The freezing Science City auditorium almost robbed most of the charm from a concert that was a tribute to the unmatched musical genius of Sachin Dev Burman and Rahul Dev Burman. Past gems by evergreen artists like Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle were performed at the show. However, given the vast experience of the musicians, Sanjeevani Bhelande (picture) and Arnab Chakraborty, all hope was not lost for the evening concert presented by Centrestage.
Bhelande’s “Rangeela re” was a heady mix of her clear and moving voice and the keyboards. This S.D. Burman classic, with its passionate outpourings, is still a winner and Bhelande gave the song the lift necessary for an opening number. She took a more predictable path with “Hoton pe aisi baat” from Jewel Thief, with adequate support from a male singer. A muted Arnab Chakraborty added richness of tone to “Yeh dil na hota” (also from Jewel Thief), although it did not quite have the trademark Kishore Kumar flamboyance.
Bhelande then joined the reality show participant, Sayantan Adhikary, for “Achha ji main haari”. It was an enjoyable duet that delivered the subtle flirtatious punches that are characteristic of the song. Adhikary’s voice flit from breathy to flaky, fitting the lyrical style perfectly. Ashmita Kar and Anushka Patra showcased extraordinary textures and occasional flourishes in “Haal kaisa hai”. Both artists have distinctively appealing voices.
Mumbai’s top musicians, including the ace percussionist, Anupam Ghatak, the accordion player, Suraj Sathe, and the tenor sax player, Shyam Raj, recreated the signature styles of the Burmans along with other frontline musicians like Kiran Gaikwad, Chirag Panchal, Robin Fargose, Walter Dias, Nagesh Koli and Suresh Iyer.