Thank you so much for the show. My first time. I enjoyed myself greatly. I didn’t realize that you played such a central role yourself! Ashok H. Advani, Publisher, Business India
It was an excellent, amazing show. Very well researched and very well directed. The performance by the entire team, including the singers and the dancers was superb. Thoroughly enjoyed every part of the show. Must add that the performance by your grandchildren was excellent. Talented kids. Please pass on my blessings and best wishes to them. Mukesh Agarwal, CEO–Indices & Data, National Stock Exchange of India Ltd.
Prithvi ji, What a beautiful nostalgic feeling it was to relive Raja ji s life through your show In 2.5 hours, you described all his memorable life incidents so beautifully, You chose his best songs- all sung so melodiously by your artists. Enjoyed every minute of the show. Can’t wait for your next one!! Just talked to you on the phone last month…I remember telling you I can sense the passion in your voice for what you do. But seeing you performing on the stage, must say, your passion is spell-bounding. Prithvi ji, you deserved the standing ovation you got. Thanking you from the bottom of my heart for the invite to such a heartwarming show!!! Seema Agarwal, Founder, Travel Heights
Many thanks for your par excellence programme. I attended along with my friends including Akhtar Rangoonwala. I compliment you for bringing out the entire life of a poet Well done. Mohammed Farooq Alvi, Chartered Engineer, Project Management Consultants
It was great! The singers were very good. Narendra Ambwani, CEO-Coach, Zeus Coaching
A memorable event! Feel very privileged to witness “Ek Tha Raja”. It was a beautifully conceptualised, showcasing the life, times and compositions of this great lyricist. Everything was so intricately woven into a beautiful presentation! Very thoroughly researched and dramatised! A perfect balance of anecdotes, songs, dances and humour! The whole evening was a pleasant experience! Nina Amlani, Yoga/Pilates Instructor
The show was simply superb. We also got a glimpse of the short and fruitful life led by the poet and his ability to keep smiling even on his deathbed. Wonderful research done by you. Our heartiest congratulations on a wonderful show Maitreyi Ashar, Retd. Finance Dept., Air India and Navin Ashar, Founder, Navdeep Enviro and Technical Services Pvt. Ltd,
It was a very satisfying program. Kudos to you for curating the same. Your research and passion for the subject was very visible. It was an amazing show. Me and my wife both loved it. Your anchoring and the curation of the program was top notch. Abhijeet Awasthi, Asst. General Manager-Regional Head-Large Corp. Group West, ICICI Bank Ltd.
Prithvi Ji, it was indeed our pleasure to attend this show. Padam L. Bahal, General Manager-Accounts, NOCIL Ltd.
Such a classic concert. It was wonderful. Mamta Bajpeyi, Bhajan Singer
A very interesting, very well curated program, in line with the quality we have come to associate with your programs. An added interesting feature was the visibility created for this exceptional but relatively less appreciated lyricist and poet. Most of the songs have been in our hearts and lips but without consciously associating them to Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. प्रोग्राम ने उनसे खूबसूरत तआरुफ़ करा दिया! Rajiv Kumar Bakshi, Chairman, AK Capital Finance Ltd.
It was amazing and no words to express. Shrenik Bamb, Practicing Chartered Accountant
Thanks for the amazing programme. Atul Bapna, Executive Director & Head of Compliance, Nuvama Wealth Management Ltd.
Thank you for bringing this show to our city! Our cosmopolitan crowd in Mumbai understands and appreciates such shows and the tremendous efforts put in to create such a wonderful piece of entertainment. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed that evening and look forward to more such events in the future. Neelam Bedi
Just like the previous shows, this one too was wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Your grandchildren were wonderful and super cute! Anita Belani, Ex Director, Gaja Capital Partners
Great show. Please provide bank details for our donation. Sunila Benegal and Deepak Benegal, Retd. Program Director
It was a great show, yet again, like every year. Your presentation was impeccable, and flawless. The songs selection was superb. The best efforts are made by you to make the show, Par Excellence. A very enjoyable experience. Dr. Mohan Bhambhani, Retd. Private Co.
Awesome. Your creation and execution are wonderful. Serving a great and a noble cause. Vallabh Bhanshali, Chairman, Enam Securities Pvt. Ltd.
Prithvi ji, I was absolutely delighted to be a part of that bygone era of two of my favourite lyricists and music composers. Thank you very much for all that painstaking research. Your show has a sleek and high production value as well. Your grandsons were an adorable twosome. I have been fortunate to be witnessing so many of your well researched shows! It’s par excellence! Your two consecutive full house shows prove your abilities. Vandana Bhardwaj, Homemaker
Prithvi, To begin, I would like to sincerely appreciate the efforts put in by you to produce the musical Drama "Ek Tha Raja". We were fortunate to get the invite, and thereafter to witness one of the great shows, very well-orchestrated. It will be a pleasure to speak with you one day and exchange our thoughts on music. Anirudh Bhargava, Founder, Tribal Earth Sounds India Pvt Ltd, Exporters of Musical Instruments
I will term this programme as excellent, both in presentation and overall arrangements made for the audience. Great research on Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, a not so well-known poet. His association with Madan Mohan was well known and very well presented. The humorous and patriotic flavour of Rajasaheb was very nicely brought about. All the artistes were really good and sang with a feeling. On the whole, an extremely great presentation as always. Subhash C. Bhargava, Retd. Executive Director (Investment), Life Insurance Corporation of India
Prithvi ji, Heartiest congratulations for such a superb, fantastic, mesmerizing musical drama on Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Your commitment and untiring efforts were more than visible, audible and enjoyable. J.C. Bharwani, J.C. Bharwani & Co., Chartered Accountants
The program was brilliantly presented and the inputs were well researched and very informative. We got a new insight into the life of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Of course, his work and contribution to Bollywood speaks for itself. Like last year, the presentation style is unique and very different from the usual other musical programs. Yours is a very unique style and a special signature brand. The singers as always are very melodious. Had a wonderful time and time just flew very fast leaving behind very beautiful memories. I have mentioned about Ibaadat to quite a few of my friends and the grand manner in which the programs are researched and presented. Thanks a lot for sharing and making our day beautiful. Ajay A. Bhatia, Investor, Enam Holdings Pvt. Ltd.
Enjoyed the show! Very well done! Tushar Bhatia, Music Composer
Dear Prithvi ji, Congratulations for the show. It was heartening to see a houseful. Keep up the good work. Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Chairperson, Bimal Roy Memorial Committee (Daughter of Bimal Roy)
Outstanding. Loved it. Parmod Kumar Bindlish, Retd. Chief General Manager, Securities & Exchange Board of India
It was one of the best shows. Enjoyed it very much. Wishing you and your team all the best and keep putting up such wonderful shows. Aruna Chainani
Prithvi, It is amazing to hear some of the songs without any accompaniment, which brings it out much clearer, especially for Indian music where there are many twists and turns in each line, but is quite tough. I can say this as I used to win many inter-IIT & inter-IIM competitions in singing in my youth. People listen to music in different ways, some the words, some the tune, some the rhythm, etc. All these 60+ years, I have had very low interest in lyrics, but your concerts (with the background, stories etc.) have awakened my interest in them. While my wife is a total Hindi music fan, especially old ones (my kids called her tastes pre-world war), having little interest in lyricists all these years, I had not heard of Raja, but when I googled his list of songs, I knew/loved so many of them. I am a member of the IIT-KGP music alumni group, composed of many who represented IIT-KGP over several decades. I am giving the link http://ibaadatindia.org/ in the group as some are pro singers now, some written books and I hope some will enroll through the link there. Nandan Chakraborty, Head-Strategy & Institutional Equity Research, Dam Capital Advisors Ltd.
