Book Club
The author of Bollywood Odyssey, who joined the government tax department, Ajay Mankotia introduced his book even as he spoke of the composers and musi-cians associated with this world. He intermittently broke into song, for he has a melodious voice that kept the audience enthralled.
Ajay‘s father was an air force officer who was a singer as was his mother. They would sing at parties and his mother at 90 still does her ‘riyaaz’. And pulls up her son for having a mental block against contemporary music.
Let me share with you excerpts of what he says about the Bollywood clan. Ajay remarks that he was struck with the aristocratic aura surrounding OP Nayyar. Despite his advanced age his bearing was erect, eyes piercingly sharp and alert and the skin had a pearly glow. His songs were playful and naughty, seductive and sensuous. He brought the folk and modern together in perfect harmony.
Geeta Dutt was not a trained singer, yet under Nayya’s baton her renditions were masterful. She used to sing sad songs and bhajans. He transformed her into a singer who would now sing all songs — happy, sad, sultry, romantic.
On Jagjit Singh, Ajay observes that his songs made a place in the listeners hearts. His endearingly familiar honeyed voice intertwined beautifully in their lives, becoming a seamless part of their joys and sorrows. He laid a lot of emphasis on simplicity and clarity. Whether it was a bhajan, a folk song, a ghazal or a film song, Jagjit Singh cast a hypnotic spell because he sang from the heart.
On Lata the author points out that no paean can adequately portray this symbol of national integration, this incarnation of the nation’s fantasies, this repository of several generations’ memories.
The chapter on Mohammed Rafi is titled The Colossus. Yet he was never recognised by the government for his contributions. The Bharat Ratna was given to Lata Mangeshkar, to Bhupen Hazarika. Deservedly. But not to Rafi. The author notes that Rafi being kept out of the hallowed list is a riddle wrapped up in an enigma.
On Talat Mahmood Ajay makes the point that he sang 800 songs over four decades. Plus, he recorded about 200 non – film ghazals and geet. Not a long list. But each song is as classy as they come. What was Talat’s contribution, besides of course the intense joy he provided his countless fans? He was the founder of the modern semi-classical as well as the non- classical ghazal. His influence on other contemporary and succeeding ghazal singers has been profound. He transformed and re- energized the art and form of ghazal singing.
In this manner Ajay Mankotia brings out the talents and contributions of Mukesh, Asha, Farida Khanum, KL Saigal, Manna Dey, Naushad and scores of others.
Dr Gautam Vohra raised the question on the emotions that Bollywood songs stirred. And no matter when they were heard, they stimulated the same memories of beautiful times far away and long ago. Others who raised questions included Vichitra Sharma, Sadhana Kumar, Urmila Lamba, Neloufer Tekchand, Raj Sharma, Anita Katiyal among others.
Each answer was followed by a song to demonstrate the point. And in this wonderful manner the session drew to a close.
