What an excellent programme it was on Sahir Ludhianvi. I must thank you deeply for encouraging us to attend. My elderly mother and my wife also thoroughly enjoyed it. It was just awesome. You ran us through a complete biography of Sahir Ludhianvi with utmost grace and class. The selection of song and the singers were just classic. My best wishes to you and your team of wonderful people for bringing about such a graceful awareness of these great luminaries of our Film industry. My regret was that I had to leave about 10 minutes before the end of the show as had to attend to an emergency hence could not thank you personally. Thank you as it was an immense pleasure to be there. Asif Adiji, Export House
The show was absolutely outstanding! Everything was almost perfect, the conception, the script, the execution, singing, anchoring and whatever goes into the making. The great effort that went into making was felt by all of us and like any striving for perfection, it generated joy all around. Please keep up the good work. I would like to make a token contribution as a gesture of my appreciation. Please send the bank details. Niraj Agarwal, Retd., LIC of India
साहिर साहब पर आपका आयोजित कार्यक्रम हर लिहाज से अतुलनीय था। मेरी खुशकिस्मती रही कि मैं राजेश जी के प्रयास और आपकी अनुमति से कार्यक्रम का प्रत्यक्षदर्शी रहा। Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Pawan Kumar & Bros., Kolkata
We thoroughly enjoyed the program. It was a well-researched. conceptualised and remarkably well-presented show. The anchors as well as the singers were all very good. Vinita Aran
It was an amazing experience (my first) attending Ibaadat that too of my favourite poet Sahir Ludhianvi Sahab. A big congratulations to you and your team for curating such a concept. It is an experience that words can’t describe. Team Ibaadat ... Aap sab se milna bhi ek Bohot Bohot khubsurat eshaas thaa/hae/rahega... such talent and so magically put together. Rachna Arora, Director, Executive Partners
The opening was so damn powerful. And the rest of the show turned out to be as powerful too. Long live Ibaadat. Javed Shakeel Badayuni (son of Shakeel Badayuni)
Impressed. Found it a unique experience. An evening well spent. S. N. Bagai, Retd. Executive Director, IDBI
I feel honoured to be associated with Ibaadat and always feel rejuvenated/refreshed after attending the show. This program was well researched and well presented. Padam L. Bahal, General Manager-Accounts, NOCIL Ltd.
I have to salute you and your team members for your love and passion for poetry and with such great depth and perfection show was performed by all members of team is commendable. Shrenik Naginchand Bamb
We feel privileged and honoured being associated with you, and Ibaadat Foundation! We all enjoyed to the core of our hearts. The show, as usual, was well organised to give audience the information on our Greatest Lyricist, Sahir Ludhiyanvi, his biography, filmography and entertainment through the songs penned by him. All of your Team, were so well prepared to showcase the information on the Sahir saab, which exhibits lots of research and lots of homework done for such a wonderful presentation. Your shows have their own class, to leave an impression to remember for years to come. All your singers were perfect to their singing, like the original songs and tunes. Their voice is already well known in Mumbai and rest of India and abroad. We will always be happy to watch such shows in the future, with different lyricists. I once again thank you all on behalf of all music lovers who attended the show. Dr. Mohan (and Dr. Barkha) Bhambhani
Simply Superb!! Par Excellence. Devendra Bhandari, Executive Director, Stakeholders Empowerment Services
Sandeep (my husband) and I attended the Sahir show. It was fabulous! Thanks so much for inviting. Kudos on your passion and interest. Vedika Bhandarkar, Managing Director, JP Morgan India Pvt. Ltd.
Overwhelming experience it was on Sahir! You and team Ibaadat have excelled once again...in fact, Sahir show has gone par excellence. Congratulations to Ibaadat for never disappointing us!! Memorable evening with my near and dear Vijaylaxmi Chhabra. ‘Kahte hain main pal do pal ka shayar hoon’ Magar who har ek pal ke shayar the aur ab bhi hain.. Sahir toh hum sabke beech mein hain har roz…unke sadabahar geeton/nazmon mein!! In Amrita Pritam’s words Main tumhe phir miloongi…Kahan, Kaise Pata nahin. Mera Jawaab ‘Unke geet sunkar unki yaadon ko taaza kar lenge… सुधा मल्होत्रा शो में मौजूद थीं और लोगों के आग्रह पर स्टेज पर आयी और हँसते हुए गायीं मेरी बात और है मैंने तो मोहब्बत की है. कहने को बहुत कुछ ख़ासकर प्यासा के वो गीत ये महलों ये तख्तों ये ताज़ों की दुनिया ये इन्सान के दुश्मन समाजों की दुनिया ये दौलत के भूखे रवाज़ों की दुनिया ये दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाए तो क्या है. प्यासा की बात किसी और दिन क्यों कि वो मेरी पसंदीदा फ़िल्म है और उसके लिए एक पूरा पोस्ट चाहिए. हर चीज़ ज़माने की जहाँ पर थी वहीं है एक तू ही नहीं है नज़रें भी वही और नज़ारे भी वही हैं ख़ामोश फ़ज़ाओं के इशारे भी वही हैं कहने को तो सब कुछ है, मगर कुछ भी नहीं है काश साहिर इश्क़ में कामयाब होते. It was a beautiful evening. तुम अगर मुझको न चाहो तो कोई बात नहीं तुम किसी और को चाहोगी तो मुश्किल होगी साहिर के शब्दों का जादू romance से भारी एक शाम साहिर के नाम इबादत फाउंडेशन के सौजन्य के नाम साहिर को ढूंढते हुए साहिर तुम कहाँ हो मुंबई का नेहरू सेंटर साहिर के चाहने वालों से खचाखच भरा हुआ था. कहानी बचपन से शुरू होकर लाहौर से होते हुए मुंबई तक पहुँच गयी. कहानी के साथ साथ उनके लिखे गाने ऑडियंस को मंत्र मुग्ध किये हुए थे. साहिर के गाने हिंदी सिनेमा के गहने थे. हिंदी सिनेमा ने साहिर के लिए अपने को बदला साहिर अपने शर्तों पर लिखते रहे. तुकबंदी से निकल कर शायरी में ले आये. उनसे भला कौन प्यार न करता. साहिर का इश्क़ था तो गहरा लेकिन नाकामयाब. कार्यक्रम के बेहतरीन सूत्रधारों ने बेबाक़ी से साहिर के प्रेमकहानियों की चर्चा की. मुझे तो हमेशा से अमृता और साहिर का इश्क़ ही रोमानी लगता है जो सुधा मल्होत्रा के उनकी ज़िन्दगी में आ जाने से बिखर गया, Vandana Bhardwaj
Have not missed any of your shows! Amazing research and what a character. Could have heard more of his songs, just too many great ones. Neeraj Bhargava, Chief Executive Officer, 3BG Advisors and Managers Pvt. Ltd
I thoroughly enjoyed the show and congratulate you and your team for the great effort behind the making of this excellent show. Unlike some of your previous shows, there was no classical dance this time to accompany some of the classical songs that were rendered on stage. You may consider adding this feature the next time you stage a similar show. U.R. Bhat, Managing Director, Dalton Capital Advisors (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Our heartiest congratulations to the whole team of Ibaadat for the excellent musical presentation. The team’s special effort was very evident by flawless synchronized events. Mr Haldea deserves special thanks for his extensive research on life profile of legendary poet Sahir Ludhianvi. Mukarrar (once more). Musically yours Dr. Dipika (and Dr. Bharat) Bhatt
I must say it was an amazing programme and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you very much for bringing such wonderful programs. Aruna Chainani
The show was absolutely wonderful and the best that I have attended. I can appreciate the depth of research, scripting, song selection, practice and effort that must have gone into the show. Kudos to you and the entire team. Thanks for an unforgettable experience, Sangeeta Chandran
Very good program. enjoyed a lot. Thanks for inviting us. Will send my donation contribution of 15000. Amitabh Chaturvedi, Managing Director, Essel Finance Management LLP
An outstanding show…in every which way. Totally stumped. Vijaylaxmi Chhabra, Retd. Director, Doordarshan
Thank you. That is all I can say for showcasing Sahir as we never knew him before. Too good, outstanding and live performances were just great. your research and presentation kept us spell bound. Renuka Chohan
Great show. Anjali Chugh, Marketing Manager, Edelweiss Rural & Corporate Services Ltd.
