The aesthetic rhythm of poetry was one that always fascinated singer and composer Rene Singh. Performing Poetically Yours, an evening that will see Sufi, Urdu, Hindavi and Farsi poetry, in the backdrop of whirling dervishes, Rene hopes to connect with the audiences in the same way she connected with her music years ago when she would listen to her grandmother humming her routine prayer.
Believing that everything around her is expressed through subtle sound symbolisms, Rene grew up listening to stories of Guru Nanak. “Following that, I was introduced to Urdu poetry and the thumri genre of music. Poetically, I feel connected with Begum Zakia Zaheer and Dr Sayeda Hameed. With them, I have delved into the lyrical world of legendary poets like Hazrat Amir Khusrau and Faiz Ahmad Faiz,” she says.
Poetically Yours, she says, is an exploration of thoughts expressed by Khusrau, Bulleh Shah and Kabir. Words have been weaved together to create moments of freedom, harmony and peace. “That’s ultimately what we all strive for. At sunrise, I pen down new thoughts and I often sing out a loud too,” says Rene. She calls herself a free spirit who wanted to extend the same sense of freedom to underprivileged street children, fettered by poverty. That’s when she started working with a group of ragpickers. “We would sing for hours, creating stories from their lives and setting them to melodies, forming a space of hope and happiness, and through Poetically Yours, I will be working towards the same intention. The proceeds from the show will go towards the Salaam Baalak Trust, which provides a sensitive environment to street and working children in the city,” she says.
Date March 1 Time 7.30 pm
Venue Turkish Ambassador’s Residence, 22, Prithviraj Road.
Entry By donor passes, for which you can call 9811163926