Report: Koni Prakash Naik
Pics: R Crasto
Muscat, Apr 26: Team Spandana Muscat in association with Majan Events presented 'YehShaam Mastani' on Friday April 7 at the Ruby Ballroom, Hotel Crystal Suites, Oman. This was Spandana’s fifth mega musical event. Spandana’s motto being 'together we can make a difference', has been striving hard to offer something different each time so as to enthrall music lovers with a sense of togetherness.
Having already introduced around 20-25 new singers and musicians to the Muscat audience in the past five to six years, Spandana Muscat, this time provided an international platform to another three top class singers from Zee Kannada 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa – Season - 11' to showcase their talents and the trio rocked the show. As cited by them, 'It was a dream come true' experience and their appreciation goes to Spandana Muscat.
Yeh Shaam Mastani was indeed an evening to cherish and music lovers present at the Ruby Ballroom were spellbound for almost five hours of melody, instrumental music, dazzling dance performances and retro to metro Hindi songs. The stage was set for rhythm beats, musical notes and vocal strains. As the evening sky changed color, the Ruby Ballroom brimmed with audience, every table packed with music lovers. Every part of the hall reverberated with melodious tones diffusing the air.
Welcome address and lighting the lamp:
The musical serenade commenced with the welcome address by Koni Prakash Naik, convenor of Spandana Muscat. Thereafter, as per the ceremonial practice to create the right kind of atmosphere and to seek the blessings of God Almighty, the ritual of lighting the lamp was performed by Shrinivas Shriyan, Shashi Puthran, Chengappa, P Karnik and Ganesh Shetty, some of the prominent personalities from the Karnataka community residing in Oman.
Felicitation of major sponsors
As a mark of respect and gratitude for their wholehearted support and encouragement, officials of some of the major sponsors, namely S & T Interiors & Contracting, S & S Properties, Udupi Developers, Talifa Trading & Contracting and Badr Al Sama were initially felicitated with floral bouquet, garlanda and mementoes by Spandana’s co-convenor, Riyaz Ahmed Basrur.
Yeh Shaam Mastani .... an array of music
Zee Kannada 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' singing superstar trios Shriram Kasar, Shreeraksha Achar and Aishwarya Rangarajan along with Sakshi Bhagawat and Sumana Shashidhar triggered off rendering a special Spandana Muscat title song 'Ee Spandana Januma Janumada Anubandhana' rousing the musical spirit.
After the initial brief instrumental music session, Yeh Shaam Mastani’s Pancha Ratnas sang soulfully and mesmerized the audience with the rendition of some indelible hits like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, NadheemDheem Tana, Oh Meghave Meghave Hogi Ba, Naa Ninna Mareyalare, Premavide Manade Naguta Naliva, Ek Radha Ek Meera, Naguva Nayana Madhura Mouna, Bole Re Papi Hara, Hay Rama Yeh Kya Huva, Neenu Neene Naanu Nane, Mere Dholna Sun, Dama Dam Mast Kalandar, Dooradinda Bandantha Sundaranga Jana, Mussanje Namooralli, Dil Mera Muft Ka, Ashwamedha. From the overwhelming compliments received from the audience, the hearts of all were touched by the singers.
Vani Bhagawat deserved great appreciation for meticulously planning, sequencing the songs and co-ordinating with the singers all through.
All the singers with their unique versatility regaled the audience for nearly five hours with their varied, popular selection of musical compositions in Kannada and Hindi. Their renditions of different genres, classical, semi-classical, contemporary, modern and medley numbers kept one and all glued to their seats. Most of the numbers sung were all time favourites of the audience as well.
The icing on the cake was the dazzling display of song and dance performances by wonder kids for super hit dance numbers like 'Piya Tu Ab To Aaja (by Sudeeksha Suresh Shenoy and Tanish Krishna Shettigar), Naino Me Sapna (by Janav Nagesh Shetty and Pavana Nagesh Shetty), Aaj Kal Tere Mere Bareme Charche (by Bhakti Kishan Shetty and Mithil Ravi Kanchan). The wonder kids also presented a group dance on mixed tracks which was a spectacular show. They literally stole the hearts of one and all with
their amazing performance.
Band of musicians:
Lead by Sharat Kumar (the lead guitarist) and his team presented an electrifying instrumental fusion music. Each instrumentalist and percussionist from the youngest accompanying singer Rhea Sharat Kumar, drummer Kev to the keyboard player Triven Goveas, Pradeep on the flute and Naveen Aachar on the tabla, played awesomely to the joy of the music lovers.
Retro to metro
During the dinner session, Hindi songs with 'retro-to-metro' concept covering the past couple of decades were presented by Raj Sanil, Vijay Salian, Rhea Salian, Sandeep Keshav, Kanchan Sandeep and Abdul Aziz, which was a runaway success and the audience enjoyed it to the core.
Melodious numbers like 'Asman Se Aaya Farishta', 'ChalkayeJaam', Jaane Jaa Dhondta Phir Raha', 'Yaad Aa Rahi Hai', 'Yamma Yamma', 'Aaj Rapata Jaaye To Hame Na Uttayyo', Dilko Hazar Baar Roka', 'Tum Bin Jiya Jaaye Kaise', 'Sun Raha Hai Na Tu', were presented and were thoroughly enjoyed by all music buffs.
As a finale, fast medley with a fabulous mix of popular numbers like 'Joke Nanu Balliya Minchu', 'Tuvvi Tuvvi Endu Haaduva', 'Rasika Rasika', 'Halu Kudida Makle', 'Sutta Muttalu', 'Dhoom Machale', 'Bachchna Ye Hasino', 'YehMeraDil', 'Chittiya Kalayyave', 'Jiya Jiya Re' and 'Lungi Dance', got some of the enthusiastic music lovers onto the floor, gyrating to the delightful tunes.
Felicitation in appreciation:
All the visiting artistes, musicians, local artistes, co-ordinator Vani Bhagawat and the volunteers were presented mementoes by the guests of honour and sponsors. Mementoes in appreciation for all their support toward the culmination of the musical evening, were presented to all the support sponsors as well by the committee members of Spandana Muscat.
Committee members of Spandana felicitated Oman Tuluver team in appreciation of their outstanding achievement in uniting the community of coastal Karnataka through cultural and sports events thereby upholding the bondage and traditional values of Tulunadu.
Vote of thanks:
Vote of thanks was proposed by Riyaz Ahmed Basrur. He expressed wholehearted gratitude to His Highness Sultan Qaboos bin Said and to all concerned ministries and authorities, all the sponsors, support sponsors, Hotel Crystal Suites management and staff, artistes, musicians, local artistes, Michael for sound and light and Majan Events, the event manager and also to all the media partners. He expressed Spandana’s thanks to the volunteers and all those who stood shoulder to shoulder unstintingly.
Spandana Team wholeheartedly thanked everyone and garnered encouragement and support from all. Music is the universal language of the heart and the world is indeed a small, cute, cozy place if we reach out to each other through music!
Spandana Team comprises of Koni Prakash Naik (convenor) Riyaz Ahmed Basrur(co-convenor), Nagesh Shetty Kinnigoly, Ramanand Kunder, Karunakar Rao, Zuber K S and Umesh Buntwal.