I find myself extremely privileged to be a part of the "Ibaadat" journey. Over the years, the one thing that has underscored the performances, is the extreme passion with which the lives of the poets have been researched in great detail. The shows have acquired a professional glint with flawless execution, the high quality of sets, sound and graphics. In this show, on many occasions the chorus provided by the audience was testimony to the fact that the songs touched their hearts. I wish the Ibaadat team the very best in their journey ahead and hope that I too remain a part of this splendid musical experience. Alok C. Churiwala, Churiwala Securities Pvt. Ltd.
I have been fortunate to have attended all the seven programs of Ibaadat Foundation headed by you. While all of them were unique, Sahir's was by far the best in as much as Sahir's popular and meaningful songs made audience also participating in singing. Credit for identifying audience's interest must go to Supriya. I would like to donate to the Foundation. B. G. Daga, Retd. Managing Director, Central Depository Services India Ltd.
I was thrilled to see the show. I had bought my youngest son Satyen this time Out of 76 songs - he knew 75. I have already sent a small donation from Western Press a few weeks ago. Bhupen Dalal, Chairman Emeritus, Western Press Pvt. Ltd.
It’s a CLASS program. The BEST. So much research, pathos and story-telling. We were lost in enjoying. R.K. Das, Country Head-MSMS Sector Development, Small Industries Development Bank of India
A complete and a wonderfully delivered evening. Sahir's body of work has always been a challenge of sorts to capture...this platform delivered as usual...Falguni and I were truly happy and thank you and the entire Ibadaat team for this evening…a timeless memory for sure. Anand (and Falguni) Desai, Managing Director, Multiconsult (P) Ltd.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Sahir Show. It was wonderfully organised as was the case in the past too. I shall certainly remit my contribution to help the cause of Ibaadat Foundation. Once done, I shall let you know. Nandkishor Desai, Group Head-Business Development & Strategy, Trimax IT Infrastructure & Services Ltd.
Superb. We all enjoyed very much. Salute you for putting such an amazing concept. Yogesh Dhingra, CFO, Blue Dart Express Ltd.
The show was excellent. enjoyable, and very informative. Congratulations. Kindly send me the details of the bank account to transmit some funds to you. Nandi Duggal, Founder, Showbiz Entertainment and Studios
Simply speechless. What a show! Rajesh Duggal (son of Rajinder Krishan)
At the onset Mr. Elavia and I would like to thank you very much for inviting us to the musical melody Sahir Kahaan Ho Tum. It turned out to be an evening to cherish. The show was mesmerising with a painstakingly and beautifully crafted script. The songs selection and singers were simply fabulous. Not to forget the fantastic anchorship provided by yourself, Sangeetaji and Obaidji. It was a rare treat for the ears and a truly memorable evening. Kudos to Ibaadat Foundation for presenting such brilliant and refreshing shows year after year. We eagerly look forward to many more such soul-stirring and delightful experiences in the coming years. Khushroo (and Yasmin) Elavia, Executive Director-Sales-Primary Markets, Axis Capital Ltd.
Excellent. It was most memorable evening for me and my wife, we being senior citizens gave back lots of memories with those songs. We saw lots of hard work and home work by you and Sangeetaji and others. All of the singing artists did so well but Supriya Joshi was really outstanding. With feelings of gratefulness to you and entire team. Gautam (and Bharati) Gandhi, Partner, Jolly Containers
A wonderful show. Mukesh Gandhi
It was an exhilarating experience to watch a retrospective on Sahir Ludhianvi the famous lyricist at the NEHRU Centre Worli, thanks to my friends in Mumbai for arranging an invite. It was Sahir's life story... beautifully narrated in 150 minutes, interspersed with references to 76 of his choicest songs... his own life love stories…with four hindu and Sikh women, including the famous author, Amrita Preetam…and ofcourse his work...which was phenomenal. and eternal. I was his fan ever since I saw Guru Dutt's 'Pyasaa' way back in 70s while still in college…the movie and its shayree made me fall in love with idea of love. I remember going to theatre many times with my diary…to write down the shero-shayree from this movie...my friends would hold torch in the darkness for help. This movie triggered feeling of adolescent love in my heart…broken heart and self-pity is the essence of love at that age…with an imaginary beloved of my dreams…the image of course changed with every movie…from Madhubala to Waheeda to Sadhana... they were all in love with me! Now I look back to realize that in adolescence it's far better to fall in this abstract kind of love than to have a real-time beloved...in this love you feel in total control of the situation .. without fear of offending your partner or falling short of her expectations... there are no commitments, no plans, nor responsibilities…reversing a bad scene is easy and so is it's editing…or deleting it all together... till it makes a perfect picture…makes you feel complete. Thank you Sahir for initiating me to this world of romance...And then I forgot all about Sahir for next 50 years. Now love was real , not fantasy.. it had responsibilities ... it had pleasure... it had pain… it had consequences… so while it was there, I did not feel the urge to write poetry to express my love… I was living it…words were not needed, gestures were enough, often even silence says it all. Sahir had big ego. I can empathise with him. What's an artist without an ego? Only some can afford to show it most can't. or don't. When an artist is creating any art form, he feels it's going to be the greatest creation in this world and people will prostrate in front of him in admiration. It's another matter that nothing of the sort happens…more often than not no one even notices it.. that perhaps eggs him on to create yet another artwork… ego and the desire for admiration in a viewer's eye is the only driver...Sahir strongly believed in a song a poet is greater than the music composer or the singer...he even fought with his colleagues like SD Burman over the music appreciation in Pyasaa...never ever to work together again. This must have resulted from his inherent inferiority complex or disturbed childhood. his mother was 11th wife of his father and soon left him to live separately with Sahir. I do not think any art or artist can be compared with other... a singer and composer are as great an artist as the poet…and the song we remember today is a product of team work of many artists. seen and unseen. Overall, it was a great evening thanks to company of my friends and hope it will encourage me to go back to shero-shayree I didn't feel the need of , with my beloved filling up all that space... empty now? Jayant Gaur, Sculptor, Bhopal
You already know the audience reaction…actually, you already got the feedback from the applause that you heard and the patience with people waited even after the show got over when you asked Sudha ji to sing. The elegance with which the show was presented was par excellence. The depth of contents of the program was clearly beyond anyone would have expected…be it finer details of Sahir Ludhianvi’s life or the selection of his 70 plus songs or the calibre of singers. Best part of course was the smooth, informal and conversational style of story-telling that kept audience fully involved. I would be happy to contribute, please do send me the bank details. Sunil Gidwani, Partner, Nangia Advisors LLP
Thanks yet again for an evening treat on the life, times and poetry of one of the best (or perhaps the best) Urdu poet of yesteryears Janab Sahir Ludhianvi. The programme brought out many hitherto unknown facets of the life of Sahir and his poetry. It was a well-produced programme and accept my congratulations. I like setting of the programme, with an informal gathering of people talking about life, times and anecdotes about the poet, without a band of orchestra. The songs well amalgamate in the programme. I have said it earlier and will do so again. You have a gem of a singer in Supriya Joshi. Other singers, particularly Sarvesh (mostly reciting for Rafi) and Anand Bahal (for Mukesh) are well known faces of commercial musical programmes in Mumbai and performed their parts very well. I sat mesmerized for 2-1/2 hours, enjoying the programme. Praveen Godbole, Retd.GM, GIC Housing Finance Ltd.