In one word…Magical. You are an ustad now in storytelling. I was surprised to see your grandsons on the stage. Dev is so so cute. Parth so so perfect. Unbelievably, they had no stage fright; and were so comfortable like the other artistes. Smita Chandra, Retd. History Professor, University of Bombay
Dear Haldea ji, I liked the 'docu-drama' format of the show. It was a refreshing change from the usual film music-based shows with orchestra etc. Each of the singers were excellent in their own way. Sangeeta Melekar's renditions are par excellence. B. Chandrasekhar, Retd. General Manager, Reserve Bank of India
One more outstanding show. The ovation Dev and Parth got was fully deserved. R. Chandrasekhar
Prithviji, Had a wonderful session. Really appreciate the detailed curation of the show. Kudos to you Ritu Chaudhry, TV Actress
It was a wonderful experience. The content was excellent, good research, good stage set up and singers were too good. Jiten Chheda, Director, Total Sporting & Fitness Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Hi Prithvi uncle! My parents and I attended the show and greatly enjoyed it. Priyal Chitale, PhD. Candidate, Dept. of Music, School of Arts, University of London
Prithviji. The show was excellent. Your singer who sang लग जा गले is exceptional. Also, आप की नज़रों ने समझा. The addition of dances was a nice touch. To have Madanji’s daughter was a lovely bonus. The overall presentation was lovely! Manish Chokhani, Trustee, Chokhani Charitable Trust (also Enam Group)
No words to describe the wonderful experience. You have truly bestowed your love, affection, and devotion to the poet Raja Mehdi Ali Khan...True to its name Ibaadat. I realize that putting together this show would have taken a huge effort and kudos to you for the spectacular show. Your narrative was superb and ably embellished and highlighted by your singers, which truly lifted the whole program to the next level. I look forward with reverence to attending such functions and offer my token of support every time you plan these events. Vamesh Chovatia, Partner-Healthcare Fund, Tata Capital Ltd.
Dear Prithviji, The program was beautiful. I have attended all your shows since the 1st one at Veer Savarkar Hall. Hats off to you for the wonderful arrangements. Given all the resources -I could not have reached 1% of your organising ability. Bhupen Dalal, Chairman, Foods & Inns Ltd.
The show was brilliant, and we thoroughly enjoyed it Shahzaad Dalal, Managing Director, Greentree Advisors
Very very good. Sucheta Dalal, Managing Editor, Moneylife Foundation
Prithvi ji, As always, the programme was very well curated, crafted And executed We enjoyed it a lot. Loved the performance of your grandkids. They are adorable. It was such a wonderful programme, which was full of information, stories and the history of Raja ji. The choice of songs, the singers, the dancers…everyone was superb and elegant Shubhada Dandekar, Shujani Enterprises
It was an excellent show. Very thoughtfully organized which could connect to us emotionally. The program was more scintillating because of in-depth research gone into the production. Please keep continuing with such shows and touching our hearts. Kudos once again. R. K. Das, Retd. Executive Director, SIDBI
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to watch a programme filled with melodies, the lyrics of which were written by a great poet, Rajaji. The programme was very well organized, directed and executed. I and my wife thoroughly enjoyed. Keep up the good work. Anil Dave, Retired Banker
Fantastic evening! We thoroughly enjoyed the show. My congratulations to Prithvi and his team for putting together such a memorable show. What a service to the world of literature, Urdu and the immortal poets. I have watched Prithvi's interviews in the financial sector, but didn't know about his passion for poetry, languages and other art forms. Very interesting! Divya Dayal
Fantastic. Ashank Desai, Founder, Mastek Ltd.
Congratulation on success of another feather on the cap of Ibaadat for bringing such a beautiful show to all music lovers. Very well organized, covering all the relevant information on poet. Surprise that not much information is available on internet on Rajasaheb and hats off to your research on him. The respect for your show is increasing day by day through mouth publicity and reason is your dedication to give enough respect to great legend forgotten gems of old film industry. Very good experience. Keep it up. Jigar Desai, Sr. Manager, Sunidhi Securities & Finance Ltd.
Prithviji, I cannot forget any of your shows. They get better by the day. The most recent one Ek Tha Raja was a hit too. You again took us down memory lane. Nobody in our time can come close to you and as in mine and my wife’s opinion, you are second to none. Our sincere prayers to the Almighty for you and your team. Rajen Desai and Parul Desai
I enjoyed it a lot. There were some unknown facts about this fabulous lyricist's life which were narrated by the very competent people on the stage. Inviting his daughter was a very noble thing to do. All the songs selected were just fantastic and the singers which were selected were marvelous singers. They rendered the songs so well! On the whole, it was a very successfully organized show and the audience loved it. I feel honoured to be a part of the audience. It was a show which left the audience spellbound. Smita Desai, Head Coordinator, Universal Education Group
Prithviji’s RMAKhan. Lovely stage props and backdrop. Interesting use of a fog machine. Nandita…top class brilliant anchoring. Supriya was gorgeous and did an excellent job of her anchoring parts. Sangeeta, Sarvesh, Anand and Obaidji were bankable as always. Rajesh Duggal (son of Rajinder Krishan)
Prithvi ji, Absolutely delighted to be a part of that bygone era of one of my favourite lyricist and music composer. Thank you very much for all that painstaking research. Your show has a sleek and high production value as well! Your grandsons were adorable. Urvashi Gadekar, Singer/Trainer at Reality Music Shows
Very glad that we came for your show. O. P. Gahrotra, Former Executive Director, Securities & Exchange Board of India
Despite my upcoming wedding of my daughter less than a week away, we made it a point to attend your show. You are simply out of the world. Kamlesh Gandhi, Founder, CIFCO Group
Prithviji I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to you for inviting us to this show The two and half hours literally transported us into a magical world …… nostalgia …. The songs selection was perfect and the title Ek Tha Raja was so apt. We loved the show and I stood up to applaud … the singers sang so well too … your script and compère was the cherry on the icing. I am already looking forward to your next show. Sonali Gandhi
Dear Prithvi, Apart from the beauty of the poetry, the show very nicely brought out its emotional depth. The rapport with the audience was amazing. And we learnt about Raja Mehdi, the person also. His satire and humour added a nice touch. People know the songs Madan Mohan composed, but not that Raja Mehdi wrote many of them. Ibaadat Foundation is doing very good work. Prof. Ashima Goyal, Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
Excellent. Was the second one I attended. Keep it up. Niraj Goyal, Managing Director, Cynergy Creators Pvt Ltd (Earlier, Director-Operations, Cadburys)
All your shows have a drawback or flaw- they all end so soon. Frankly speaking, the show was exceptionally good. J. N. Gupta, Managing Director, Stakeholder Empowerment Services Pvt. Ltd.
Prithviji, We all attended the show and were very impressed by the kind of devotion and hard work you put in for each show. Pravin Gupta, Chairman, Total Logistics India Pvt.Ltd.
Dear Prithvi, It was a super show on both days. Sangeeta Gupta, (Daughter of music maestro Madan Mohan)
Prithvi. A very well-organized event, as always. R. Gurumurthy, Retd. Head-Governance, RBL Bank Ltd.
As always…outstanding! Thoroughly enjoyed! A beautifully written and executed program. Looking forward to the next! Dr. Rajam Gurumurthy
Simply outstanding. Aslam Hassan, Commissioner of Customs (Export)
Dear Sir, I wish to express my thanks and gratitude to you for sending the passes for the music event for Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Like always, the event turned out to be a super success, and excellent tribute to a talented, but unsung फ़नकार, who has written some marvelous songs. My compliments to you. I look forward to attending all future events. Request if you may share the bank details, so that a small contribution can be made. Jitendra Jain, Chief Financial Officer, GMR Group
Came from Dubai for your show. Simply outstanding. Narendra Jain, Dubai
बहुत उमदा । वाक़ई में । कितने ही लोगों में अभी से हर साल आने की फ़रमाइश की है ! सभी लोग कहते हैं कि मैं एक value investor हूँ. मेरे को कहने में कोई संकोच नहीं है कि इस से अच्छा investment मैंने आज तक नहीं किया है और पृथ्वी जी , आप अगर हर महीनें show करेंगे , तो मैं हर बार invest करूँगा. Prashant Jain, Managing Director, 3P Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd.
Prithvi ji, Thank you so much for the invitation to this splendid program. It was just amazing. Besides the flawless presentation, the amount of time you devote in the research of the subject is worth appreciating. It’s a true tribute to the artist. Deen Dayal Jalan, Retd. Global Group CFO, Vedanta Group
I must say that Ibaadat shows are a class of its own for anchoring, story-telling, titbits, humour, recitation of poetry and research on the lyricist. All these together make the programme intellectually fulfilling. It was an evening worth spent with “Ek Tha Raja.” Jayanta Jash, Chief General Manager, Securities & Exchange Board of India
Prithviji, Once again a memorable night to wonder how can someone write such unforgettable lyrics! The golden decade of 60s has given us many such stalwarts music director and singers. I firmly believe that lyricists are at core of a hit song. Lyrics are exactly the reason why the song remains immortal in the heart and innumerable songs with modern music arrangement today are forgotten. Bijal Jethi and Parthi Jethi, GM-Business Development & Tendering, IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd.
Dear Prithvi, We thoroughly enjoyed the program. Each year your program is getting better and better. Your attention to detail and depth are really admirable. Keep it up! Sangeeta Jhaveri, Founder & CEO, Prescient Financial Services
A great show. Only Ibaadat can do it. Sushil Jiwarajka, Managing Director, Artheon Electronics Ltd.
