(An interaction with Dr Salil Kulkarni and Sandeep Khare, pre-published in The Hitavada)
Honesty is key to success: Sandeep Khare
His identity, ‘Ayushyavar Bolu Kahi’ is heading towards 500th show, and poet Sandeep Khare finds only one secret of this success - Honesty towards work.
“Even after performing these songs for more than hundreds of times, I have to perform in such a way that they should look new. This is possible only when I am honest towards my job,” said Sandeep, who holds a Bachelors degree in Engineering.
According to Sandeep, having a sensitive heart is enough to become a poet. “Poetry is spontaneous reaction of a subconscious mind. You do not have to experience each and everything which you write,” said Sandeep.
Speaking on his unique style of writing straight forward and simple language, he said, “I represent the new generation. Young people are straight-forward. They do not relate with ornamental language. Especially, intellectual Marathi youths like my work, because it was written in their own form - in the way they think.”
When asked about the contemporary poets, and Marathi Sahitya Sangh’s literary meets, Sandeep said, “I never followed the popular style of attending poetry meets, and present poems. Fortunately, I got appreciation, and audience both on my own.” Unlike publishing the poetry collection, Sandeep chose a way to release albums, and perform on stage to reach the audience, which was eventually, a great success. “As my poems are subjective, they form impact when I present them in front of audience, that is why, I published my poems after success of my albums.” This formula brought a grand success to Sandeep as his maiden collection ‘Maunachi Bhashantare’ was a best seller.
Sandeep said, a poet have to think in the third person’s perspective to find the best expression. “Its important to see things around us in third person’s point of view to write effectively.”
When asked about performing in Nagpur, he said, “Unlike Pune, we find an audience with Hindi touch in Nagpur. They are interested in Ghazals, Nazms and many other forms of literature.”
All for our audience, says Dr Salil Kulkarni
“WHATEVER we are today, is because of the love, and encouragement given by the Marathi audience all over the world,” said musician Dr Salil Kulkarni.
“It’s unbelievable that we will perform for the 500th time in the upcoming show of ‘Ayushyavar Bolu Kahi.’ When launched, it was totally a new concept in Marathi. We were not even sure to complete ten shows in all,” accepted Dr Kulkani. Today, the show has 500 stage performances to its credit. The duo Dr Salil Kulkarni and Sandeep Khare have performed in 10 countries all over the world including 31 shows in USA. “We get inspiration, and energy to perform from our audiences enthusiastic response.”
Dr Salil, who is a known face for Marathi audience, through the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa talent hunt, believes that learning classical music is must to become a good singer. An MBBS, Dr Kulkarni runs a music school at Kothrud. For him, life and music are not two different things. He said, the values instilled in childhood by family, and especially, by mother, play an important role in building one’s personality. Refusing the chances of ‘ego-clash’ between him and his lyricist Sandeep, Dr Kulkarni said, “Me and Sandeep are very good friends and we believe on each others’ work. People do like to here such news, but we come with another milestone album, instead of an ego-clash,” he said. Expressing happiness over booming Marathi music industry, Dr Kulkarni said, “It’s due to the teamwork, and a quality of Marathi artists, that we are producing a milestone music, and films these days.”
Being a judge in a talent hunt contest, Dr Kulkarni is well introduced to the emerging talent of Maharashtra. “I am happy that singers coming from rural areas, are achieving a grand success in Mumbai and Pune. Vidarbha has a recent example of Vaishali Made. Hailing from a village near Hinganghat, she has become a Voice Of India,” he said.
“Vidarbha has a huge talent. Just youths have to stop underestimating themselves and and think with a global vision. They have many opportunities welcoming them in larger scenario,” appealed Dr Kulkarni.
Maestros use music to bring alive varied moods of life
IT is rare these days to see Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall packed to capacity. However, on Saturday evening, it was a different story. It was a full house as Nagpurians gathered for ‘Ayushyavar Bolu Kahi’, a musical presentation of Marathi poems, popularised by noted musician Dr Salil Kulkarni and poet Sandeep Khare.
The programme made the audience laugh, whistle, dance, introspect and even shed tears during the three-hour musical journey. Organised jointly by Vidarbha Gaurav Pratishthan and Purti Group, the programme was a grand success.
It was the 499th show of ‘Ayushyavar Bolu Kahi.’ Dr Salil Kulkarni started with Omkara Anadi Anant... and set the mood. More musical and emotional shades painted the evening colourful when three rain-songs, love poems, Marathi ghazals, shayaris, some humorous poems were thrown in by the duo. The chirpy children’s songs also won loud applause.
The programme was aptly punctuated with the humourous tit-bits of Dr Salil and Sandeep. The duo cracked jokes, shared funny incidents and made some spontaneous comments which added to the entertainment value of the show.
Aditya Athalye accompanied gave good company on tabla while Sachin Chandrachud arranged the sound system.
At the outset, Nitin Gadkari, President of Vidarbha Gaurav Pratishthan, Prof Suresh Dwadashivar, Editor of Lokmat, Praveen Dixit, Commissioner of Police, Pravin Bardapurkar, Resident Editor of Loksatta, Udaybhaskar Nair, Chariman of Nairsons, lighted the traditional lamp and felicitated the artists. Gadkari, Bardapurkar, and Dwadashiwar were also felicitated by Vidarbha Gaurav Pratishthan on the occasion. Adv Bhanudas Kulkarni conducted proceedings of the programme.
MUGDHA’s ‘Dipadi Dipang; gets them rocking:
While presenting the song, ‘Dipadi Dipang...’, Dr Salil Kulkarni appealed female singers from the audience to join him. On his call, a charming young girl, beaming with confidence walked on the stage, bowed in front of Maa Saraswati, and performed sitting next to Dr Kulkarni like a true professional. The girl, Mugdha Kale, stole the show as the crowd demanded an enthusiastic once more. Dr Salil Kulkarni praised her calling her an exceptional talent while Sandeep Khare demanded copy of his photograph with Mugdha as he felt she was a mega star of future.
