Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho...

Swapnil Bandodkar performs at
 Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, Nagpur,
on May 22. (Pic by Satish Raut)

When nostalgic Swapnil Bandodkar sings the Mohammad Rafi classic in the honour of  Nagpur's organ-player Pankaj Singh...

TODAY’S ‘rockstar’ Swapnil Bandodkar used to be a budding singer those days when city musician Pankaj Singh fascinated him with his excellent accompaniment on the synthesiser. Finding him on the stage after long years made Swapnil nostalgic on Sunday evening.

“I still remember the sensational performance of Pankaj ji on that evening. It was a Rafi memorial night and his fingers were literally dancing on the key board. It was his accompaniment which won a huge applause that night for me -- a dream moment for a newcomer singer,” Swapnil accepted while calling for an applause for Pankaj Singh.
Changing the pre-decided schedule, Swapnil requested Pankaj to play the same song once again. “Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho, To Ye Lagta Hai, Ke Jahan Mil Gaya...” with these soothing lines, the audience in Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall started feeling the ‘pleasant’ change which later on turned the ‘Bedhund’ concert a memorable event for them. Swapnil Bandodkar presented his trademark songs ‘Radha Hi Bawari’, and ‘Galawar Khali’, along with a some new compositions from Marathi films, and also a medley of title songs of Marathi television serials.
Organised by Navrang Creations, a cultural group mostly comprised of medical practitioners and their family members, the musical night was full of eye-catchy light effects. Local singers and musicians accompanied youth sensation Swapnil Bandodkar while Radio Jockey Milind Patil was the star anchor for the programme. A frequent visitor to Nagpur these days, Swapnil was excited to perform at Dr Deshpande Hall after many years. Entering after three opening songs from local singers Sonali and Shashi, Swapnil presented a series of popular songs. The programme ended with Ajay-Atul composition ‘Moraya Moraya’. The auditorium was packed to its capacity and had a word of praise for spectacular event.

(Cutting of the same news that appeared in The Hitavada on May 23)