Wonderful program. Your conduct was very qualitative and singers were amazing. Could not meet you at the end as I had to rush home. Enjoyed thoroughly. Rajendra Gogate, Head-HR & Admin, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd.
Firstly, would like to apologize for the delay in responding to your mail (nearly two months after the event). Very, very sorry for the delayed response. My wife and myself would like to thank you for the passes of this wonderful, wonderful show on Sahir. It was a very memorable evening. Thank you. Having watched Rajinder Krishan’s programme earlier I knew that it would be out of this world but the Sahir show simply swept us off our feet. Right from the start when Naveen Anand made his Pyaasa type appearance and sang in his beautiful voice, it caught our interest. One of the most interesting things that I found was that the character of Sahir was explained by the past anecdotes of his life but got engraved in our minds when the lines from his songs (mukhada/antara/ or even in-between) were used to establish it. Script was tight and so very engrossing that everyone was listening to it in rapt attention. Kudos to you and your team for the brilliant editing, having such deep understanding of Urdu poetry and using the right song at the right occasion. In praise of the Sahir programme, can go on & on &... So very thoughtful of you to introduce us to Sudha Malhotra. Very beautiful and charming lady with a lilting voice. Have always loved her songs. Each of you on stage: Naveen Anand, Sangeeta Bedi, Obaid Azam Azmi and your goodself were so good in your flawless presentation. Can understand the hours each one of you would have spent in making it look like a casual conversation amongst friends. The props, stage decoration, lighting, script once again etc... were all very beautiful. Take a bow Prithvi Ji. Supriya Joshi, Sarvesh Mishra, Anand Bahal, Sangeeta Melekar and Navin Anand sang so very melodiously that it became an evening to remember. I am a huge fan of Rafi Saab and have attended a musical programme where Sarvesh Mishra sang Rafi songs. In between, he points his mike at the audience and gets them to sing along with him. Getting the crowd involved with the song is one way of getting everyone interested. Each audience member was singing at the top of her/his voice and trying to show-off to his neighbour that he remembers the lyrics. Crowd involvement leads to success of every programme. I have watched only Rajinder Kishan and Sahir programme so far. I am told by many that programme on Sahir has been the best till date. In case you were to repeat any of your earlier tributes to the legends of poetry or even those I have been lucky to watch, I would gladly attend them in Mumbai. Kindly let me know. I am a retired person but yet would like to contribute in a small way to your cause of educating/ introducing people to the beautiful poetry written earlier. Kindly let me know the bank details. Sorry once again for the delay in responding to your mail and many, many thanks for giving us such a memorable evening. PS: Fall out of this lovely programme is that nowadays when we send songs to each other on WhatsApp, we make it a point to mention the name of the lyricist. At times we also enclose the entire lyrics along with the song when we are highly impressed. Warm regards, Nitin Gosain, Retd Corporate Director
It was an excellent and a very beautiful show, nicely presented by the entire team of Ibaadat Foundation. We were very much impressed for the research and your passion towards the Indian Lyricists. Ibaadat will definitely inspire interest in Indian people and they will also get more inclined towards the Indian music. The presentation of yourself, Ms. Sangeeta Maam, Naveen Ji, Azmi Ji and performances of all singers were fabulous. Once again our heartiest thanks for your invitation. Vasant Gosar
It was an excellent program. Congratulations to Ibaadat on an a very unusual and compelling format. It was a conversation in which the audience took part and was fully involved. Ashima Goyal, Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
Looking at the awesome crowds and the waiting line outside, my heart swelled with pride... Your grand entry in silhouette was super and we thoroughly enjoyed the program... Thanks Naveen. Ankur Gupta, Proman Associates Pvt. Ltd.
I have been to a number of shows of Ibaadat, they keeps getting better and better. The show had great audience connect. I could see most people humming with the songs being played. Such love for his poetry.... I am sure Sahir would have been moved... I was. Piyoosh Gupta, Director- Pivot Management Consulting, (Former Chief General Manager, SEBI)
Fantastic program, so much relaxing, you will not believe after long long time I slept eight hours in one stretch. Opening of program from Pyaasa song was very touching, Your entire presentation was a class apart, Since Sarvesh sings all Rafi songs very well, The entire program connected me with myself. You really took us in the old era of people who worked very hard in their life journey. We are very lucky to know you. All my friends loved your program. Thank you very much again from the bottom my heart. Chandra Prakash Gupta, Chandra Exports
The show was really good and all my friends have appreciated the efforts taken by your team. The evening was a true tribute to Sahir. Pravin Gupta, Chairman, Total Logistics India Pvt.Ltd.
The program was excellent. I have no words of praise. The amount of research done, the superb singers, the group compere, the script, the AV, sound system and much more was super. I am glad I had the privilege to attend such an impressive show. Thank you so much. Sheila Gupta
There is very little to say. As always, it was a great experience. It was a truly entertaining evening. Had great insights into Sahir's personality. Kudos to your personal efforts towards this research. Both Sangeetas, Anand, Sarvesh, Supriya and yourself, outperformed themselves! It is also amazing that in a city like Mumbai, you manage to coordinate the event with great discipline, like clockwork -- starting and ending on time. Same feelings are echoed by Sheetal and my sister, Gauri. I certainly, look forward to more of Ibaadat events and contributing to it in my own small ways. Actually, I also got a word of thanks from our now common friend--Varun Gupta. He thanked me just for introducing him to you. That is the power and goodwill of Ibaadat. Gautam Gupte, Group COO, Ambit Pvt.Ltd.
Naveen weaving his magic at the "Sahir..." music show by Ibaadat yesterday at the Nehru Centre, Worli. A masterly presentation! And something wonderful happened about 1 & 1/2 hours into the show...One of the presenters was into a song, and completely spontaneously, the audience began singing along. We could see that the singer was surprised, was very responsive, and led the audience into the song, lowering own voice from time to time...Simply captivating. Huge, huge applause! Happened several times after that...Wonderful show, once again! Anand Inamdar, Consultant, Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd.
Thank you for an excellent show. Madhavi and I really enjoyed ourselves. Looking forward to the next show. Ruzbeh Irani, President - Group Communications and Ethics, & Chief Brand Officer, Mahindra Group
At the outset, let me express my gratitude to you for such a wonderful performance which came directly from the heart. I feel blessed that I attended the performance. Let me confess that I have been watching plays and have even attended poetry related programs for the last 55 years, but the performance by your group is unmatched in terms of the selection of the subject, quality, research and execution. Each of the singers was top class and kudos to them. Please convey my thanks and congratulations to your entire team. Perhaps we can catch up during your next visit to Mumbai. Shivkumar D. Israni, Senior Partner, SD Israni Law Chambers
I immensely enjoyed the presentation of Sahir-Kahaan Ho Tum. The concept, design and presentation were absolutely top class and extremely well-researched - you and your team deserve kudos for this. As an ardent lover of poetry, the evening provided me with bountiful intoxication of Urdu couplets, thanks to the impressive repertoire of sher-o-shayris impactfully recited by you, Sangeeta and Obaid. Frankly I don't think any session on the genius of Sahir Saab could have been better executed. I am extremely thankful to Mr. Ramnarayan for giving me an opportunity to attend this fantastic show and look forward to attending these in future too. Balan Iyer, Founder, Sunehre Pal
It’s so good to see your passion come to life and it touches so many hearts. Imran Jafar, General Partner, Gaja Capital Partners
Fantastic show and thank you so much for arranging an extra pass at the last minute. We had a great time. Such dedication. Gopal Jain, Managing Partner, Gaja Capital Partners
Like every time, a new episode in the journey of Ibaadat turned out to be another milestone, netter than previous one. My sincere compliments to you and team. Brilliantly done. Happy to be associated with such wonderful cause and soul stirring journey. Happy to contribute. Please send the bank details. Jitendra Jain, President–Finance, Welspun Enterprises Ltd.
