31 Oct 2010
Chowmahala Palace was dressed as a bride. Beautiful, delicate, unsullied, and shy. The grand pillared, pure marble Durbar Hall with its 19 Belgian Crystal chandeliers recreated the lost splendor of the bygone era. The gushing fountains of the main lawn, the high rise Minars, the intrinsic grandeur paid testimony to one of the most exquisite monument of Hyderabad.

The occasion, Gugalbandi between two maestros’s in Hyderabad- Abida Parveen with Muzaffar Ali. A singer synonymous with Sufiana Kalaam, Abida Parveen came together with the winner of the prestigious Padma Shree, Muzaffar Ali to create an evening of enchantment and bring to life a concert that will remain forever on the memory of its witnesses.

Now, how come I was there? Don’t confuse me as a great Urdu scholar, or some a connoisseur of Sufi music. It was my first experience of Sufism. I was there because I wanted to witness a living legend, Begam Abida Parveen, who is considered one of the finest Sufi vocalists of the modern era. I wanted to be a part to time which was dedicated to art. In today’s worlds where every song, every movie is a click away at ‘pirate bay’, I wanted to witness performance by artists who have dedicated their lives to music, who live and die for it. Today when on every television channel we only see “Munni is becoming Zundu Balm”, I wanted to remind myself hearing……
“Ek Sarth Pe Khelungi Piya Pyaar Ki Baazi,
Jeetu Toh Tumhe Paau, Hari Toh Piya Teri”…..can still get you goose pimples.

I couldn’t follow even a single song fully, it was just few words that I could pick up, but still, I could feel the music. I could feel the energy and dedication with which each song was being sung. It made my feet sway, my head nod, and my heart smile. I guess yesterday, I truly understood, why they say “Music is Universal. It has no language.” It was indeed an unforgettable evening.