the skilful balance of rhythm making the performance gain a new height.
At the request of the audience, Sandip performed some ghazals and took them to a new level using his long experience and skill in the art of classical music.
In the second half of the program, Sandip’s wife Susmita began with Thumri in Raag Mishra Pilu. The audience was all ‘encore’, when she went on to perform some old Hindi film songs of musical legends Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. The hall burst with applause as she concluded her rendition.
A superb performance is always incomplete without proper accompaniments. Subhasis Mukherjee helped to enhance the performance with the Tabla, assisted by Guitar Player Irshat. Sandip and Susmita are faculty of Aeklauvya Ashram, a music training institute founded and organized by Madhu Patel.
Even the non-Indian audience was impressed with the beauty and level of spontaneous vocal performance without written, rehearsed or practice. Chief Guest Consul Gangte was equally impressed by the warmth of reception as well as renderings of songs and ghazals by the master singers
The program ended with a great dinner which consisted chiefly of Indian culinary delicacies. Madhu Patel proposed a vote of thanks specially appreciating Dean Syed, Dr Shiraz, Iftekhar Shareef and many other Chicago elites for supporting the program.
Suresh Shah
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