Really enjoyed the show, thank you once again. Looking forward for the next one. Monica Jain, Hi-Brands
Amazing! The programme is so intellectually fulfilling! Thank you, Prithviji! You are too good as a compere! Jayanta Jash, Chief General Manager, Securities & Exchange Board of India
An amazing evening. Madhu Vadera Jayakumar, Director, MCX Ltd.
This is just to let you know how thoroughly we enjoyed the program. The entire event was beautifully scripted and executed to perfection. Flawless is the word that aptly describes it. My heartiest congratulations to you and your entire team for this amazing event as always. Sushil Jiwrajka, Managing Director, Artheon Electronics Ltd.
We enjoyed the show thoroughly. It was excellent. The presentation, singers and the show conductors were all excellent. Dharam Pal Joshi, Head Projects, IG Petrochemical Ltd.
On behalf of my entire family let me congratulate you and your entire team for such a fabulous show. My mother especially enjoyed the show a lot as the dialogues and songs pertain to times when she has seen it on screen. All the shows that you have done so far have just been superb and picture perfect. Prakash R. Kacholia, Managing Director, Emkay Global Financial Services Ltd.
A wonderful show. My wife, Lata, I and two very close friends, Shri Kaushik Shah, and Shri K .K. Jhunjhunwala attended the programme and immensely enjoyed it. We were greatly impressed with the efforts put in by you - 4 years of research on Sahir by you personally, then producing a programme which was for more than 12 hours and then to compress it in a 2 ½ hour show. All the audience were highly appreciative of the programme. Please accept our heartiest and well deserved congratulations for bringing this excellent to the public of Mumbai. My wife and friends also join me in conveying their heartiest congratulations. Ramesh Kacholia, Founder, Glorimex Pvt. Ltd.
It was truly an outstanding evening and a memorable one at that! As always Ibaadat doesn't ever disappoint. We would like to commend you on your research and amalgamation of Sahir saab's life! Please send us your bank details so that we can donate to such a noble endeavour. Kudos once again to your whole team for a scintillating evening! Bharati Kalle, Yoga Teacher
We wait eagerly for Ibaadat shows as they are a class apart - truly brilliant. And it was so wonderful to hear the stories of excellence that go behind in making these shows. Sincere gratitude to Ibaadat for bringing not just the music but the lives of these ‘great men - the lyricists’ to us in such a pleasurable format. Shalini Kamath, Former Head-HR, Ambit Capital Pvt. Ltd.
Overwhelmed is the world. What an evening it was! A mesmerising show. The Ibaadat team just keeps pushing the bar up relentlessly year on year. And Prithvi sharing the story of the beginnings was remarkable. We are blessed that the Ibaadat team chooses to come home after the show. Team Ibaadat you’ve enriched our lives. Please take last night’s dinner as an example of the joy that you’ve given us and the happiness that you are spreading. Team Ibaadat take a bow, look at the magic you create. Madhukar Kamath, Chairman Emeritus, Mudra DDB
"Sahir-Kahaan Ho Tum" was mesmerizing yesterday. At 75+ years of age to relive the music era of 50s/60s & 70s was not only nostalgic but brought about deep memories associated with movies like Pyaasa (Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par) and Sadhana (Aurat Ne Janam Diya) for us as revolutionary youngsters. To put in words appreciation of the exhaustive research undergone the whole program is somewhat impossible and I shall only summarise with "Hats Off" to you. I have the privilege to be on your mailing list courtesy our common friend Late Mukarram Bhagat. God bless his soul and how I missed him yesterday! I would like to make a small contribution to Ibaadat Foundation. Kindly ask your accounts to mail me necessary details. I would further like to inform you that I belong to family of film exhibitors, distributors from Jalandhar, Punjab. My elder brother who inherited and headed our family business was also the president of East Punjab Motion Pictures association, like my father. He is 90 years and is leading a retired life in Jallandhar. This is to request you that if ever you have a program in Ludhiana (Mukarram had told me you sometimes do) please do let me know and I would like my brother to see it and feel कि दिन तो गुज़र गए पर यादें अभी भी ताज़ा हैं With fond regards, I am pleased to have transferred online to your HDFC Bank account an amount of Rs.10,000/- as a small token of appreciation vide UTR No.000214779490. Kindly check and confirm receipt. Once again, I have a request if ever you have a program in Ludhiana, pls do let me know for the pleasure of my 90 years old brother as mentioned in my last mail to you. Brij Mohan Kapoor, Film Exhibitor/Distributor
Everything was perfect about this show. People really enjoyed and felt great after the show. His song Aage bhi Jaane na tu is immortal even in gatherings of our Esteemed spiritual masters….it teaches the true art of living to any spiritual aspirant, like keeping the mind healthy and living in the present always. Sanjiv Kapur, Ex GM, BSE Ltd.
Brilliant programme on Sahir. Many congratulations to you and the Ibaadat foundation. Excellent planning and script and singing. Great contribution really. Gesu Kaushal, Executive Director & Co-Head Corporate Finance, Kotak Mahindra Capital Co.Ltd.
Excellent program. Really appreciated the deep research and depth of the same. Probably would rate as one of the best shows till date. Arun Kejriwal, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Kejriwal Research & Investment Services (P) Ltd.
Thank you very much for the lovely program. I would like to make a donation. Dr. Rajashri Kelkar, Director, Shushrusha Hospital
Enjoyed the program thoroughly, vice nice songs which we didn’t know were written by Sahir. Great effort and very hard work. Program was great. Atul Vandana Khandelwal
This was such an amazing program. you are raising the bar every time. Absolutely loved the script. Chalo ek baar phir se… The Breakup Song!!! Out of this world. Pankaj Khandelwal, Chairman & Managing Director, INI Farms Pvt.Ltd.
My 16-year old daughter who is in first year of college at Ashoka came for the show. She was to do an essay on Oppression of women in India as an assignment. And voila, she found the opening lines for her essay from your show... aurat ne janam diya... Purnima Khandelwal, Director, INI Farms Pvt. Ltd.
One of the finest shows I have seen. Enjoyed throughout every moment. It was far beyond my expectations. The presentation was just outstanding. Kamal Khanna
You and the comperes, singers, technicians, art director deserve a pat on the back for a wonderfully well-synchronised show. Not only is the selection of the celebrity artist important but also its execution. The background stories, script, balance between personal / professional and the format itself ensured that the audience was fully involved which is what any programme strives for Anay Khare, Managing Director & Head-Corporate Finance, Axis Capital Ltd.
