Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Rainbow of seven notes

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Soma-Ghosh(1)

Vandana Jyotirmayee -


A rare combination of a heart of gold which glitters through a great initiative taken for bringing the hidden and unknown talents to the limelight and the voice with a sharp cutting edge of a diamond which hits the inner core! Who could this be other than Padmshree Dr Soma Ghosh. She belongs to a culturally rich and artistic background in terms of both her parents and in-laws side which resonates through her performances, because art and music is not what you just learn and produce, it also what you have been living through and experiencing every moment in day to day life.


She was in Salalah on Sunday for her performance marking series of programmes to be held in the Sultanate under the banner of ‘Festival of India in Oman.’


Dr Soma Ghosh performed in Indian Social Club, Salalah and enthralled the audience with her mesmerising performance which ranged from Tappa and Dadra to Ghazal and Sufi style of singing. A seasoned artist that she is, her voice has all the shades of the rainbow! Listening to her is visualising the notes and the dancing of emotions.


During her performance, she presented a medley of Raga based Songs from Indian cinema which exhilarated the audience. Tappa, which is considered to be a very difficult genre of Indian classical music, was presented with such an ease of a flowing river. Her mastery and control over her choicest selection of songs was amazing.


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She started with the chanting of a few verses from Shiva Tandav Stotram, later combined with a ‘taraana.’


The ‘raagdari’and ‘adaaygi’ of each and every song or ghazal was marvellous to witness. She sang some popular numbers of Jagjit Singh’s songs and ghazals from films. An incredible atmosphere was created through her renditions of morning and evening ragas and the profound effects that these created. Beghum Akhtar, the immortal queen of ghazals was remembered through her famous ‘dadra’ – ‘humri atariya pe’ and her famous ghazal – ‘vo jo hummein tum mein qaraar tha!’ These rare pieces of music couldn’t have sounded so authentic, creating so much of nostalgia, had she not been Soma Ghosh.


As she had come to Oman as a cultural representative from India, she explained about the importance of music in day to day life and how most of the important events of life from birth to marriage and separation from the beloved were expressed through music.


She sang a beautiful ghazal written by Meena Kumari and reminded the audience of this poetess and actress who once ruled the hearts of Indian audience.


Dr Soma Ghosh is one of the most famous and versatile contemporary singers as even being a classical music performer she sails with all ease and poise through the other lighter genres. The depth of her ‘taans’ and playfulness with the notes can equally be seen in her performances. The ‘thumri ang’ of her ‘gayaki’ is evident in her renditions as she brings in various emotions just through singing differently the same words.


Totally different from the common individualistic approach, Dr. Soma’s NGO works for bringing forth not just the hidden talents, but also cares for these families’ health and educational needs specially of those artists who are lying in oblivion and struggling for their day to day needs.


Her performance in Salalah was like a shower of rain… like blooming of flowers in the spring season… like an oasis in the desert. The evening was gone but the notes remained tinkling and the rainbow colours of her notes kept shining brilliantly within, as the listeners left the auditorium.


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