From Left to Right: Liyakat Ali Khan, Rehman Naushad, Uttam Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Fardeen Khan.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 17: On Monday, 13th October 2025, Naushad Academy of Hindustani Sangeet proudly presented a celestial instrumental extravaganza in Mumbai, an evening that transcended time, drawing audiences into the divine world of classical resonance and emotional depth.
The night belonged to the legendary Ustad Liyakat Ali Khan on the Sarangi, whose fingers and bow sang with centuries of tradition, joined by his gifted grandson Fardeen Khan on the Tabla, whose rhythmic artistry gave life to every beat. Together, they created a confluence of generations a dialogue between tradition and evolution, emotion and technique, the past and the present.
A Journey Through Raagas: The Music Speaks
The concert opened with the soulful strains of Raag Charukeshi, where each note blossomed into waves of longing and tranquillity. Ustad Liyakat Ali Khan’s Sarangi seemed to breathe, whispering and soaring with emotion, guiding the audience into a meditative stillness. The purity of tone and the serenity of the Raag set a sacred mood, an invocation to the spirit of classical music itself.
From this gentle invocation, the performance transitioned seamlessly into the majestic Raag Bhairav. A morning Raag of immense gravitas and devotional beauty. With every glide of the bow and resonant stroke on the Tabla, the ambience was filled with an aura of reverence. The mood deepened as the maestro rendered the timeless “Mohe Bhool Gaye Sanwariya,” a composition by the great Naushad Sahab. This piece steeped in emotion and nostalgia, transported listeners to the golden era of Indian cinema, where classical foundations gave film music its eternal soul.
Then came the lively and playful Raag Brindavani Sarang, bursting forth like the first rain of the monsoon. Its joyous, lilting phrases danced between Sarangi and Tabla a musical celebration of nature’s renewal and the rhythm of life itself. The audience swayed with delight as each note shimmered like a drop of rain caught in sunlight.
As dusk descended, the maestro turned to the introspective Raag Rageshwari, weaving a tapestry of calm and contemplation. The dialogue between the Sarangi and Tabla deepened, a musical conversation that spoke of love, longing, and the twilight between day and night. The emotional crescendo found its expression in the immortal “Udja Kale Kawan” composed by the great Uttam Singh Sahab. Its poignant melody and haunting beauty stirred memories, filling the hearts with quiet reverence and nostalgia.
A Tribute to the Eternal Legacy of Hindustani Sangeet
This unforgettable evening was not merely a concert; it was an experience, a spiritual journey through sound. Every note paid homage to the timeless tradition of Hindustani classical music while embracing its contemporary expression.
The event was made possible through the vision and dedication of the permanent Trustees of Naushad Academy of Hindustani Sangeet, along with the team members mentioned below:
- Mr Rehman Naushad – President/Trustee
- Mr Uttam Singh – Secretary/Trustee
- Mr Gurmeet Singh – Treasurer/Trustee
- Mrs Shenaaz Parveen Mutiur Rehman – Trustee
- Mrs Jasvinder Kaur – Trustee
- Mrs Umaarah Mutiur Rehman – Trustee
- Event Organiser – Ms Parmeet Kaur
- Media Consultant – Mr David Allan Vaz
- Photography and Videography – Mr Nabh Kumar Raju, along with his event crew members.
Their shared commitment to preserving and promoting India’s classical heritage gave rise to an evening that will resonate in the hearts of all who witnessed it, a living tribute to the maestros of yesteryears and a promise to the generations yet to come.
This was more than music; it was memory, meditation, and magic intertwined, a night where sound became spirit.
For more information: www.gurmeetsingh.net