Me and my spouse were privileged to attend your show...right from soaking in the atmosphere before the curtain call to inviting all the relevant people on stage and particularly acknowledging Ms Sudha Malhotra. A befitting tribute to a performer in the evening of her life to still be honoured and remembered. Your programme was masterly...as always. I did not notice any prompters and how effortlessly all of you took up from where another one left. I was most particularly impressed by all the four singers as also Naveen Anand Ji and Sangeeta Bedi Ji as it is not easy to sing a song 'mid-stanza' with all the pauses and stretches of a lyric intact!!! And you included 76 of them which is no mean task. Sahir Saab is of course a doyen amongst the lyricists and you did a wonderful job in sketching his life history never mind if much of it is known in the public domain. Your narrative still remained very engrossing right till the end. Just one small point. I do not know if you are aware but about less than a month ago there was a news item in the Mumbai papers about Sahir Saab's personal papers, memorabilia and writings in his own hand finding their resting place at a kabbadiwala in Mumbai's Juhu or was it Mahim I do not exactly recall. Fortunately, the Kabbadiwala recognised the true worth of the so called raddi and contacted one of the people who shares an avid interest in such things. I hope these precious items find a honourable place that Sahir Saab is entitled to. As you must be aware, Mumbai now has the National Museum of Indian Cinema and through your good offices and the likes of you, such memorabilia could be housed there for the world at large to appreciate all that has been done by geniuses like Sahir Saab. I once again express my gratitude for your invitation to this programme and hope to be on your mailing list for the future programmes. May there be more wind beneath your sails. Balbir Singh Khattar, Retd. Pilot, Air India
Thoroughly enjoyed the program. Ibaadat and team have done an outstanding job on all levels. My friends said program content and execution is now on a different level. It has come a long way from the Majrooh show. Shaila Kulkarni, Director, Prime Database-Mumbai
Outstanding and surely deserving of the continuous standing ovation of a truly well researched musical. Congrats to you and your team. Thank you for having us over. Only suggestion- if you can make recording of the event and put on Netflix/Amazon - many more will love it. I posted a small write up on my Facebook page…it got good reviews. I have already remitted my token of monetary thanks for such an event. Pranav- There maybe opportunities in Cyprus. Let’s talk over. Reproduced below is my write up. It had a few long shot (though not clear) pictures. ""Sahir-Kahaan Ho Tum?” A musical drama extravaganza celebrating the life, poetry and songs of the legendary Sahir Ludhianvi. Over 2.5 hours, 76 songs, peppered with glimpses of his life, the rare presence of Ms Sudha Malhotra- the team at Ibaadat Foundation played out an extraordinary rendition of the famous Lyricist's life and times. A full house at Nehru, audience humming the memorable tunes, standing ovation - as a beautiful evening crystallized and kept unfolding like waves after waves. Kudos to Prithvi Haldea and his team for yet an another extraordinary well researched and rich show. Sahir is often acclaimed as the greatest lyricist of India. He penned hundreds of immortal songs including ye duniyaa agar mil bhii jaaye to, tum mujhe bhuul bhii jaao, chalo ik baar phir se, tum agar mujh ko na chaaho, zindagii bhar nahiin bhuulegii, vo subah kabhii to aayegii, man re tuu kaahe naa dhiir dhare, jaane vo kaise log th,e kabhii kabhii mere dil mein, naa to kaarvaan kii talaash hai, abhii na jaao chhodkar, ae merii zohrajabiin, allaah tero naam, jo vaadaa kiyaa vo nibhaanaa padegaa, tum apanaa ranj-o-gham, vaqt se din aur raat and main zindagii kaa saath. The evening was simply memorable. Viraj Kulkarni, Founder & CEO, Pivot Management Consulting
Great program. your preparation, attention to detail, and superb production values are always terrific. Vineet and Meenakshi Kumar
I am sorry I am a bit delayed in congratulating you and the entire Ibaadat team for the fantastic audiovisual treat. The show was on Sahir was sheer magic….an affair to remember. The commentary, the performances, the songs ….everything was so beautifully coordinated and well executed. The effort you put in to research the genius was there for everyone to see and feel. We thoroughly enjoyed every Moment. Thank you very much for making it possible for us to experience the same. Pradeep Madhav, Managing Director & CEO, STCI Finance Ltd.
Thank you!! The show was excellent. Very well conceptualized, researched, scripted, presented ...I am not in front of you physically but it deserves a standing ovation. ***** (5 stars). Only one complaint - to wait for the next show of Ibaadat for ONE year is tough. Pradeep Malu, Mentor of Change, Niti Aayog/ Founder, Inovent Solutions Ltd.
You had the audience totally captivated with each from the audience relating to the life of the great shayar in their own way and living through a spectra of emotions such as pain love patriotism et al. Udayan Maroo, Retd.Professor, SP Jain Institute of Management
A wonderful programme…a delightful evening. This is one of my favourite evenings and I am sure it was for most of the people attending. Thank you very much for maintaining the high standards you have set and improving further on every year. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the programme and thank you and the entire crew for keeping the audience mesmerised. Thomas Mathew, Retd. Partner, PWC
The recent show on Sahir was a grand tribute to the poet/writer and there could not be a better tribute than this. our hearty congratulations to you and entire Ibaadat team who worked so hard to make the show a memorable one for us, for a long time. As such cultural connect with society should continue uninterrupted, I would also like to make a contribution to Ibaadat. Alok Mehrotra, Retd. Director, Tatas
A superb program, thoroughly enjoyed. Bakul M. Mehta, Sr. Vice President-Wealth Advisory Group, IIFL Holdings Ltd.
Let me congratulate you for a wonderful performance which I attended recently. The show on Sahir Ludhianvi was outstanding and you did it in a very novel and creative way! Jayaraaj Mehta, Director, Nitesh Pune Mall Pvt. Ltd.
What do I say? It was an amazing and brilliant performance...as usual. This is the fourth show I am attending and trust me each is better than the other. Sahir was and is an amazing poet... your planning and presentation made the whole event an experience to cherish. Thank you for an amazing experience…an absolutely brilliant performance. Satish Mehta, Founder, Athena Advisors
It was an awesome show. Had a very good and enjoyable evening. Smita Mehta
The experience was “out of the world”. Spell- bound from the word go till the end. K .R. Menon, Executive Director, Centrum Capital Ltd.
‘Drama and Music are inseparable yet contradictory art forms. Drama is all about putting on the mask, and conceal yourself; while the Music is about revealing your innermost emotions.’ - ‘Jataayu’. Thanks to our revered Shri Rajkumar Seksaria, it was my good fortune to attend your fabulous show of ‘Sahir - kahan ho tum? ’ On seeing your program, the only regret I have is of my missing your previous programs. Bollywood has been a reflection of our nation’s psyche as we have been living in the age of Cinephilia. As a Cinephile myself, I have spent years learning the genre of Bollywood music (which is essentially a blending of Indian Melody with Western Harmony, unless the Western tunes are brazenly plagiarized); I have also done extensive research to author a book titled ‘Cinemaghar’; the theme being the Golden Era of Bollywood Music, which is almost unanimously agreed to be the three decades from 1949 to 1979, which happens to be in exact congruence with Sahir’s debut in Bollywood (1949) until his death (1979). There are various factors triggering the golden era. The arrival of new Composers (Shankar Jaikishan etc), entry of the Goan arrangers bringing the Westernised Orchestration and harmony, new Singers (Lata, Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore, Geeta) and the new Lyricists (Sahir, Shailendra, Hasrat). However, there is only one factor responsible for the end of the golden era and that is the absence of poetry (गीतकार - lyricists). In that context, I can’t praise enough the endeavour of Ibaadat Foundation. The only way to uplift the quality of Bollywood Music is to realize the importance of गीतकार - lyricists. For years, we have been taking the lyricists for granted. We neither gave them due rewards nor recognition. Our current generation is paying the price for the grave mistake we have committed. I have attended numerous programs on Bollywood theme, but none as classy, as well researched, as seamless as yours. You've scored a perfect Ten by making it both 'Meaningful' and 'Melodious'. Looking forward to the opportunities to see all your programs. As a musician, I would like to mention my deep appreciation for: Supriya Joshi: If you have Supriya Joshi on stage you need none else. Supriya has the very rare combination of all the four qualities together – Sweet Voice, Perfect Pitch, Good Range, and rarest of all…Thehrav. Her diction, both in singing and speech is terrific. Naveen Anandji’s voice seems to have got a ‘stay-order’ on aging. Hats off to you sir! Anand Bahalji's, ability to drown in the song reminds me of the age-old wisdom parted by Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan Saheb, when he said, “If you don’t enjoy what you are playing/singing, how are the audience going to enjoy it?” Looking forward to the opportunities to see rest of your programs. Atul S. Merchant ‘Jataayu’, Music Director
I have produced live music events in Mumbai since 2008, on the golden age of Hindi film music, and its various aspects. I happened to luckily watch Ibaadat Foundation’s musical programe on the life and times of the great poet lyricist Sahir Ludhanvi saheb. It was one of the most unusual baithak stlye event, which held the audience captive by its beautiful music presentation style and of course the singer’s contribution was remarakble, ably supported by excellent anchoring Prithvi ji. Ibaadat is doing great work, connecting people to the times and lives of the great lyricists, reviving poetry and literature too. Veena Misra, Founder, Voice and Vision/ Ex DD Hindi Newsreader
it was a wonderful evening, outstanding stage management and melodious singers, it was not a musical drama, I would call it…Sahir live at Nehru Centre! Praveen Mohnot, Director, Pipapav
I must tell you that I (and my mother who accompanied me) were enthralled by the show. It was a very touching experience and for 3 hours we didn’t feel like getting out of our chairs. The song selection, the singers and the beautiful script and format which had all the necessary ingredients woven so beautifully made it a special experience. Your, and your team’s love in getting the program across was so evident and that made us ‘connect’ with the program. I feel that life is all about creating such loving experiences for the world and you and your team have all our gratitude and best wishes for creating more such experiences. The Force will always be with you. PS: I have already sent my donation before the show and have also received the receipt. Riaz Mulla, Head-Leadership Learning, Tech Mahindra
The programme was beautifully organised. Simply fantastic. Hats off to you for your extensive research and the screenplay and your entire team for exemplary execution. Enjoyed every minute. Shankar V. Narayanan, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Investment Bankers of India
Thanks for inviting me to the wonderful event. The whole event, from its research, format, concept and execution was superb. It was spellbinding, and not for a moment did my attention waver. Sahir Ludhianvi is one of my favourite poets and his song Kabhi Kabhie is very dear to me. Having dabbled with classical music and shaayari earlier in my life, this event took me back to those days when I used to spend hours with words and music! I congratulate you for this initiative and hope that it keeps touching the hearts and lives of many like me. Rishi Nathany, Head-Business Development & Marketing, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd.