Awesome. Fantastic. Thought of leaving in an hour for a dinner appointment but just stayed on. It was worth every minute. And, in the end, I loved the way the kids sang the national anthem with full devotion, and how so caringly Parth at one stage got Dev to lower his volume. Louis Joseph, VC Investor
The show was well-organized and very nice. Arun Joshi, Manager, Housing Society
Simply awesome. Shalini and Madhukar Kamath, Retd. Chairman, Mudra DDB
Prithvi Bhai, Simply outstanding. Pure nostalgia to say the least. Kudos to your research on the life of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and full marks to your support team. Needless to say, we look forward to your next program. Brij Mohan Kapoor, Retd-Family Business
Excellent show. Dr. Lakhbir Kaur
Prithviji, It was an excellent show. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Great work that you are doing to shine the spotlight on lyricists who most deserve the credit for the Golden Era of Film Music but who have been the most neglected. Would like to make a small donation of Rs 25,000/- to Ibaadat to support the great work that you are doing. Please send bank details. Pran Katariya, Managing Director, Methodex Systems Ltd.
In one word…outstanding. From one generation to the next to the next…. the performance by Parth and Dev was truly reflective of the transfer of culture. Ashok Kejriwal
The program was excellent and beyond words, as usual. The choice of songs, singers and your own narration was mesmerizing, to say the least. Requesting you to have more such programs every year. I will truly cherish these moments. Dr. Rajashri Kelkar, Consultant- Breast and General Surgery
What a marvelous program! Hats off sir ji. Quaiser Khalid, Inspector General of Police, Maharashtra
The recent show on Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was yet another wonderful show. Every year, I and my wife look forward to attending your shows. The creativity in presenting, sequencing of story-telling, the songs selection and the singers, all create a wonderful and memorable event celebrating the lyricist. Prithviji’s creative and artistic talent in full display during the programme. Dr. Anil K. Khandelwal, Chairman, Anugyan Consulting Pvt.Ltd. (Retd. Chairman, Bank of Baroda)
It was great! Enjoyed. Atul Khandelwal, Director, Manan Enterprises
Awesome. Purnima Khandelwal, Founder, INI Farms Pvt. Ltd.
Prithvi ji, It was a great pleasure and experience. The programme was just fantastic and fantabulous and myself and my wife enjoyed every moment of it. It was heartening to see your immense effort to do in-depth research on the life of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Also, it was of great interest to listen to all the old stories of the friendship of the great artists. Rajkumar Khandelwal
Enjoyed the evening and so did my friends and their family. Looking forward to many more of such exciting evenings. Ravi Khandelwal, Chairman, Kebab Factory, Hyderabad
A mesmerizing evening. Don’t know how the 2.5 hours went by. Preeti Khandelwal, Hyderabad
Dear Sir, It was really wonderful experience. The presentation of the life journey with beautiful songs made it very interesting. We all loved the programme. Kamal Khanna
The Haldea DNA is amazing; a 70+ creator and his under-10 grandkids holding the audience in awe. Kamini Khanna, Kathak Dancer
Dear Haldea Saab, It is now a week since I attended the show of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. First and foremost, it was a very good idea on your part to hold it for two consecutive days. Whilst the audience is of course happy as more could be accommodated and at the same time, one didn't get to see serpentine queues, it must have been quite tiring for you and your team. Yet, there was not even a hint of exhaustion on you or your team of performers on stage. It was good to see Sangeeta Ji from Jaipur share her memories about her father and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Your digging up of history on Raja Saab, and the curated songs were superb. I was hoping my favourite देश भक्ति song, वतन की राह में would be included and it was. Obviously, in a programme of this short duration, it is difficult to do justice to each one and Raja Saab had them in his repertoire. You are right about promoting this kind of show where the stress is on creativity, the lyrics, and the thoughts. Songs, as the ones presented or of the other composers at other times, have all been heard before and therefore remembered to this day. But honestly, I must confess that when I heard them in my youth or younger days, I rarely dwelt on the lyrics or paid the deep attention they commanded. Maybe I had not experienced life as much then. Now as I get on with the years, all of them have suddenly acquired a new meaning for me. In every line, every word, I see a meaning of life's philosophy. If only my next generation were to think so!!! Perhaps life will teach them in due course. This explains why there was hardly any young crowd in the audience but not that the auditorium was empty. It was full, which justifies your two simultaneous shows as you mentioned at the end of the programme. I thank you once again for keeping me on your invitee list and hope I will continue to remain there as and when you plan further shows in Mumbai. I wish you great success in the noble work that you are doing. Balbir Singh Khattar, Ex Crew, Air India
Prithvi ji, A donation of Rs 20,000 has been sent. I enjoyed the show on Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. I came in touch with Ibaadat from Shailendra's show. I missed the earlier shows. I will be very happy if Ibadat was to restage earlier shows, if convenient, as I am sure, a lot of people who missed out and even some who have watched them, will be glad to watch the same again. Harish Khushalani, Palazzo Infotech & Leasing Pvt. Ltd.
Thanks for a wonderful program. Well researched and beautifully curated and compered. I am so glad I stayed on for this and that my husband flew down to Mumbai from Delhi for this! Grateful for including us in this intro to the inspiring music (lyricists, music directors) of India. Yasmin Javeri Krishan, Independent Director, Nucleus Software Exports Ltd.
Boss. Yet another feather in your cap. A lovely show. Your passion for art and culture, and music and for perfection clearly reflected in the grandsons. Sanjaya S. Kulkarni, Managing Director, Indian Direct Equity Advisors Pvt. Ltd.
Please allow payments via credit card or other payment gateway for helping easier contributions. Akshay Kumar, Advisor
The show was great! N. S. Kishore Kumar, Founder, Geet Arpan
I will be very honest that we have seen Prithvi ji on professional fora for ages and I never thought that he would be so good in creating and anchoring such shows. The way he anchored, the way he conceptualized and executed…I would say in tribute of the entire effort is that it is perfection par excellence. Mahavir Lunawat, Founder & Group Managing Director, Pantomath Capital Advisory Services Group
Sir, It was a marvelous show from all aspects: the artistic, the organisational, the arrangements. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can only say well done! As a very small token of my appreciation, I have transferred Rs 5000 to you. Please keep up the good work. Alok Mahajan, Executive Director, The Greatship Group
Prithvi ji, We, along with our daughter Aayushi, thoroughly enjoyed the show. It gave a deep insight in to the life and works of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. We were so intrigued by his work that we watched two of his best movies – “Mera Saaya” and “Woh Kaun Thi” again to specifically enjoy the awesome lyrics again in context of the movies. We had not realised that the lyrics of so many songs we grew up listening were composed by him. The program was very well organised and conducted – started and ended dot on time. All the participants were excellent and their contribution to the show’s success noteworthy! We look forward to attending more such shows in future. Deepti Mahajan, Dy. Managing Director, Aevitas Pharmagro Tech Pvt. Ltd.
Thoroughly enjoyed! Mangalam Maloo, Asst. Editor, CNBC Tv18
It was a pleasure, as always, to watch the show. Hitesh Mandot, Managing Director-Corporate Finance, Incred Capital Wealth Portfolio Managers Pvt. Ltd.
Such an amazing show. The research behind the narrative, the narrative, narration, the characterisation, the sociological backdrop and finally the essence of Rajasaab coming through his poetry with such great musical compositions especially the Madan Mohan ones made a great impact. Udayan Maroo, FCA, FCS
Prithvi ji, We have been attending your shows for the last few years. We were very fortunate to attend the programme Ek Tha Raja. It was as usual a wonderful experience. The event was organised with a lot of care and research and so artistically. The singers, the commentators and all the other artists performed superbly. Needless to say, this presentation is unique and unparalleled. We were also amazed at the rich body of work of the artist. Your research clearly brought out the highlights. Your strict adherence to the time schedule is very much appreciated. Our hearty thanks to you for providing such a wonderful experience to music lovers. Thresiamma Thomas and Thomas Mathew, Chartered Accountant/ Independent Director
Raja Khan and Madan Mohan Sahib…When poetry meets good music, it makes a unique place in our hearts and resonates for years. I think Raja Sahib and Madan Mohan ji had complementary skills creating a strong bond. Artfully expressing love and pain along with equally apt music has been an exceptional work of these two friends. Lata ji’s song in a male voice was sung so beautifully that it brought tears to my eyes…. “अगर मुझ से मुहब्बत है...”. We tend to believe that the almighty doesn’t listen to our prayers, “bahra hua khuday” was once stated by Sant Kabir. It’s only Raja Sahib who could solve this mystery for me by stating that I do not have Bhagwan’s address to post my letter, then how can Bhagwan respond? And nobody ever thought that the beauties in the Heaven could also become old with time, like us. A different level of intellect. I have always admired Madan Mohan ji’s songs. They do not age with time. It is unfortunate that we lost both these great artists at very young age. But their creations will keep humming in our hearts making them immortal. With tribute to them and thanks to Ibaadat for such a lovely program. Vishwanath Mathur, Ex Chairman, Cotton Corporation of India Ltd.
