Rekha Bhardwaj: Dilli mein maine sangeet seekha, yahan gaake sunana toh banta hai
"Rekha ji aao!" chanted the crowd at Bharat Mandapam on Sunday as a slight delay built anticipation.
Rekha Bhardwaj
took the stage, opening with Naina Thag Lenge, her voice drawing the audience in from the first note.
Dressed in a brocade skirt and magenta jacket, with alta on her hands, the singer twirled with one arm raised, echoing a dervish's dance. She explained the Sufi gesture: the upward palm receives from existence, the downward one gives back – a way to seek blessings for all. She added, 'Jab aas paas itni ashanti ho, aur hum ek khoobsurat shaam guzaar paye, it's a great blessing.'
The singer twirled with one arm raised, echoing a dervish's dance
Her love for Delhi came through in every interaction.
'Dilli dil walon ki hai, main bhi Dilli se hoon,' she said, even swapping 'Raipur' for 'Dilli' in Genda Phool. Midway through her set, the singer added, 'Dilli mein maine achcha sangeet suna, seekha toh yahan pe gaake sunana toh banta hai. It's the only way to know where I stand and how much I need to work on my craft still.'
The evening continued with her renditions of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's ghazals like Humne Dekha Tha Ek Khwab, and Vishal Bhardwaj's composition Dhundh. However, the highlight of the concert was her iconic Namak Ishq Ka, which she called, 'jo safar main kaat ke aayi, jis nagme ki wajah se,' crediting the Omkara song for shaping her journey.
Rekha was dressed in a brocade skirt and magenta jacket, with alta on her hands
Her voice drew the audience in from the first note
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