On the concluding day of his 87th Birth Anniversary, his students Gajender, Sunil Rao, Sudha Ganguly, Veena Bhatt, Ramdev and Indira Naik performed many ghazals. Befitting Pandit Rao’s heritage of singing for Hyderabadi royals, some of the ghazals performed that night brought back old memories to the audience.
Musical tribute: Many renowned ghazal singers including Indira Naik and Anup Jalota performed at the event.
Indira Naik, from Mumbai, reminisced about her Guru’s humble, giving nature. “He never thought about himself or understood the commercial aspects of a performance,” she said.
Anup jalota singer
Renowned singer Anup Jalota, who is well known for his bhajan renditions, actually hails from the Sham Chowrasi gharana of Lucknow. He remembered Vithal Rao for being one of the finest singers and teachers. Anup said, “Vithal Rao was a very nice person and a good friend. He used to meet everyone with great humility. Whenever I listen to any melodious song now, I remember him. He was a very good teacher and diligently taught everyone interested in ghazals.”
The evening gushed with harmony when ghazal after ghazal was performed by the singer. Anup also sang some Bollywood songs such as Ramaiyya Vastavaiiya and Dum Dum Deega Deega. Anup’s student Nitasha Aggarwal also joined him on stage in a duet song.
Even the unusual drizzles and thunderstorms couldn’t dampen the mood of the night. It was a befitting tribute to the maestro!