Prithvi Ji, Myself and my wife Alka would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding performance for staging of the recent musical show, "Ek Tha Raja". You deserved the standing ovation at end of the so mesmerising show! Your meticulous effort put into researching and presenting the life of noted Bollywood lyricist Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was truly commendable. The unique concept of Ibaadat shows, where real people passionately discuss the poet's life and work in an informal setting, proved to be both educational and entertaining for the audience. The dedication to extensive research, spanning almost a year, including live interactions with the poet's family members, reflects Ibaadat’s commitment to providing a deep understanding of the poet's legacy. Integrating live discussions with Madan Mohan’s daughter into the script added a personal touch that enriched the narrative. Featuring 50+ of Raja Sahab's best songs and poetry, rendered by consummate singers and stage actor as Raja Sahab, exemplified a creative and conversational approach. The decision to forgo a traditional orchestra on stage in favor of Ibaadat's unique conversational format was a refreshing choice that resonated so well. Moreover, the attention to detail in recreating the music afresh, ensuring it closely aligns with the original score, and presenting the wide range of the poet's work through मुखड़ा demonstrated a commitment to quality and authenticity. With 50 plus successful shows across various cities, Ibaadat has undoubtedly left an indelible mark in the realm of cultural enrichment. We extend our gratitude for the enriching experience and look forward to more such captivating shows in the future. Please accept a small contribution of Rs 11000 as our sincere support for the noble cause its dedicated to. Alok Mehrotra, Retd. JSW
It was indeed mesmerizing. Shall always cherish such moments. Great show. Kudos to the whole team. Bakul M. Mehta, Director-Business Development, VCare Investment Services Pvt. Ltd.
Dear Sir, We thank you for the excellent program. We enjoyed every moment of it. It was just great and perfect. It could not have been better. Thank you and the team for the great work. Zarin Dinshaw Mehta
Loved the show. As good as your best. Harish Mehta, Chairman, Onward Technologies Ltd.
Dear Sir, It was my first experience. Soulful and satisfying. Narendra Nath Menon, Singer/Show Organiser
Sir, What a wonderful program. Kudos to the entire team. Wonderful singers and well researched as usual. Suresh Mhatre, Infotech Consultant, Retd. Vice President, TCS
Prithvi. Hats off to you. What an enchanting show, on such a lesser-known lyricist. I knew almost all the songs but didn’t know Raja was the writer. On another front, I have heard you sing many years ago at an offsite. And wow, Parth and Dev were too good too.; they also reminded me of my own childhood. Bharat Mishra, Retd. Investment Banker
What an awesome show! My parents of course loved it. And so did I! Thank you for curating it and for inviting us! We're grateful. Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist, Axis Bank Ltd.
It was a good, conceptualized event Veena Misra, Founder, Voice and Vision
Dear Prithvi, We had canceled two other invitations and attended your Ek Tha Raja. We had returned the previous evening after a hectic destination wedding in Rajasthan, following a relaxed vacation in a colonial bungalow in a tea estate in North Bengal. We realised we had made a good decision. The programme this year moved to a larger venue on a broader perspective. All the narrators (including yourself) and singers were outstanding. We really enjoyed. Subrata Kumar Mitra, Independent Director
Prithvi ji, We are blessed that we got 2 passes for your show; this was our first experience of an Ibaadat organised event. Sangeeta joins me in lauding you and the others for the exemplary work you are doing in promoting the poetry and lyrics of lyricists. The painstakingly done research, flow and presentation (the nuances of the life, the poetry, the singers) were truly amazing. It was truly a wonderful evening for both of us and hopefully the first of many such more evenings in times to come. Thank you again for bringing to life such a wonderful concept. Sangeeta and Amit Mittal, Director, Kedara Capital
At 6.30 pm sharp, I was a witness to a magic show produced and conducted by a most unlikely magician called Prithvi Haldea. This was his 12th show in Mumbai (He has covered 8 poets till now and done 53 shows on them in the last decade.) I joined some 900 lovers of great Hindi and Urdu poetry and great music from old Hindi films. Women and men in their 60s and beyond, with a smattering of younger people, gathered to witness a ‘curated’ show for an audience, which also the ‘curator’ said he ‘curates’. We were privileged, enthralled, and totally mesmerized by the magic he wrought. For me, the magic began soon after I entered the foyer. I met Pranav Haldea, son of Prithvi who has now been managing Prime Database, in his new and fit avatar welcoming all of us ‘guests’. And then, I bumped into two friends I had not met for more than a decade, Sucheta Dalal and Debasis Basu. We sat together for the show and they did not protest at my breaking into songs, when several others from the audience did too. At one point, after singing the beautiful song ‘इक हसीं शाम को दिल मेरा खो गया’ where we really lost our hearts, Sarvesh waited and the audience sang back to him and the others on stage. No-one was full-throated but no-one bhatkoed from the सुर or the ताल…The word ‘लुत्फ़’ acquired real meaning for us throughout the evening. Getting back to the beginning. The hall was nearly full by 6.15 pm as the audience knows that Prithvi starts his shows on the dot. As we waited for the curtain to rise, I found many names of people whom one would otherwise think of as straitjacketed, listed among the many attendees and appreciators of past programs. I realized that listening to lovely old Hindi movie songs was certainly not my lonely past time – a respectably large number of other professionals too, indulge in it. Prithvi adds distinctive depth by ensuring that the words of poetry are not just understood but keenly appreciated. We re-discovered Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, the poet who wrote 468 songs for 125 films, as Prithvi tells us. The journey actually begins with Rajasaheb’s childhood and his early poems. We smiled hearing about his complaints of ‘ill treatment’ by his mother, asking if she is his ‘सौतेली अम्मी’. Quickly and enjoyably though, we moved to the 20 years of his song-writing career from 1946 to 1966. Rajasaheb’s oeuvre spans a range of emotions from romance to melancholia and from patriotism to pathos. We were regaled with stories and narratives by Prithvi and Nandita, his co-anchor. The singers were in top notch form with renditions evoking appreciation from mere ‘वाह वाह’ and ‘क्या बात है’ to foot tapping, hand clapping and finally even singing along. आप की नज़रों ने समझा प्यार के काबिल मुझे... तुम बिन जीवन कैसे बीता पूछो मेरे दिल से, पूछो मेरे दिल से... लग जा गले के फिर ये हसीं रात हो न हो... नैनों में बदरा छाये, बिजली सी चमके हाय... मैं निगाहें तेरे चेहरे से हटाऊँ कैसे... जो हमने दास्ताँ अपनी सुनाई, आप क्यों रोये...The singing was interspersed with Obaid Azmi reading Rajasaheb’s poetry. Prithvi also read out some, and especially poignant was the one where Rajasaheb is lamenting that ‘भगवान् तुझे मैं खत लिखता पर तेरा पता मालूम नहीं’. And the pathetic humour of the poem written by the Raja as if his dear departed friend Manto had written it to him from heaven, inviting him to come there soon. His straight humour is also on display through poetry readings and his songs like 'हम से नैन मिलाना बी.ए.पास कर के' There was beautiful dance by Rashmi Mishra, who gave us a glimpse of how a beautiful figure draped in a simple white sari can be completely enchanting! And then, of course, the 'झुमका'dance of Sadhana, re-enacted by another beautiful dancer, Swati Wangnoo. Both dances were even more enchanting as their melodies were tastefully rendered by Sangeeta Melekar and Supriya Joshi. In the show, Sarvesh Mishra sang Mohammed Rafi and Anand Bahal sang Mukesh. Prithvi’s 6-year and 9-year old grandsons, Parth and Dev, did a fabulous pantomime of 'सिकन्दर ने पोरस से की थी लड़ाई, जो की थी लड़ाई तो मैं क्या करूँ?' Rajasaheb and Madan Mohan were a historic poet–composer duo. Prithvi was able to secure the presence of Ms Sangeeta Gupta, the great composer’s daughter, who shared personal anecdotes. Included was the letter Rajasaheb wrote to Madan Mohan wondering whether he would need to petition Madanji’s dog to persuade him to give him some songs for writing. जो मज़ा आया वो लफ़्ज़ों में बयान नहीं हो सकता. And I’m not even trying. Two hours and a half of sheer joy had to be lived. Just can’t be retold. Around the close, if I remember right, Prithvi had this to say - हमें मंज़िलों की तमन्ना क्यों हो, जब सफर में ही इतना लुत्फ़ है! What a sentiment! The distinction between humanity and divinity! Keshav in fact came all the way from London to witness the show and happily declared that the show was worth the trip. The finale of the show was Prithvi thanking this great nation of ours for blessing us with so many wonderful shayars and poets. In gratitude, he requested the audience to sing the राष्ट्रगान. His grandsons – Parth and Dev – joined in the singing. How little boys can pull out the left half of a tucked-in shirt and still look endearing is completely beyond me. Dev stood like that, with his hands by his sides, and when he saw his elder brother with hands folded, he felt like asking him to drop his hands, but instead ended up half-way folding his own. The magic continued beyond the show. I had just said goodbye to Sucheta and Debu and was walking out to find a cab, when I saw a well-known face, Mr U K Sinha, former SEBI Chairman. I greeted him and made his acquaintance. Within a few steps after that, I found an empty cab to take me home with a cabbie who was happy to let me play and sing…conjuring par excellence! नशा अभी तक उतरा नहीं, I’ve got up early on a Sunday morning to write these words pretty much as they have come, while I listen to ‘पूछो न हमें हम उनके लिए क्या क्या नज़राने लायें हैं….’ What a great hangover! After writing all this, I’m wondering why I wrote. I just felt I must share the sheer pleasure and convey a sense of how it all happened. And suggest that you get invited to next year’s show if you can manage it somehow. Just enroll on www.ibaadatindia.org At the beginning of the show Prithvi says –जो बात एक शेर या छंद में निहां होती है, वो पोथी में भी बयाँ नहीं हो सकती. While I felt I was indulging him for his love for shayari at that time, by the end of the show, I was beginning to reluctantly wonder as to the truth of the assertion…May the Lord grant Prithvi the motivation and energy to keep doing his Ibaadat and producing these marvelous creations for many more years to come!! Devdutta B. Modak, Director, Axar Digital Services Pvt. Ltd.
