Star of the Celestial Symphony

On 25th September this year, the Doctors at MGM Chennai were desperate to restore the condition of the legendary multilingual playback singer SPB. Thousands of fans thronged before the Hospital praying for the fast recovery of their favorite Bard.

“Balu”, “balu …”, someone was calling in subdued tone. SPB slowly opened his eyes, “Yes Doctor” mumbled Balu. “It’s time to leave” informed the Doctor, “its already 1.04pm in the afternoon.” “For what?” enquired Balu. “You were discharged,” replied the Medic “and we need to catch up for a special event.” Suddenly Balu was elated hearing about his discharge. The name tag read ‘Dr.Y.D.Raju’. “Have I seen you before?” questioned Balu. “No. You definitely could not” confirmed the medic, “I step in only at the time of discharge” he gestured SPB to follow him. Balu effortlessly walked out of the room along with Dr.Raju. They strode to the elevator at the end of the corridor. As the elevator doors were just closing, Balu saw Dr.Deepak and his team of Medics rushing into his room. “Hey, I am here” Balu called, by which time the doors closed sharply. Once inside, Dr.Raju pressed the button ‘A’. Balu got curious “what’s Floor-A?” “It’s the floor much above all” informed Dr.Raju, “where a special concert has been organized in your honor.” “A concert?” Balu raised his eyebrows in excitement, “who is Conducting?” “It will be a surprise from our Boss” responded Dr.Raju.

As the Elevator Doors opened at Floor-A, Balu was stunned to see the marvelous locale on the high rise. The skyline was illuminated with billions of stars spilling their milky light all over. The cloudy white marble floor responded to the skylight with a dull glow. A tall golden Fountain stood at the center of the reception area throwing away crystal-clear water that turned to vapour at the halfway down, without a trace of moisture below. The two pillars at the entrance were wound with creepers of gold and silver flowers. Balu was speechless and stood wonder-struck at the ambience of the interior; designed in never heard technology. “I leave you now” declared Dr.Raju. “Aren’t you coming with me to the concert?” asked Balu surprisingly. “No. our Boss himself will take charge from here” smiled Dr.Raju as he left. “Don’t you worry” assured the tall and fair gentleman at the entrance. He introduced himself, “I am Peter.” “Welcome Balu” he said, “we are all anxiously waiting.”

As he entered the amphitheater Balu could hear the iconic track in tumri raag “Mohe panghat pe Nandlaal chhed gayo re …..”. A significant group of audience seated with their eyes closed seem to be hypnotized by the immortal classical Hindustani track. Balu turned to the dais to see the Conductor and was stunned to make out that he was none other than the Legendary Naushad saab, and the singer was the glorious Suraiya. Balu could not apprehend whatever was happening. He was in fits of confusion. “Hey Balu” greeted Naushad saab. The audience heads turned towards him and they too started calling in frenzy “Balu.., Balu…, Balu….,”. They were all waiting for his arrival. The Bard became numb and shivered at the raving reception of this strange and heavenly setting. “I must be dreaming,” he thought “this cannot be true!” “Balu, come here” signaled the Maestro, and the Bard approached the stage with folded hands. Naushad saab asked “are you ready?” Balu was just wondering what is that he should be ready with? Is it a test? He never sang any Hindustani music of which the Maestro was an exponent. Balu bent down, touched the feet of the Maestro, seeking his blessings, and garnered courage; serious of not losing this golden opportunity. At the wave of the Maestro’s hand, the orchestra took the lead. Balu remembering the famous track sung by his Guru and picked up immediately “Zindabad Zindabad, ai Mohabbat Zindabad ….” It looked as if SPB pitched his voice in praise for the love showered on him by all. The audience became ecstatic, and they too sang in unison excitedly, and so continued Naushad saab with his many glorious numbers that he had composed. The pitch of the spellbinding music from the extraordinary musical instruments orchestrated by the Maestro filled the air with phenomenal acoustics. Balu sang impeccably and effortlessly modulating his voice to match close to the original singers. He closed his eyes to experience the thrill of an opportunity he never ever had.

“Arre Balu” appeared Laxmikant suddenly “bahut mazaa aya.” Seeing Laxmiji, Balu fell on his feet and embraced him. “Now is the surprise gift for you, and it is the moment we are all waiting for” he announced, “the song for which you won your first National Award is going to be sung by your Guru”. As Laxmikant lifted his hand signaling the orchestra, a timeless immortal voice in the entire Universe filled the celestial auditorium as if elixir was pouring incessantly. ‘Tere mere beech mein kaisa hai ye bandhan anjaana, kaisa hai ye bandhan anjaana…… ” and halted for a second. Balu swirled around at the direction of the voice and stood stunned to see none other than Rafi Saab who appeared from nowhere. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Rafi Saab picked up again in a low tone, “Main ne nahin jana, tune nahin jana..” and opened his arms wide in invitation. Balu rushed towards him “At last I am meeting my God, Gandharva, and Guru. What a voice! The grace with which you had moulded my voice, is unbelievable. I have learnt and I still learn listening to you. You are immortal. I bow my head to you Janab, with reverence and Love." Balu fell on the feet of his Guru. Rafi Saab raised him fondly and locked him tightly in a heavenly embrace. Finally, it dawned upon Balu that he had met his Creator. With his head rested on the shoulders of his Guru, experiencing the ultimate peace, Balu wept in joy with tears profusely running down his cheeks. The players of the colossal Celestial Symphony who were earlier in raptures slowly disintegrated. At the dais, the Bard’s soul unified with the One.

Down below at Chennai it started raining.