Monsoon Melodies

Bunty with wife, Priya

Bihari Milwani’s comment yesterday proved prophetic (see post). He quoted a film song, ‘Aaj mausam bada beimaan hain’ to illustrate the havoc the rains had caused to our morning routine. Today again, the rains battered the Garden. And by a strange coincidence, the very same song by Mohammed Rafi (Loafer: 1973) was brought alive by Mahendra Singh Thakur in an impromptu musical soiree held in the China Hut this morning.
Mahendra Singh is better known as Bunty to us and he was accompanied by wife Priya Thakur. Both are professional singers of repute and they have been singing in stage shows (with their band) for long. Today was the first time both husband and wife were there, exclusively for us, with some rare yesteryear hits while it continued to pour outside.
Priya set the ball rolling with Yeh samaa, samaa hai pyar ka (Jab Jab Phool Khile: 1965), thus providing Bunty the lead to take off with Samaa hai suhana suhana (Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani: 1970). He followed it with Aaj mausam bada beimaan hai (Loafer: 1973), Kehna hai, aaj tumse yeh pehli baar (Padosan: 1968)... In between, Priya broke into Saiyyan dil mein aaya re (Bahaar: 1951) and later, at Banoo Apa’s behest, Awaaz de kahaan hai (Anmol Ghadi: 1946).
These are just a sampling of the many vintage chartbusters that got us tapping our feet, clapping and singing along with them through the morning. But then, what is a husband-wife duo without duets?

Section of the audience

This was where Bunty and Priya excelled, what with Isharon isharon mein dil lene wale (Kashmir ki Kali: 1964) and Chhup gaye saare nazaare… (Do Raaste: 1969) -- apart from that incredibly challenging Asha Bhosale number, Aankhon se jo utri hai dil mein… (Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon: 1963).
Pity there was no musical accompaniment -- not even a mike around. But such was the clarity and power of their voices that nobody even noticed the absence of any such acoustic support. It was only when Vasudev Batheja pitched in with a Mukesh number, Yeh mera deewanapan (Yahoodi: 1958) did we realize how handicapped Bunty and Priya must have felt when they sang.
The wisest of the lot was of course, Bijoy Gupta. In spite of intense pressure and requests from all to sing, he did not utter a word. He knew that he could be no match to the two enormously gifted artistes and like the rest of us, preferred to enjoy the music as part of the audience.

Bihari Milwani:
Do we have to rechristen our laughing club as 'singing club'?

Harish Wadhwa:
Am visiting the blog after a long time. Missed the monsoon musical bonanza. It would be nice to meet Bunty and Priya-ji. I am pre-eminently a Kansen and would love to hear 'Tansens'.

Karun Sharma:
July is becoming uniquely beautiful and musical. There are lots of beautiful people born this month and there is now a musical bonanza as well. Many happy returns of the day in advance, Bhaswati-ji. I shall not be able to make it tomorrow to enjoy your birthday party because of professional commitments. Hope there is no rain and you are showered with greetings and best wishes from all.