Outstanding, amazing, beyond compare. The singers and the dancers were top class. The script was worth its weight in gold. And yes…Parth and Dev were amazing…Parth singing to perfection, with feelings and the right notes, and Dev so methodically doing the act of acting; he didn’t miss a single prop and was perfect in his expressions. Bela Mohite, Consultant, Mental Care
Very very good. Balkishan Mohta, Member, BSE Ltd.
Haldeaji…The main memory I left the show with was the Sikandar song done by Parth and Dev. Shyam Mukherjee, Retired Teacher in the USA
Prithvi, It is always a big treat for us to attend your shows. You put lots of hard work and every time you improve the show by adding some new elements. This time you brought two dances; I liked the elegance brought by the dancers. Abha and Hari Mundra, Independent Director, ICICI Bank Ltd.
Another great event. Navneet Munot, Managing Director & CEO, HDFC Mutual Fund
Dear Prithvi, It was fully worth coming from London only for this. How is it possible that you and your team make every show even better than the previous one? Today's show on Raja Saheb was simply outstanding. Everything once again came together so well and you and the Ibaadat team should be very proud of what was achieved today. We look forward to many more shows. Every artist was superb, the story telling was filled with researched nuggets and your grandchildren stole the show with their performances. Waiting to be involved with the next one. I am once again telling you my invitation to you to hold this show in London is dead serious, in fact, not only London but other places also. I want a say one very important thing here… look at this crowd. There are many shows held in Mumbai but this is the distilled, high- quality, poet-appreciating crowd of Mumbai and that’s what you have managed. Keshav R. Murugesh, Group Chief Executive Officer, WNS Global Services Pvt. Ltd.
Marvelous show - महफिल मस्त जम गई। Audience enjoyed it very much and participated with gusto. Hearty congratulations to you and your entire team. नशा अब भी बाकी है खुमार अब भी बाकी है कल शाम तो मज़े में गुजरी आज का दिन अब भी बाकी है Went through the beautiful souvenir…very tastefully designed and the quality shows characteristic attention to detail. Also, it is so thoughtful to have provided select lyrics and a song list otherwise people like me would have spent much of today in that pursuit. Satish Mutatkar, Lyricist/Author
What a great group of singers you have. Scintillating. And I hope Parth and Dev become regular members of your team; I am sure every lyricist wrote a handful of songs sung by kids. Parul Nadkarni, Retd. Mentor
I want to thank you on behalf of my wife and myself for a wonderful and soulful evening: you have truly created and shared a priceless database of music. Ibaadat was truly a magical evening. Prashant Nair, Anchor & National News Editor, CNBC TV18
The show was great! Jayendra Nayak, Retd. Country Head, JP Morgan/Retd. Chairman, Axis Bank Ltd.
Yet another brilliant show. Dipti Neelakantan, Retd. Director, JM Financial
A fabulous show. This was my first experience with Ibaadat and one thing I am sure of is that I will never miss an opportunity to see your shows henceforth. The session was beautifully conceptualized and superbly executed. Your own depth of knowledge vividly shone throughout the discussions. Also, the singers, all of them, were simply wonderful and melodious. The dancers very gracefully enacted the gems of Rajasaheb. He must be surely smiling from heavens above. Vandana Nigam, Writer/Compere
Saw you after ages. The show was simply amazing. Atul Nishar, Chairman, Hexaware Technologies
Hi Prithvi, Thanks for hosting us for an amazing experience and, believe me, one of its kind blend of storytelling, music and poetry. Prithvi, didn’t knew of your amazing talent too completely mesmerized me the way your articulate and your husky voice made all the difference. God bless the fantastic team and artists which took me years back and depicted my ‘own saaya’. T. P. Ostwal, Chartered Accountants, T. P. Ostwal & Associates
We are big Ibaadat fans. Have seen all your shows. Love the energy and the output. T. L. Palanikumar, Former Country Head, India & South Asia, UC Rusal Ltd.
Hello Prithviji, Ek Tha Raja will be permanently etched in my memory as this was for the first time that I attended a programme on lyricist Raja Mehdi Ali Khan of that magnitude. Your souvenir text and design were extremely attractive and informative. None can beat your passion and deep research of your programmes where you provide so many authenticated stories/anecdotes which were rarest of rare and unheard of. Your stage design/decor and setting of stage was of a very high taste and order and lastly the execution part, your direction part was absolutely out of the world. Your colleague, Nandita Kodesia's presence added a refreshing change to the proceedings. Your team of excellent singers comprising of Supriya Joshi, Sarvesh Mishra, Anand Bahal and Sangeeta Melekar made the evening a melodious one. Sarvesh Mishra's fantastic rendition of Rafi Sahab's song and Madan Mohan's composition from Mera Saaya, 1966, आप के पहलु में आ कर रो दिए easily stole the limelight of evening. Parth and Dev made the evening with the unexpected singing and acting on the song sikandar ne porus se ki thi ladai which added fervour to the show. Swati and Rashmi Mishra excelled with their dances. The daughter of composer Madan Mohan, Sangeeta Gupta was fantastic, sharing stories of her father with Raja which was icing on the cake. Wish you all the best for your future endeavours. Shashikant Panday, Retd.HR-Consultant and Padam Shastri
I and my family attended the show and enjoyed it immensely. I have attended previous shows also and each one was excellent. We always look forward to this event once a year. Too much effort and research has been put in by you and your team to give perfection to these shows. A memorable event. I even had the pleasure of meeting you at the show. Kamlesh Pandya, Advocate
Prithvi, I am sure you have been inundated with messages. What an awesome program… amazing Hats off to you. My pleasure I could be there. Mrugank M. Paranjape, Managing Director & CEO, NCDEX E Markets Ltd.
Like your earlier shows, this too was just too good. Smita Parekh
It was great! Vijay Parimoo, Retd. Executive Producer, Famous Studios Ltd.
Sir…Cannot imagine sitting glued for nearly 2 and a half hours. Good that you did not have a break. Your singers are amazing. Of course, the two little boys touched my heart-especially the ease of the older one, and the seriousness of the little one. Neha Parulkar, Insurance Consultant
A big thank you for inviting me to this wonderful show. It was fabulous, So much of effort and deep study to come out with such a beautiful and memorable event. Every year, I look forward to your beautiful shows which leave imprints on our minds for years. It brings us to the era where music and lyrics was the soul of our film industry. Ranjan Patel, Retd. Teacher
Amazing…wonderful. Sangeeta Pendurkar, Chief Executive Officer, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.