Every show looks better than the previous one. I have seen all seven. Dipti Neelakantan, Director, JM Group
Just a note to reiterate how much we enjoyed joining you at the baithak for Sahir Ludhianvi. What a concept! How tastefully executed. How well you took the audience along. 2.5 hours and no one felt the need to check whatsapp on their phone for the entire time — in today’s day and age, that’s the best compliment to the production and directorial excellence of the show!! And kudos to the two of you for taking your hobby to a junoon — and sharing your joy with so many people. Much to learn from you!! Hope to be part of many more. Pranjul was ecstatic. Varad (and Pranjul) Pande, Omidyar Networks
The programme will be permanently etched in our memories as this was the first programme of that magnitude which we attended in a very very long time. Prithvi ji you proved to be a complete package. Your souvenir text and design which you circulated was extremely attractive and informative. Your stage design/ decor & setting of stage was of a very high taste and order. Your research, story and screenplay were tremendous as most of the anecdotes/stories which you shared were unheard of. And lastly the execution part. Your direction was out of the world. You were able to weave magic around the almost 900 strong audience which kept them at end of their seats. The way Naveen came out and enacted the Pyasa piece of Gurudutt was absolutely unexpected and unimaginable. Sangeetaji has a very nice voice and Obaidji was bang on in his presentations who also shared lots of rare anecdotes on Sahir sahib. THE BEST PART WAS THAT YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM GAVE AN EXTEMPORE PRESENTATION, AND EXECUTION LEVELS WERE OF HIGHEST ORDER. Your team of singers comprising of Supriya Joshi, Sarvesh Mishra, Anand Bahal and Sangeeta Melekar are very good singers and you rightly chose them on that evening to make it fully successful. Shashikant Pandey, HR-Consultant
Delighted could make it to such a soul satisfying event…so rare…keep it up. Chandra Mohan Pant, Retd. CGM, Voltas
Take a deep bow for putting up such a memorable production. Everything about it was perfect. Great research and compilation, and a very smooth flow and rendering. Impressed with the high quality. It would've gladdened your heart to see a full house and enthusiastic participation by the audience - a clear sign that we were all very involved and had a great time. This is the second Ibaadat show I've been to and look forward to the next one - for which do remember me! Manoj Pant, Chief Executive, Shankh Inc.
I have to start calling you “ji” and all that. I will add outstanding show. Mrugank M. Paranjape, Managing Director, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd.
The program was staged and performed beautifully. The planning and rendering was flawless and it was a treat. My friends Mr. Mahesh and Raksha shroff who were attending the Ibaadat program for the first time were simply mesmerized. I would like to certainly donate for the mission. Kindly email us the bank details and oblige. Dr. Karnik (& Dr.) Nita Parikh
It was really great experience and sheer enjoyment to watch the show with full audience in the auditorium. The presentation of the show was excellent and so were the words spoken by the anchors of the show. The singers were also best and soothing to ears. The only rectification can be done in future, is the anchors walking in and out of the stage frequently overlapping those present and performing on the stage. I would surely like to donate for a page of advertisement for your next show in Mumbai, as and when it is happening. Vijay Parimoo
I have no words to express the beautiful show on Sahirji which we saw yesterday. First of all, a big big thank you for sending the passes, I am indebted to you for making us a part of this wonderful event, I shall always be excited for your future endeavors and consider myself associated with you. My heartiest congratulations to you and your team for making it so memorable. Ranjan Patel
Thanks for the opportunity to see your production held in the wonderful premises at Nehru Centre. It had wonderful scripting and tight editing. Hopefully you can develop some additional artistes to take forward this show to new venues and destinations. Mohit Pawnday, Head Commercial, Sarda Metals & Alloys Ltd.
What an amazing show Prithvi...hats off to you. Simply stupendous...just so commendable. Many congratulations! Thank u for an amazing evening. So much to soak in and reminisce about from yesterday! You should seriously think about ways to scale up the reach of your hard work so that it reaches more people. Not suggesting video broadcasts (don't subscribe to that at all), but up the number of shows. Am sure u have thought about it...and am sure there are constraints but there should be some way to solve for it. Happy to chat...whenever convenient and once u rested and recovered. Team Ibaadat...thank you for taking us through this unmatchable experience yet again, with a spectacular show. A great evening, permanently etched in our memory. Sangeeta Pendurkar, Chief Executive Officer, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.
Let me begin by again thanking you for giving me the opportunity to attend the programme. It was a wonderful experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well-researched, well-presented by you and your co-hosts, and the songs superbly rendered by all the singers, it was an evening that shall long linger in memory of all who attended it. For an all too brief two and a half hours, you brought Sahir back to life for all us lovers of Hindi film music of the golden era and aficionados of poetry. What I appreciated the most was that you managed to do all this without letting the event degenerate into hagiography. Dr. Milind V. Phanse, Orthopedic Surgeon
My mother who attended absolutely enjoyed it. She said it was the best anti-depressant one could have! Yassir A. Pitalwalla, Contributing Editor, Business India
Friday being a working day is tough on Mumbaikars – and this Friday also happened to be the monetary policy day for the RBIites. Despite all odds, we managed to leave in time, but to our bad luck, the traffic did not treat us kindly either. So, one suggestion from my side – if you could plan the future events on a Saturday or Sunday. The hall was full as usual. And, we enjoyed the show thoroughly. Both myself and my hubby Anand are big fans of Sahir Saab. The presentation was very lucid and choice of songs was fantastic. I love the Ibaadat way of research on every aspect. So, a number of hear-say about the life of Sahir got verified/rejected. I wish to get associated with your mission. Do send me your bank details. Anupam Prakash, Director-G20 Divison, Deap, Reserve Bank of India
The show - Sahir, Kahaan Ho Tum? - was a truly outstanding production. All your shows are uniformly terrific but this one was very much the best. Everything about it was magnificent and Jaya and I very much enjoyed the program. I could not email you earlier as there was a bereavement in the family immediately thereafter. S.V.Prasad, Chairman, Chime Finance & Investments Pvt. Ltd.
