Alongside remixes and heavy metallic music that have attracted a large number of listeners, slow-paced melodies too are getting their niche audience. Aashiqaana , a biannual show that presents old film songs was recently held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavana, Bangalore. The music series is a brainchild of Arun Kumar, a Deputy Manager in Andhra Bank and Rajesh Makhecha, owner of Heart Beats, a gift shop at Koramangala.
Aashiqaana was born after Arun Kumar was transferred to Bangalore in 2014. “I wanted to continue activities that I used to conduct in Hyderabad where I have set up Swar Sangam , an orchestra band to hold music shows regularly,” says Arun who will be presenting the fourth edition of Aashiqaana next week in Mumbai.
Over the decades, music has undergone changes, “but the songs of the 60s and 70s are stuck to my heart even to this day. That is the power of those songs and the present generation should not be missing on them,” he feels. By conducting retro shows his aim is to stimulate as many as possible to develop a taste that appreciates pleasant music.
“For all this, Bianca Geetmala that aired top ten popular songs weekly is responsible for spurring interest for film songs in me. I grew up listening to it on Radio Ceylon in the 70s and 80s,” recalls Arun who has not received any formal training in music.
Arun who has rendered a number of stage shows in all genres across India, “had been a singer for Doordarshan, Hyderabad and a participant in the vocal reality show Antakshari hosted by Annu Kapoor,” mentions his wife Pushpa.
“Mohammed Rafi has been my music icon. In fact, I usually begin my shows with his Kya hua tera vada ,” says the physically challenged singer.
If his father had been a source of motivation during his growing years, his wife has been a helping hand in organising his shows. Humming Mere sapno ki rani , “this Kishore Kumar’s number is also my favourite,” says the ebullient artiste singing away the 1969 romantic hit.
