CHENNAI: A pianist playing musical pieces from Hindi and Tamil cinema. A flautist accompanying him and providing the perfect mix. Three singers, giving one power packed perfomance after the other. You can’t ask for more on a Friday evening. And more so if the pianist is going to be Anil Srinivasan, the flautist Naveen Iyer and singers Andrea Jeremiah, Naresh Iyer (he made the audience go ‘Oh My God, he’s just awesome!’) and Rakesh Raghunathan.
A concert titled ‘Keys to my heart’ organised by Rotaract Club of Chennai Towers and staged at the Music Academy recently brought these artistes together, proving to be a perfect spot for music aficionados to gather and reminisce each moment the evening had in store.
“It’s a sad day for all of us. A great musician has passed away,” said Anil Srinivasan right at the start of the event, referring to the demise of Mandolin Srinivas. “Through this concert all I can do is pay tribute to the legend. This concert can be referred as Andrum, Indrum, Endrum as we are going to play melodies from the past and present,” he added. He began by playing the theme music of the 1986 flick Punnagai Mannan with Naveen Iyer accompanying him on the flute. Rakesh Raghunathan made the audience go rapt by rendering melodies like Nee Paartha Paarvai (Hey Ram, 2000) and En Iniya Pon Nilaave (Moodupani, 1980) among others, followed by Anil and Naveen Iyer playing an interlude of eleven Tamil songs in unison. And it was Naresh Iyer who actually brought life to the concert. “Sing along with me,” he shouted and went on to sing Roobaroo (Rang De Basanti, 2006), for which he was bestowed the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. He also sang Munbe Vaa (Sillunu Our Kaadhal, 2006) and Kishore Kumar’s Chala Jaata Hoon (Merey Jeevan Saatchi, 1972). The enthralled audience asked for one more from him and he delivered Merely Sapno Ki Rani (Aradhana, 1968) in style.
And the concert was not one of those where the audience sat legs crossed and eyes closed. They clapped, whistled, shouted, rejoiced and interacted with the ensemble.
Andrea Jeremiah, who was seen clad in black and white, performed Idhu Varai (Goa, 2010), and the English numbers Lonely Cloud and Orange Coloured Sky. And wait, each of the singers was accompanied by the celebrity pianist, the flautist, Naveen Napier on bass and Krishna Kishore on percussion, providing the audience with an impeccable musical treat.
The evening came to a close with the number Orey Vaanilay Orey Manniley (Aayarathil Oruvan, 1965) that took one back to the MGR era.The event also provided a platform for kids from The Rhapsody Children’s Choir to perform a few Carnatic numbers.
The proceeds from the concert will go for various good will projects of the Rotaract Club.