Prithviji, I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the wonderful show, "Ek Tha Raja." The show was well-researched, written, and presented. Poetry and songs complemented each other beautifully, and I enjoyed learning more about the life and work of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. I have noticed that many shows based on Hindi film songs focus almost entirely on the music and singing, while the poetry, the beautiful and touching lyrics, are totally ignored. Ibaadat's shows are the rare exceptions which put the poet front and centre. "Ek Tha Raja" was an experience I shall always cherish. Thank you for creating such a memorable show. Dr. Milind V. Phanse, Orthopedic Surgeon
Dear Prithvi ji, Kudos to you for putting up such an endearing show! It was 2.5 hours of mesmerizing experience that will forever stay with us. I must say, this show personified everything Ibaadat stands for: bringing to life, lives of poets/lyricists who are relatively less known than the great work they have left behind. You couldn’t have chosen a better artist than Raja Mehdi Ali Khan whose songs have been so much a part of our existence, and yet, whose life journey was a mystery to us! We can all but imagine the amount of research that must have gone behind the scenes to present this enthralling treat and in a form that is so beautiful. We hope you will continue this honorable work and bring the spotlight on many such hidden gems. Thank you for making us a part of this journey! and Satish and Vandana Pisharody, Regional General Manager-South & South East Asia, Cochlear
Once again, I am speechless… just can’t think of the right words and perfect expressions to describe my feelings of immense delight and joy at being able to attend the program on Raja Ji! I had earlier attended 2 other such beautiful programs of Ibaadat - first on Neeraj and second on Shailendra. Both those programs and Raja’s program very ably recreated the spirit of the poets. My hearty congratulations to you for putting up such a hugely successful and memorable show! Prithvi, I am a mature actor from theatre and screen, besides being a lyricist as well as a singer of light music/film songs and a compere of TV shows on DD and also concerts like ‘Ghazal Bahaar’… but nowhere have I got such goosebumps during the performances as in your shows! You really bring alive the soul of the poet whom you choose to feature on stage… true to your name! आपका program देखने के बाद उस शायर की और उसकी कविता की इबादत करने का दिल हो जाता है! May God bless you with more power to continue to do such good work forever! Aameen!! I will feel fortunate to be part of your team in any capacity - singer or compere or even a research assistant! “हमनें देखी हैं कई महफ़िलें मौसीक़ियों की, मजलिसें शायरों के काम की बारीकियों की, पर “इबादत” तेरी महफ़िल में तजुर्बा वो हुआ, बढ़ गई महक सी शायर से वो नज़दीकियों की!” Nagesh N. Prasad, Singer-Actor
Mr. Haldea, The show was excellent. You deserve a big applause. You personally have made a lot of effort to design and conduct the event. Please let me know your bank details, so that I can make a small contribution. Dr. M. Pushpangadan, Retd. CEO, L&T Capital Co. Ltd.
Once again, an excellent program; very well organized, extensively researched by you and superbly executed. Your organisation is gaining from strength to strength. All the best. Boss: you are Great. Gagan Rai, Retd. MD-NSDL E-Governance
Prithvi…hats off to you. Each show bis better than the earlier. I have seen all your shows as you know. Hemang Raja, Ex Director, Credit Suisse
I thoroughly enjoyed the Ek Tha Raja Show. Your conceptualization and presentation were brilliant, as we expect from every Ibaadat show. The song selection and the singers were excellent. You presented the genius of Raja as a lyricist. Even though Raja had penned for only 125 movies, yet his association with Madan Mohan gave so many hit songs starting with Madhosh, Anpadh, Aap ki Parchaiyan, Woh Kaun Thi etc. It is truly mind blowing. It is tragic that Raja could not collaborate with many other composers due to his short life span. A great loss to the Hindi film industry indeed. But the songs of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan will stand the test of time. Prithviji, you have again raised the bar of Ibaadat's journey to unfurl the gems of Hindi song writers and their contribution to film music of the golden era. Looking forward to your next program. Keep the show going. M.V. Rajagopal
Hello Mr. Haldea, The show Ek Tha Raja was very well done. Your meticulous planning is appreciated. Happy to see the grandkids being groomed to sing. Enjoyed the singers. Your research was amazing and I really appreciate the time you have spent on writing such a difficult script. Appreciated that you always start the shows bang on time. Usha Rajaram, UWC Mahindra College
Prithviji, I am very pleased that I witnessed a punctual, disciplined, well researched and presented program. Akhtar Zain Rangoonwala
Simply loved it. Out of nowhere appeared the two little kids, and I watched them and heard them with rapt attention. Akanksha Rawat, Business HR Leader, Alkem Laboratories Ltd.
As always, it was a wonderful program. The efforts you had put in were visible. Arun Rawat, Managing Director, QOT Packaging Pvt. Ltd.
It was a wonderful experience, indeed! Neeta Sachade, Campus Manager, Edge Metaversity
I must confess, I am not a very big music aficionado, but I was completely mesmerised by the production. The manner in which the anchors, especially Prithviji, took us through the life and times of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The melodious songs, the subtle humour in his poetry, the amazing camaraderie he shared with his peer, Saadat Hasan Manto have all left a distinct impression in my mind. I must also mention, I have created a new playlist with all the songs, which were performed at the event and this has been playing on loop in my car since that evening, Apurva Sahijwani, Sr. Vice President & Head- Investment Counsellors & Structured Products, Axis Bank Ltd.
Prithvi ji, Thank you for the invitation to the beautiful evening on Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. I compliment you with all the sincerity for the way it was organised and presented. It was very entertaining and kept one engrossed not only because of the melodious songs and the singers but also the way you conceived, directed and presented the show. I regret the fact of not having known you earlier and missed all your wonderful shows but nevertheless look forward to attending more such shows in the future. Ranjan Sain, Author-books on Suraiya, Ghulam Mohammed etc.
Wonderful experience…Amazing. Rohini Rajesh Sapkal, Dy. Manager, General Insurance Corp. of India
Perfect to the core. Outstanding. Sanjiv Saraf, Managing Director, Polyplex Corp. Ltd.
Dear Prithvi, As usual you have shown remarkable depth in researching the life of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The show was fantastic and what amazed us this time was the fact that Raja Saheb is a relatively lesser-known lyricist about whom very little is known to the general public. Do keep it up! Vikram Saraf, Director, Pankaj K. Mehta Investment Pvt. Ltd.
Prithviji, Thank you for a wonderful experience. This was my first experience of Ibaadat’s wonderfully choreographed show. I had goose bumps at many junctures in the show. I do listen to classical music and thoroughly enjoy it. However, the biggest missing part in classical music is the poetry, the bandishes are very mediocre most of the time. This is not the case with the Hindi cinema music specially of the golden era where melody and poetry both ruled the roost. I admire your efforts of bringing the poets in limelight. Though their songs are popular they were unsung heroes of the film industry. Yatin Savla, Founder, Mykraft Apparel Co.
Dear Prithviji, This year, Ibaadat unearthed a gem, the poet, lyricist and writer- Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The Raja was forgotten and was dug out by you from the annals of Bollywood. The show was so informative that everyone was totally immersed in the songs, some of which were being heard after very long. The show, like always, was well conceived, researched, presented and directed. All the singers/actors did an exemplary job. Everyone connected with the show should be applauded. It was Prithviji’s show all the way and now it has become a Hallmark. I felt more honoured as maximum songs sung in the program were originally recorded at our studio. Please keep the flag of Ibaadat flying high. Rajkumar Seksaria, Director, Famous Recording Studio (Tardeo)
Our pleasure! Girish Setia, Founder, Master Stroke
Prithviji, Congratulations for organising this wonderful event. It was extraordinary. The show was so well curated, the singers were top-notch and the background sets and anecdotes were great. A deserving tribute to a great poet who few know or talk about. I knew each and every song but it was a new learning about Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. A befitting tribute to the great legend. Reshma Sett
What a lovely show this was, as usual and it gets better every time. Really really enjoyed it. Wishing you all the best for newer heights. Bhavesh Shah, Managing Director, Equirus Capital Pvt. Ltd.
I was absolutely impressed with the program…everything about the program… your script, the songs, the way you have presented and this was the first time I attended and I wanted to personally thank you for the same and also congratulate you for such a wonderful program and I understand that you keep arranging this program and wish you all the best and I think you doing a wonderful job. It is one of its kind, very unique and very-very impressive for the people like me who’s into old Hindi songs singing. Dhimant Shah, Vice President, OneUp Finance Pvt. Ltd.
