‘Mystic Bollywood’ enthralls Guyanese audience
THE Princess Hotel was transformed on Friday 18th March when international singing sensations and winners of the near-legendary ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ singing competition, Samir Date and Dipalee Somaiya splintered the evening with the melodious music and songs of ace Indian composers and singers spanning decades. The compositions of evergreen musical geniuses like Shanker-Jaikishan, O.P. Nayyar and the throbbing rhythm of R.D. Burman’s ageless tunes, as well as those of the modern composers, split the evening air to enthrall a rapt audience comprising the crème de la crème of the Indo-Guyanese society, Indian nationals visiting or residing in Guyana, and the lovers of traditional Indian music who hailed from all walks of life.  His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and other members of Cabinet also graced the occasion.
Music is a transcendental phenomenon and it was amazing to see such an audience, spanning generations, straddling every stratum of society so enrapt by the music of yesteryears, so melodiously rendered in the mellifluous voices of the Indian duo, who sang the magical songs of Rafi, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Lata and Asha Mangeshwar, Kumar Sanu, Geeta  Dutt, and the new-age range of singers with equal aplomb and dexterity; especially when they delivered several medleys that blended Indian music of various genre to infuse a dynamic of romance blended with adventurism to stir the soul.
Indian artistes have to be forewarned that Guyanese audiences are subdued and express their appreciation with rapt silences and grooving to the music with foot-tapping, not stomping and wildly enthusiastic hand-clapping, although some “bole Boles” did occasionally rent the air.
M.C. Pradeep Samtani introduced an innovative, highly creative way to acknowledge sponsors, which of itself served as an entertaining feature precluding the actual programme.
Young Guyanese singer Shiva, who was the opening act, brought the house down with his rendition of a Manna Dey classical composition and as the range of his voice soared to the heavens, the dholak and tablas throbbed in rhythm accompaniment, although the accompanying music did not do him justice because of the limitations of the stage setting.  Classical music teacher attached to the Indian Cultural Centre, Ramkissoon, skillfully played the harmonium in accompaniment, although the acoustics failed to reverberate and instead subdued the music.  Nevertheless, young Shiva was a hit and the audience wanted more of him which, alas, was not to be because he could not oblige the many calls for an encore due to timing.
The older folks submerged themselves in nostalgic memories as numbers once danced to by Shammi Kapoor, or with which heroes like Dev Anand, Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kumar wooed fairylike heroines such as Nargis, Meena Kumari, Nutan, Waheeda Rehman, Mala Sinha rent the air and soothed the soul.
Surprisingly, the younger members of the audience, even children, were just as captivated as the mesmerizing music and songs flowed effortlessly – from one number to the next, rendered in the beguilingly melodic voices of the singing duo, who riveted the audience with their dexterous vocal amplitude.
Even the weather forgot the temperamental behaviour that it had been exhibiting for weeks without surcease and did not rain on the parade of the producers, merely showering a light drizzle at the very end of the programme, as if applauding the artistes.
This did not dampen (pun unintended) the spirits of the producers, members of the Indian Commemoration Trust, as sprayed gulal and glitter dust from pitchkaris to the combustible accompaniment of a medley of Phagwah songs from the extremely versatile singers, halting those preparing to depart the venue when the drizzle started in their tracks and everyone enjoyed the grand finale of exuberant song, dance and playing of Phagwah.
Obviously buoyed by Amitabh Bacchan’s “Rang Bara Say”, Pradeep Samtani led Chairman of the Indian Commemoration Trust, Yesu Persaud onto the stage and as they tried to emulate the magic of the iconic pair of Bacchan and Rekha in the movie Silsila.
The evening was a tremendous success and everyone left the venue satisfied with the superb entertainment that had once again been provided by the Indian Commemoration Trust, which is the latest in a series of such ventures that have been strongly supported by the Indian government, ever since the brainchild of Yesu Persaud, the Indian Monument Gardens, was conceptualized and began the actualization process, with blueprint for the initiative executed by architect Albert Rodriques in collaboration with Rupak Kothari from India.  The replica of the Arrival Day ship was donated by the Indian Government.
Produced by Pradeep Samtani and Samir Date, and presented by The Indian Commemoration Trust in aid of upgrading the Indian Monument Gardens, all the proceeds from the show, billed as “Mystic Bollywood”, as well as from the sale of CDs and DVDs would be going to the Indian Commemoration Trust.  Samtani is requesting the public to buy the originals and not to make copies as this is for a worthy cause.