All of us were completely bowled over by the show - the performances, the level of rehearsal, the research and the love and passion for the subject was very evident. Thank you for working so hard to put this show together. We would definitely be happy to donate towards your foundation, Nandini (and Dinesh) Purandare, Editor, Himalayan Journal
I write on behalf of Hemang and myself. Sahir - Kahaan Ho Tum was a wonderfully riveting show. What made it different from so many other musical stage shows was the fact that the audience truly got involved. Everybody was listening attentively and the audience had no hesitation in singing their hearts out with the singers. In this day and age, to involve an entire audience to this extent takes a lot of doing and that was reflected in the manner in which the audience became participative. The singers are extremely talented. It was a pleasure to hear them. The narration showcased the intense research that went into discovering the nuances of Sahir's life and genius. It was awesome. It became personal because both Hemang and I being so fond of Hindi film music, it had us reminiscing over the times we had enjoyed together, listening to many of these songs. I would always ask you to fit in more songs but I am aware of the time constraint and therefore suggest a medley of songs somewhere close to the end that would still satisfy the thirst to hear more. I have a question though - once you run out of lyricists, what do you plan to do? Hemang (and Bela) Raja, Director, IDFC First Bank Ltd.
The Sahir program was outstanding. The fact that Sahir was a poet non-paralleled is beyond dispute. The variety of songs he wrote are heard by millions of listeners even today. I had earlier attended your program on Hasrat Jaipuri which again was a resounding success. You are doing a great job in rekindling the shaayari of great lyricists and promoting their contribution to Hindi Film industry. M.V. Rajagopal
Words are not adequate to express the deep sense of pleasure and happiness I got after the Sahir show. Your painstaking efforts were worth it - what a lovely smooth flowing script; excellent changeovers between all those present on stage, high quality of singing, perfect recording of the music, and above all each and every word uttered on stage carrying the passion and respect for the great poet. I only wish it carries to a much larger audience that the show truly deserves. M.V. Ramnarayan, Retd. Chairman, Link Intime
Just incredible. First time came for your show. I thought Prime was a master stroke. Ibaadat is actually even better. Ajit Ranade, President & Chief Economist, Aditya Birla Group
Thank you very much for giving us an opportunity to attend such a wonderful show. There is an amazing freshness in each show. We are obliged to be a part of it. Arun (and Bharti) Rawat, Managing Director, Print International
Many thanks for the splendid evening yesterday. It was a very well- crafted show. Covering almost all aspects of life and work of someone of Sahir Ludhianvi's stature and pedigree in just 2.5 hours was no doubt a herculean task - which only you could pull off. The screenplay which was penned by you was very crisp and very engaging. I can imagine how hard you must have worked on this. Hats off to you for your passion to the cause. Though it was mentioned that you all are not professionals in running the show but I am sure it was done in much better way than even what so called "Event Managers" could have done. The best part of was that everything pertaining to his life was presented honestly - positives as well as negatives, but the negatives were presented in a way which kept the dignity of the man intact. The soulful rendering of Sahir's masterpieces through great singing was icing on the cake. As my humble contribution to this excellent cause, I am transferring 10,000/- in the account of the Foundation. Ragesh Rawat, Sr.Vice President-Birla White Div., Ultratech Ltd.
I wholeheartedly congratulate you and the entire team for Sahir-Kahaan Ho Tum. It was flawless. I cannot think of a single thing that I would like to have seen done differently. Bravo! For much of the program I found myself singing along, never knowing that I already knew the lyrics in my heart. Some moments I found myself with tear filled eyes moved by the beauty of the lyrics and the music rendition. Blessings to you and your entire team for bringing so much joy. Sujan Roy, Head-Passenger Vehicles International Business, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles
Just remembered you when I listened to kabhi kabhi this morning. I attended the event organized by you for the first time. The experience is beyond words can describe. Ashish Sable, Sr. Vice President & Group Head-Debt Capital Markets, SBI Capital Markets Ltd.
Not a musical evening but a magical evening. Lipika Saini, JPM
The show was simply outstanding and a clear reflection of how much passion and dedication has gone into arranging the same. Hats off to you and Team Ibaadat!! My only regret is that I did not get a chance to attend any of the earlier shows, despite your invitations. The loss is clearly mine. I would indeed like to make a contribution and request you to share the bank details. I also have a few friends who are interested in poetry and music and would like to introduce them to you. Please let me know the best way of doing this. Kishore Saletore, Retd. Group Chief Financial Officer, Bharat Forge Ltd.
The program was a great feat, in terms of content, audio, and visuals. The decor of the stage was simple and yet splendid. For years I've been attending numerous musical programs, but none match the calibre of Ibaadat. I felt so proud when maximum songs rendered in your program was recorded in Famous Recording Studio. Kudos to your entire team for the detailed research as well as flawless performance. I pray god that Ibaadat Foundation keep scaling newer heights. Rajkumar Seksaria, Director, Famous Cine Laboratory
Had the good fortune of attending "Sahir-kahan ho tum" , kind courtesy my friend, Mr. Raj Kumar Seksaria. It just showed the in-depth research, presentation and planning put in the program. Kudos to you. All the artistes on stage seemed very talented and perfect in their roles. My loss I missed the earlier shows. Would certainly be there for the next performances. Would appreciate if you could enroll me in your list of intimations. Keep the flag flying of Indian poetry and music. Pankaj Sethi, Strategic Advisor, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd.
The best till date. Girish K. Setia, Founder, Master Stroke
It was very amazing show… loved it. Looking forward to many more shows like this. Totally fantastic. Mihir Setia
Thank you very much for the invite for yesterday. Ami and I truly enjoyed it! I never realised it would be so much fun! Alpesh Shah, Managing Director & Sr.Partner, Boston Consulting Group (India) Pvt. Ltd.
A superb program, as always! Very tastefully done. Excellent work. PS: please do send me the bank details. Bharat Shah, Director, Ask Investment Holdings Pvt. Ltd.
It was an awesomely orchestrated program. You guys conducted it seamlessly and all the four singers were also very good and apt. Sudha Malhotra was very pleased with the program she said it was classy and her bit with Sahir was conducted elegantly. Outside while waiting for her car she was mobbed and the number of selfies people took with her were countless. I finally escorted her home. Now we wait for your next big program after you’ve gained a breath or two! Ranjjt Shahani, Retd. Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Novartis
The show on Sahir was once again excellently produced and presented. One keeps yearning for more and more. Thank you very much for having provided us with a wonderful evening. Shankara Sharma, Retd. Director, Tata Telecom
It was really remarkable. I have no word to appreciate you but to Salute and Salute you for your dedication, passion, fabulous performances and presentation for making such a successful show - Sahir- Kahan ho tum? on the legendary Poet & Lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. Suresh Sharma
20 days after the show, we are still in a trance! The Sahir show has come in my dreams several times. And we have discussed your show over 3 gatherings of our friends. Boss…you have done magic. Padam Shastri. Ex Cricketer-Ranji, Rajasthan Team
Excellent program, congrats for all the efforts/arrangements. We thoroughly enjoyed the program Please send necessary details as I would like to make a donation. Mahesh Shroff, Director, Novex Poly Films Pvt. Ltd.
We enjoyed a lot the show "Sahir-Kahaan Ho Tum?". Very nice concept and presentation on Sahir. I would like to personally congratulate you as well as your team members specially, Obaid Azmi Saheb and Sangeeta Ji. Satish Shukla 'Raqeeb' , Shaayar
Really enjoyed. Thanks for giving us opportunity to be a part of a great show. Harisingh Shyamsukha, Executive Director, Geecee Ventures ltd.
It was a great pleasure to attend most wonderful evening. Great planning and execution of a flawless programme. Harisingh Shyamsukha, Executive Director, Geecee Ventures Ltd.