Mr Haldea, This is the first time I attended an Ibaadat program. I must say that the content was very well researched and presented, the singers were fantastic and above all your passion and devotion made it worth an experience. I wish to attend your future programs in Mumbai. Jigar A. Shah, Chief Executive Officer, MIB Securities India Pvt. Ltd.
No words. Pure magic. Great concept. Highlight: Parth and Dev. Kirtikumar Shah, Stock Broker
Prithviji, I completely agree with Sameer. In the time span of years that we live, there are only a few moments or episodes that can be truly called as life. In your show, I experienced it completely. Felt a flow of pure joy! Thank you so much. Manisha Shah
Prithvi, This was my first time at Ibaadat, and the show was absolutely brilliant. I agree with your understanding that the lyricist do go unrecognized when they are playing such a key role in making a good song. Being a fan of old Bollywood songs have heard most of the songs that were played on the show but had someone asked me who wrote them would not have been able to respond. Further if someone had asked me who is Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, would not have known him! You are doing a yeoman service by focusing on them. Coming to the show, it was very well thought out and could not find fault anywhere. The presentation, script, decor, conversations, presenters and singers all were of the highest quality. I have not seen such a beautiful presentation where so many songs in different manner were covered. The show was unique and class. I look forward to attending Ibaadat shows in the future. I would be failing in my duty if I miss expressing my gratitude to my brother Himanshu Shah (Gaja Capital) for having me there. Once again thank you for the wonderful show and wish you all the best in promoting this wonderful cause. Sameer Shah, Director, FutureStation Advisors LLP
I had the opportunity to watch your show. I was highly impressed by the performance of the singers, audio-visuals, commentary, compering and also by your grandchildren's singing performance. Please share Ibaadat foundation bank details. I wish to make a donation for the Ibaadat journey. Shrenik R. Shah
Prithviji, As always, it was an absolutely blissful evening spent enjoying the show. As you had said in the beginning of the show, the lyrists or creators of content are largely ignored by the lay people in favour of the artists performing on the same. but this mission of Ibaadat has at least made me start appreciating the work of the true talent behind what we appreciate! Looking forward to next December! Snehal Shah, Ex Director, Fairwinds Asset Managers Ltd.
Dear Prithvi ji, A dear friend of mine asked me to attend your show. After learning that the event was about the very well-known Urdu poet and lyricist Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, I immediately showed my keen interest in attending it. The reason being I am an ardent fan and lover of Hindi cinema music of the 50s, 60s and 70s (I can most likely identify a song from its prelude or interlude from this era and can also name the composer, lyricist and singer of that song). The event was very well-organised and it was absolutely entertaining and nostalgic. The narration, the singing, the audio-visual and the participants - everything was picture-perfect. Congratulations to you and your entire team, for presenting such a beautiful performance to the connoisseurs of Indian cinema. Sunil Shah, Group CEO & Director, Khambatta Securities Ltd.
It was a wonderful show. Shows which are normally held abroad are like these. Keep it up. I am very happy that I had an opportunity to attend your show. And will never miss your shows ever again. Tirath Shah, Manufacturer of Plastic Articles
It has been absolutely awesome knowing Prithvi for so many years. I remember many years ago I came for his show. All his shows would be completely sold out. Actually, he does not sell tickets; his shows are by invitation only and despite that, it was a full house. I was really inspired by his vision to bring back memories of the poetry we grew up with, not just the music, and wanted to support this effort. Prithvi and I have had this partnership for long in this amazing journey of remembering some of the best poets-lyricists of the years gone by. We cannot lose this poetry, those amazing words. I am so honoured that for the last two days… yesterday and today, we have had an awesome, full house audience. I could hear so many of you sing along with the singers on the stage and that gave me so much more happiness than just being here. It was just really amazing to be a part of this entire gathering. Thank you so much Prithvi for doing this year after year. More than anything, I think Prithvi has been really responsible in my journey of appreciating the old poetry. Our country has produced so many great poets and Ibaadat is the doorway to get to know these poets. I am so grateful the Prithvi; he brings a new poet into our collective minds, with so much dedication and with no intention of profit. Vidya Shah, Executive Chairperson, Edelgive Foundation
A great production. Perfect. Prof. Shafi Shaikh, Prof. of Urdu, Persian and Arabic, University of Bombay
It was a lovely programme. This is the second time I attended your show after last year’s programme on Kavi Shailendra. I attend as well as organise, for my close friends, private concerts on Hindi film songs and Hindustani classical music at my home and few concert places in Mumbai. However, your programme stands out as different because of the design of the programme and focus on Urdu shayari. Shashikant R. Shanbhag, Director, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd.
It was indeed a pleasure to attend the subject musical drama on invitation extended by you upon recommendation by my brother Kaushik Shaparia. I was totally mesmerized with the presentation of the event, which was organized as an informal lucid conversation by Prithvi Haldea, Nandita Kodesia, Sangeeta Gupta and Obaid Azam Azmi detailing the life of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan including his personal family information. Lot of research backed by solid story, screenplay, dialogues made the event stand out and will remain etched in my memory. The excellent renditions by Supriya Joshi, Sarvesh Mishra, Anand Bahal, Sangeeta Melekar. peppered by Parth Haldea Yadav and Dev Haldea Yadav, without any live music troupe along with dance performances by Swati Wangnoo and Rashmi Mishra were pleasing. It was a totally different format than the innumerable musical shows attended by me with spectacular stage layout and presentation. The entire organizing team deserves all the accolades for the brilliant presentation. Musically Yours, Pankaj C. Shaparia, Managing Partner, Shaparia, Mehta & Associates LLP
'बहुत बहुत बधाई' to you. The stand out performers of the evening were the two adorable and extremely focused and talented young Haldea boys stole audience's hearts away. The show was outstanding as always. Thanks for making us aware of the existence of the amazing writer and poet that Raja Mehedi Ali Khan was. Particularly found the letter he wrote to himself from Manto very endearing. Dr. Deepa Sharma, Director, Inclusive IndiaHR Consultants
Sir, Big thanks for organizing this event. The event dramatization was crafted with precision and connecting with audience very effectively. The highlight of the evening were two young performers who were completely in sync with each other. In short- इबादत पूरी शिद्दत के साथ की गयी. Wishing team Ibaadat lot of success for all future endeavors in this arena. I would like to donate for this cause. Naveen Sharma, General Manager, Securities & Exchange Board of India
Prithvi, I loved it this time too as I always do. Sanjaya R. Sharma, Former CEO, Tata Interactive Systems Ltd. and Shikha Sharma, Retd. Managing Director, Axis Bank Ltd.
Dear Bhaisaab ... In 2018... Hasrat Jaipuri, 2019.... Sahir Ludhianvi, 2022... Shailendra and now, 2023... Raja Mehdi Ali Khan…your presentations are phenomenal. Your dedication shows how keen and passionate you are towards studying of biography of a lyricist and doing the filtration and tuning it to make a show of 2,5 hours. It is really appreciable. Suresh Sharma, Retd.
It was absolutely beautiful! Had a lovely, lovely time. Listened to some of my favourite songs. A wholehearted thank you to you for keeping alive such beautiful poetry alive today. Neha Shende, Movie Reviewer
We had attended this lovely program it was a unique experience presented very well with all great singers and the choice of songs was superb. I would always like to attend your shows. Rita Sheth
I am a singer based out of Mumbai. I had the privilege of attending your show at Nehru Auditorium. Sir, I can't begin to tell how impressed I was with the concept, the subject, the anchoring, the sets and of course, the performances of all the artistes. It would be a pleasure and an honour for me to work with you. Alifia Shetty, Singer
Dear Prithviji, It was a memorable evening, Superb format, Elegantly presented, outstanding singers. Truly a unique show. Keep it up. Kamlesh Shroff, Managing Director, The Omniscient Securities Pvt. Ltd.
It was superb. Overall, it was a wonderful program, very well organized and executed. Mahesh Shroff, Director, Novex Poly Films Pvt. Ltd.
