An enchanting Ghazal Mehfil in Sydney with Anirbaan Das

By   Indrani Kakoty

The Assamese Community in Sydney enjoyed a wonderful ghazal Mehfil on the May 27, 2018 at the Beatrice Taylor Hall in Hornsby. This musical evening was graced by the melodious voice of Anirbaan Das.   Endowed with a rich heritage of music and having developed in to class to recon with, Anirbaan Das is a talented ghazal singer from India, an exponent of the young generation who started learning and exploring the hidden joys of music from the tender age of six under the able guidance of his mother, renowned Assamese lyricist, poet and singer Dr Lakshahira Das and later from Ustad Iqbal Khan of Gwalior Gharana. In addition to his academic qualification as Chemical Engineer, Anirbaan Das has also obtained a graduate equivalent degree in Indian Classical Music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, an esteemed music institution in Allahabad.

Recipient of several awards for his contribution in the field of music, Anirbaan Das in his musical career of forty years has performed in several places in India and across the Globe. To mention a couple – he was the first Assamese singer to perform in the House of Lords, Royal Court, Palace of West Minister (British), London in October 2002; performed at Amsterdam and Holland along with ”˜Dada Saheb Phalke’ awardee, Dr Bhupen Hazarika on an invitation from Tourism Department, Government of India in. His albums ”˜Shabaab’ released in 1988, ”˜Shabnam’ released in 1993, ”˜Best of Anirbaan’ released in 2006 just to name a few.

The evening was enchanted with beautiful ghazals, geets and a unique medley marking a tribute to the esteemed music directors of Bollywood past and present. He spellbound the audience with his mellifluous voice and beautiful poetry wrapped in euphony of musical notes.

While Emceeing the evening I was fortunate enough to present a Nazm written by Fayyaz Hashmi sharing the stage with Anirbaan Da. Pragati Saikia another local artist delighted the audience with her magical voice, presenting a beautiful Ghazal. The live music supported by Amitakhya Phukan on Tabla and Seemanto Nath on guitar who was also the man behind the success of this noncommercial Mehfil.

The Mehfil ended late in the evening with a desire in the hearts of the audience to listen to more. As the rightful saying “All good things must come to an end to make way for better things to happen because the best is yet to come”. We look forward to having Anirbaan Das again in Sydney soon.

 

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