Tonight’s program touched our hearts deeply. Truly great work. Two and half hours just flew by, left us yearning for more. Also this one was probably the best so far. Keep it up! Amarjeet Singh, Executive Director, Securities & Exchange Board of India
This is one of the first kind of event I attended. A great evening to remember. I am so thankful to you for inviting me. I am also big fan of lyric which is soul of a song. My friend Manoj Muntshir is Bollywood lyricist and I have always seen him fighting for credit 10 years ago but today I learned that it was Sahir saheb who already won a long-drawn battle. Gajendra Pratap Singh, Group Head-Corporate Affairs, Reliance Capital Ltd.
Thanks for creating this event. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to you and the team. Sahir-Kahaan Ho Tum? showed abundantly your passion, persistence and zeal to deliver beyond obvious. The format has improved, core of the script was brought out unambiguously with finesse. Participation - extempore by the audience, and you so wisely left them to be of their own while they were on it was the great immersive experience! Bless you all! Dr. Gian Sunder Singh, Chief Consultant, Edumint Advisory Services
Thanks to Varun for introducing me to you, Prithvi. It was a program with a difference which I thoroughly enjoyed. A very special and extremely well researched and organized event on Sahir Ludhianvi. I very much appreciate the effort that goes behind such an event. Very rarely does one see programmes starting and ending dot on time. Heartiest congratulations to you and the entire team at Ibaadat. After my retirement from Air Force and flying, I have been pursuing my passion of singing and have formed a group to do live shows with other passionate singers (non-commercial) on similar themes though at a much smaller scale. Please continue with your noble work. My very sincere compliments for such a memorable show which requires lot of dedication, hard work and research. Capt. Gurdeep Singh, Retd. Indian Air Force
Kamaal kar diya. My family as well as my young daughter stayed glued. Rakesh Singh, Group Head-Investment Banking, Capital & Commodity Markets, HDFC Bank Ltd.
I wish to congratulate you for the excellent presentation which exceeded even the previous brilliant presentations. I can imagine the time and effort that has gone in to the making of this programme and capturing the essence of Sahir’s life and poetry in two and a half hours. We are still savouring in our minds the delightful songs by very carefully and aptly selected singers. I hope and wish that Ibaadat continues on its glorious path in service of art and poetry and continues to enthrall audiences like us. Deepak Singhal, Member, RBI Services Board
Superb show! Ena Sinha
It really was a superb show. Having Sudha Malhotra there on stage was such a nice feeling. Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands
This was one of the best by Ibaadat. Flawless execution, great anecdotes, no holds barred, beautiful analysis, maximum coverage, great selection. You, Sangeeta, Obaid, and Naveen are getter better and better every edition. Arvind Sonde, Lawyer
Thanks a lot for yet another wonderful show. Fabulous script, narrative, song selection and performances. I felt as if I am watching a film on Sahir. Absolutely flawless. Thank you again for giving me an opportunity to be part of such a magnificent show and look forward to attend many more such shows. Paresh Soni, Dy.Vice President-Investment Banking, HDFC Bank Ltd.
Your event on Sahir Ludhyanvi was enthralling to say the least! I was looking for a few dull minutes to visit the rest room but could not budge from my seat throughout the show. You and you colleagues have a unique way to unravelling one page by one in a manner that leaves the audience captivated. My humble accolades to you with a request for more frequent programs in the future. Gautam Kumar Sonthalia, Diamond Trader
We thoroughly enjoyed the program. It brought alive Sahir and was presented professionally. Krish Sreenivas
We would like to make our small donation. Kindly let us have bank details for transfer. We thoroughly enjoyed Sahir- Kahaan ho tum that gave us an insight into the colourful life of the immortal lyricist. Your show certainly brought out the incredible wonderment that a person could have achieved so much in one life time…We certainly look forward to more! N. Srinivas, Director-Technical, Lloyd Insulations India Ltd.
What an awesome evening yesterday. Thank you so much. I had come with my friends. All of us though South Indian but grew up in Delhi and complete nutcases for great songs. Thank you for inviting us and keep us in mind as you plan more such evening. S. Sriniwasan, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd.
Excellent show, very well put together. What strength over words the man had! Thank you so much for inviting me. Priya Subbaraman, Chief Regulatory Officer, National Stock Exchange of India Ltd.
We enjoyed the lovely show on Sahirsahab! Great lyricist! I must say efforts you take for the show are extraordinary. Way of presenting the show is simply superb!! We eagerly wait for Ibaadat Show. Ibaadat is very close to our heart for presenters and singers as well. Your uniquely designed shows attract the people. Prithviji, Sangitaji, Navinji thank you soo much for fantastic power-packed show. Overwhelming Audience make show grand success. Feeling Happy as we are part of Ibaadat from first show, Rooh-E-Majrooh. "Ye Ibaadat yunhi chalti rahe," Sunil and Jagruti Thaker, Insurance Advisor
Heartfelt appreciation for the hard work put in by all of you, in presenting this wonderful musical experience and its information. The singers were superb and one could see how they were thoroughly enjoying the songs themselves!! I look forward to the next program soon! Rupa Trivedi, Founder, Adiv Pure Nature Products Pvt.Ltd.
What an outstanding show sirjee...mazaa as gaya...really these legends have to be appreciated a little more. Vishal Tulsyan, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Motilal Oswal Private Equity Advisors Pvt.Ltd.
The show was conducted very professionally and we did not even realize when the two and a half hours passed. Want to congratulate you and your team for a wonderful musical journey year after year. Admire your team's dedication and energy besides of course the meticulous research. Please do send me your bank details and I will be pleased to contribute. Rajesh R. Turakhia
The Sahir-Kahaan ho tum? event was immaculately conceptualised, scripted and executed. As you know, I have attended all of the Ibaadat programs in Mumbai from inception (and a couple in Delhi too). There was one big difference this time as compared to the previous events, and that was in the audience participation. The audience "owned" this show from start to finish and that I think is a spectacular achievement of Ibaadat - in line with your objectives entirely. Congratulations to you and the team on this, and I hope the trend gets even stronger in the future. Ramesh Venkat, Chief Executive Officer, Fairwinds Asset Managers Ltd.
What a programme! Outstanding is a massive understatement! Thanks to you we had an evening to remember. Fabulously conceived and executed, stupendous script, marvelous visuals, perfect stage setting, great presenters and super singing. I could just go on and on. I had a couple of young friends with me, who have an ear for music but haven't heard too many of the old songs. By the end of the spectacle they understood why the golden oldies of Hindi film music are timeless. I only wish the programme was a little longer so that we could have heard more songs and some of them fully. I met Sangeeta after the show but was unable to see you as you were surrounded by your many admirers. And why not! You and your team are doing a spectacular job of transporting us into the bygone era and making us forget that we are in 2019 with all its attendant life issues. I am already looking forward to the next one. But the one year gap seems so faaar.... However, I can understand the amount of work, research and planning that needs to go into a project of this nature. The exceptional outcome is worth the wait. What a wonderful creation you have all raised. Wishing Ibaadat a wonderful journey ahead. Full of music, poetry, melody and glory. May Ibaadat flow and flourish in good health and peace. V.P. Venkatesh, Edelweiss General Insurance Co. Ltd. and Ritu (niece of singer Mukesh)
The concert on Sahir Ludhianvi was indeed so wonderful. Never realised he has written such beautiful songs, popular and full of the emotion each one carried…whether it be love, pain, patriotism, nature or hope. The rendering of his life story was so perfect, the choice of singers melodious. It really was a dream like evening. Thank you so much for this most enjoyable enthralling evening. Thangam Venkateswaran, Bangalore
A personal salute to you and your entire team for presenting such a unique show and keeping the memories of great artists alive through your presentation. Indeed, an honour to be one in your friend list. Sameer Vijaykumar, Musician
As always, it was a absolutely marvelous show. Did not seem to have enough of it though it was continuous for 3 hours. No one from the audience also moved and were so engrossed and carried away. Kindly send me the bank details for the donation. Eagerly looking forward to the next one. Keep on the wonderful work which you are doing, Nilesh S. Vikamsey, Partner, Khimji Kunverji & Co. LLP