It was the eight edition of the annual concert ‘Yadoon Ki Bahaar’ where Padma Shri recipient and Founding Chairman of Dr. Batra’s Positive Health Clinic, Dr. Mukesh Batra lent his voice, carrying forward a delightful evening of old songs at Sophia Bhabha Auditorium. He sang songs ranging across older generations calling out to music as “being the best medicine”. Take it from a renowned homeopath, who through this event raises funds for Shepard’s Widow Home every year.

The camera rolled, lights focussed and the lens adjusted to the stage that was set to enthral an audience with the guest of the evening Indian actor Rohit Roy alongside Dolly Bindra who makes it a point to attend the event as she said “…whenever she isn’t flying out.”

Dr Mukesh seemed very welcoming to all of his audience including the attendees from the Shephard’s Widow Home. In his initial statement he thanked everyone for showing-up “to indulge in an old man’s passion for singing,” as Dr. Mukesh puts words to carve a smile into his audience. Dr. Batra has been associated with the Shephard’s Widow Home since 30 years and also provides free lifetime medical assistance to its residents.

With a glimpse to keep his concert unique and informative without losing its object to entertain, he made sure to present anecdotes about the song or the singer, narrate some funny instances, recollecting the beauty of the era that gave some wonderful voices to those meaningful lyrics. This kept the audience away from the monotonous stage glare of the performer himself and gave them an insight of what the recording of the song would have been like with this talent that left its mark on the industry.

Songs across genres were sung with full vigour and strength. From Jagjit’s sad-sufi Jaane Kaha Gaye Vo Din to Mohammed Rafi’s one of the wildest numbers Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahen and from Lata Mageshkar, Amit Kumar and Pearl Padamsee’s happening medley Uthe Sabke Kadam to Kishor Kumar’s jollily and merrily sung Main hoon Jhoom Jhumroo all of it by a single vocalist in a single event with instruments lined-up in a chain of chorus onone beautiful evening.

Not only was the vocalist praised, but also the instrumentalists who accompanied Dr. Mukesh on the dais playing accordion, guitar, keyboard, flute, tabla, dholak and the percussion. The chorus was also superb sounding in as a complement to the background score. Minor goof-ups were well covered and hence appeared non-cognisable.

The energy on the stage reflected to the audience which was equivocally shouting, cheering and demanding “once more’s” to the artists. Aakshay was all praise for his father Dr. Mukesh Batra for bearing such a talent in singing and photography apart from the homeopath that he is. Aakshay was quoted drawing inspiration at his father, “Even though my feet are bigger I still have bigger shoes to fill.”

One thing Dr. Batra should be admired for, would be his audience interaction which he indeed did the best by getting the feet rolling on to the last two songs, with a panoramic view of people from all the ages dancing. If ever an entertainment hunt for old melodies begin, the search would surely end here.

-          By Nikunj C. Panchal.