Shabana Azmi, Mohammad Ali Baig Santoor maestro Rahul Sharma and Tabla artist Mukund Raj during the ‘Kaifiyaath’ (A Hindi Translation of Revered poet and Lyricist late Kaifi Azmi’s Writings). Photo: Nagara Gopal
‘Kaifiyaath’ proved that an evening of poetry and music can rid you of a heavy heart
Losing your soul and heart to Kaifi Azmi’s nazms is easy, it’s getting out that’s hard. Kaifi Azmi had created a space for himself, as the voice of reality.
The intensity of emotion in his words is resolute, complete with a rich descriptive contrast between the better and the worse. An evening revisiting Kaifi Azmi is an evening well-spent. The Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation organised an evening of poetry reading that was interspersed with music. Held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Kaifi Azmi’s poetry was read by Shabana Azmi and Mohammed Ali Baig and harmony was maintained by Rahul Sharma on the santoor.
The audience sat in furrowed silence, when Shabana before commencing with her recital said that Kaifi Azmi was a man of many words and liked a receptive listener.
She coaxed the audience to get out of its gambhir (serious) expression and partake in the event with occasional ‘wah-wahs’ and applause. “Zindagi naam hai kuch lamhon ka…aur unme hi wahi ek lamha jismein do bolti gol se aankhen chai ki pyali se e jab uthe, to dil me dube; dub ke dil me kahe, aaj tum kuchh na kaho, bas yunhi bethe raho…” in this andaz (style), Shabana captured the subtle nuance of mohabbat (love), set to the mellow and melancholy tunes of the santoor.
There is something unflinching about Rahul Sharma’s mastery over the santoor — where you can simply lose yourself in the rippling melody that somehow reminds you of peaceful Himalayan lakes.
The evening was interspersed with funny and insightful anecdotes narrated by Shabana that kept the mood light.
“Mere bhai Baba ka kehna hai ki jo nazm hai, aaj tum kuch na kaho, aaj main kuch na khoon… this could never fall through for us because we loved to talk!” she laughs, followed by a lovely rendition by Rahul Sharma accompanied by Mohammed Ali Baig reciteing Kaifi’s famous “Jab Bhi Choom Leta Hun, Un Haseen Aankhon Ko, Sau Charaagh Andhere Mein Jagmagaane Lage Hain…”, the mood for romance could only multiply.
Kaifi Azmi, the poet extraordinaire cannot be celebrated any other way, if not in poetry and music.
source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Life & Style>METROPLUS / by Vishnupriya Bhandaram / April 14th, 2012