Anita Singhvi, the popular Sufi and ghazal singer, regaled a select audience at a recent event, ‘Sada-e-Dil' organised at The Lalit, New Delhi.
As the renowned singer took the stage accompanied by musicians on various instruments like the tabla, the keyboard and the sarangi, the milieu comprising politicians and bureaucrats among others, was abuzz. The stage was set for a musical gala.
The evening commenced with ghazals such as Shakeel Badayuni's “Mere humnafaz mere humnawa” and several others like “So raha tha to shor barpa tha, uthke dekha to mein akela tha” and “Hai yahan naam ishq ka lena, apne peeche bala laga lena”.
Her rendition of “Lutf woh ishq mein paye hain ki dil janta hai…woh mere dil mein samayein hain ki dil janta hai” transported one back to the days of nawabs and sultans.
During the course of the evening, Sufi songs like Hazrat Amir Khusro's “Man kuntomola” and other songs in praise of the Almighty like “Allah Hu”, “Tum Ek Gorakh Dhanda Ho”, which tells all that God is omnipresent and omniscient, a beautiful divine mystery, were rendered by the singer. The beautifully worded Sufi song “Tauba Meri Tauba” asks on behalf of mere mortals like us, reprieve for all our black deeds from the Only Power. Moving and powerful! Small wonder the audience was spellbound.
With her captivating voice, it is not surprising her fans come from all walks of life.
Versatile
Anita, wife of noted lawyer and politician Abhishek Manu Singhvi, is a woman of many credentials. She has a degree in law under her belt and also dabbles in jewellery designing. The Belgian Embassy has played host to her jewellery exhibition in the past. She also shows a keen interest in alternative medicine and textile designing.
The vocalist, who sings ghazal, Dadra, Thumri and Rajasthani folk music with equal élan, trained initially under Pandit Kshir Sagar of the Gwalior gharana.She is currently under the tutelage of Mujahid Hussain Khan of the Seheswan gharana and of eminent vocalist Shanti Hiranand.
She has five albums to her credit, the latest being Tajaali , released in July last year. She has even shared the stage with the inimitable Farida Khanum.
India's cultural marriage with Sufi and ghazal music which seemed to have turned stale in the '90s seems to be reviving again, and it is no wonder that it is so, what with crusaders like Anita Singhvi in the vanguard.
