When a singer gets the perfect instrumental accompaniment, it can elevate their performance and allow them to deliver their best. It was such a perfect musical evening for ghazal singer Sunita Nedungadi and her life partner Sunil Nedungadi here on Friday.
A unique musical experience unfolded at the Manapully Vela at Koppam, Palakkad, as an hour-long ghazal session deviated from the town’s usual penchant for Carnatic classical music, offering a refreshing change to the local audience.
Sunita credited her performance on Friday evening to her talented accompanists. The ensemble included music director Berny on harmonium, Sameer, son of renowned ghazal singer Umbai, on guitar, Jithu on tabla and George on percussion.
“Their perfect musical blend helped us enhance our singing and provide a harmonious balance,” said Sunita.
They sang some popular ghazals of Mehdi Hassan, Jagjit Singh, Noor Jehan, Pankaj Udhas and blended them with some evergreen Malayalam songs.
Sunita and Sunil Nedungadi performing ghazal at Manapully Vela, Koppam, Palakkad, on Friday night. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Mehdi Hassan’s Tere bheege bad an ki khushboo, Pankaj Udhas’s Chandi jaisa rang hai tera, Noor Jehan’s Kehnde hai naina and Jagjit Singh’s Socha nahi achha bura provided a relaxing experience to the crowds.
Their rendition of Aayiram villodinju from Malayalam film Akkarapacha, Yavana sundari from Pearl View, and Thottene njan from Kottaram Vilkkanundu took the audiences to their nostalgic youthful days.
Sunita skilfully navigated the transition from Hindi to Malayalam, blending the ragas to create a captivating musical experience. The audience cheered for her effortless shift.
The husband-wife duo received a long ovation when they performed the iconic duet Tere bindiya re from Abhimaan, a classic Rafi-Lata Bollywood duet immortalised by Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. Their rendition proved that the song’s beauty and emotional resonance continue to remain as captivating today as they were decades ago.
Published - February 22, 2025 07:09 pm IST