Prithvi, An evening to remember…a lyrical tribute to famous lyricist Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. I have been very regular at Ibadat 's events. You have a very unique format to showcase the life and times and body of the work of the poet and the lyricist. Tehzeeb, adayagi and grace is the hallmark of such events. Well-researched, detailed format woven with 47 memorable numbers of Raja saheb, performed by accomplished singers backed up with superb tracks. The highlight was Sangeeta Gupta, daughter of Madan Mohan going down memory lane to share her and family 's bonding with Raja. Thanks and applause to Prithvi Haldea and team of Ibaadat for a very novel and in-depth presentation. Look forward to the next subject. Again…it was very satisfying experience. Mayank Shukla, Ex Pharma and Sundeep Pahwa Taiyeb Shaikh, Ramesh Mistry, Mithun Krishnan, Joy Christie, Lakshmi K Tummala, Latha Rajgopal and Sudarshan Pandey
It was fabulous as usual. Amarjeet Singh, Whole Time Member, Securities & Exchange Board of India
Prithvi ji, The show was excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed the research and song selection, and the singing. The presentation was excellent. Looking forward to more such events which focus on the lyricist and his creation. Yes, I would like to be a contributor. Dharamjit Singh, Export Consultant
Prithvi…Can I please borrow your singers, including Dev and Parth for one of my future shows? The kids were just too good. Kush Singh, Founder, MPC Creatives
लाजवाब. That’s the only word left. Now I am a bigger fan of yours. Parth and Dev stole the show and my heart. Some people were talking (overheard) where the music came from. . it was fantastic. Was it karaoke or songs were prerecorded by singers for the show? अब अगला show की तारीख बता दीजियेगा. वाह…so much precision and effort showed for sure. I never heard such lovely music; the singers did an outstanding job matching to it. Priya Singh, Investor
Prithvi: At the outset, a big thank you for the invitation, and for enabling us to attend the program, along with my wife, and another friend couple. All four of us came out immensely pleased with the evening. My friend, Pankaj, who wasn't too sure whether he should be joining me, and did it on my insistence, is now keen on being a part of all such future events. The script, the discussions, the anecdotes, the sound system, the music, the singers, and your cute grandchildren, all played their part perfectly in weaving the magic of a wonderful evening. Kudos to your entire team for making such a memorable evening possible. Pratik K. Singhi, Chartered Accountant
Dear Prithvi, I wish to congratulate you on a high-quality and memorable show on Raja Mehdi Ali khan. Your eye for details and the penchant for perfection was truly demonstrated. The effort in reaching out to people, sending the invitation promptly and making hassle-free arrangements for sitting was impeccable. I was impressed to see Pranav himself leading the endevour. The choice of venue was excellent. The show started in time-and that is one of the USPs that people have started admiring. The quality of research was excellent and there were interesting and unknown tidbits for the audience to enjoy. Getting a family member as part of the show is very well received. Your lead singers are mesmerising and bring out the best memories in the minds of the spectators. No wonder that half the crowd started singing along! Bringing novelty through the introduction of dances has also been an important feature in the last few shows. And seeing your grandchildren was a delight! You have set a very high standard in quality, research and presentation. The question to ask is that after twelve years of wonderful achievements, do you want to continue doing the same or take it a higher level. U.K. Sinha, Retd. Chairman, Securities & Exchange Board of India
It was an enjoyable evening and nostalgic. After returning, spoke to some music groups…looks encouraging…should be able to host Ibaadat in Hyderabad. H. Sitaram, Hyderabad
I wish I had brought my kids to the show. They would have been inspired by Dev and Parth. They stole my heart…a song so perfectly rendered and acted upon. The show concept was amazing, and so were your singers. Mudra Soni, Stage Artiste
Prithvi ji, It was an experience par excellence! The selection of songs and the interesting anecdotes that accompanied them were enthralling. I must mention the epitome of innocence of your lovely grandsons who light up the stage. We send lots of love and blessings for them. We are truly honoured to be a part of the Ibaadat family and would love to engage with your organisation even more. Gautam Kumar Sonthalia, Diamond Trader
Thank you very much for a superlative show. Capt. Krish Sreenivas
Prithvi, It was indeed a great experience to attend the 'Ek Tha Raja' event. We support your drive to highlight the contribution of our great lyricists, who have given us so much, but go unsung as it were in the normal run of things. We were amazed to learn Raja Mehdi Ali Khan wrote so many hit songs. Frankly, although film-music buffs that we are, we had not connected him with those familiar melodies! You were able to pack the event with so many songs and snippets. Thanks for a great show. We are certainly hungry for more. Narasimha Srinivas, Director-Technical, Lloyd Insulations India Ltd.
Prithviji, Thank you for putting this amazing program together for music aficionados like us. This is the 4th show we attended and it only gets better every time. As always, the 'माहोल' that you create keeps us glued to every word that is spoken and every song that is sung. Unlike some of the other legends that you have showcased, we did not know a lot about Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. We are indeed grateful for bringing his life in front of our eyes. Exceptional work by everyone involved in the show. Best wishes to your grandchildren for their amazing future. Ramakrishnan Subramaniam, Leadership & Agile Coach and Seema Subramaniam
Hello Prithvi, The programme 'Ek Tha Raja' was another masterpiece presentation from you, as we have come to expect all these past years. It was superbly presented as usual and the amount of extensive research that you do on the subject was evident. It was a sheer pleasure-filled evening, we were so engrossed in the show that didn't realise how the time passed and it was over too soon! Please send me the bank details as I would very much like to contribute to Ibaadat. This action has been long pending on my part. Gauri Tapasvi
Thank you so much for inviting me to this show. I really enjoyed it and so did my friend. Congratulations on putting up such an amazing performance. Dr. Anjali Tendulkar, Pediatrician (spouse of Sachin Tendulkar)
Prithvi ji, Sincere thanks for one more opportunity to witness the dedicated efforts of Team Ibaadat under your guidance. Ek Tha Raja truly reflected Raja Mehdi Ali Khan’s contribution to the rich tradition of Indian cinema and literature. Commentary, selection of song sequence and songs, performance by all singers and dancers and above all your master minding the entire event was truly delightful. We can’t ask for more – or can we? Kishor Thakkar, Managing Director, Link lntime India Pvt. Ltd
Dear Prithvi, It was a nice to learn about somebody so talented, whom I had little knowledge about, till then. The show was wonderfully organized, as always. We particularly liked the fact that the singing portions in this show were longer than some of the earlier Ibaadat events we have attended. Of course, the snippets and research were also interesting to know about. Pankaj Thapar, Sr. Advisor, Everstone Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd.
Excellent program which took us into the yesteryears. Nice choice of songs. Thanks for organising the same. Arun Todarwal, Managing Partner, Arun Todarwal & Associates LLP
Prithvi ji, It was an absolute delight to watch the melodious show. Your way of presenting the life and times of Raja was so simple and captivating. It is a great pleasure and relief to see you working for poets who are kept on the backburner. I can understand the feeling as I am a poet myself trying to write what my heart beckons. I was really very happy to my heart's content to have watched the show for which you have worked so hard to make it a success. Thanks to you again from the core of my heart. Vikram Tulsyan, Owner, Firetech Refractories Pvt. Ltd.
Indeed, it was a splendid performance. Looking forward for many more of such performances from you. Sarosh Tungekar, Manager, Nehru Centre Auditorium
Thoroughly enjoyed the show - personally thought it was the best of the three I have seen. That’s against the very high standards set in the previous two shows. Sameer Vakil, Chief Executive Officer, Globallinker
Hi Prithvi, Thank you for another superlative show - "Ek Tha Raja". Raja Mehdi Ali Khan is probably a lesser-known lyricist and poet compared to some of the other contemporary greats. This program brought him to life and to the forefront of our memories and imagination, and transported us to the bygone glorious era of Hindi poetry and music. We thoroughly enjoyed the program and once again whole-heartedly commend and thank the Ibaadat team for the efforts in putting together this wonderful tribute. Ramesh Venkat, Director, Serendip Advisors Pvt. Ltd.
Thank you for a wonderful show…it was thoroughly enjoyable. N.R. Venkitachalam, Founder-Director, World of Mohd. Rafi Welfare Foundation/Klub Nostalgia
My father and I attended the show. It was spectacular! Was a very memorable evening, hope to have the good fortune to attend many more shows. The production quality, the recitation and the music made it a joyous 135 minutes. The only issue we had was it felt so short as it went by so fast!! Our sincere congratulations to the entire production team and special mention to your grandchildren who are stars in the making! Jahnavi Vihari, Account Director, VMware
Dear Prithvi, Enjoyed the show. Rajiv Vijayakar, Film Historian
Respected Sirji, The musical drama was extraordinary. I have been watching so many other musical programs, but “Ek Tha Raja” was like out of the world. Amit Vora
It is only getting more beautiful by the year. The best part was the recital and the act by your grandchildren. Ishita Vora, Former Head-Listing, NSE
Your show is one of a kind and though we are not on the stage, we don't feel we are in the audience. The hard work and research are unparalleled. Thank you for allowing us to contribute whatever little we can. Please provide your bank details. Umesh Vyas
Quite wonderful. Sundeep Yashroy, Chief Business Officer, Svakarma Finance