By the time the final notes of Kal Ho Naa Ho rang through the Esplanade Concert Hall on Nov 22, every single person in the audience was on their feet – clapping, smiling, misty-eyed. I was one of them.
And, like the rest, I felt I had just spent an evening in the living room of Javed Akhtar himself, listening to the man behind some of Hindi cinema’s most iconic songs recount the stories of their creation with wit, warmth, and immense grace.
Titled “Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon”, the show was a glorious blend of intimate storytelling and live musical performance.
It was the crown jewel of this year’s Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts, which has always brought in outstanding Indian artistes to Singapore, but this felt particularly special – personal, even.
The Master Storyteller
From the moment Javed Saab walked on stage, the audience was spellbound.
With his characteristic charm and disarming honesty, he took us behind the curtains of Bollywood’s golden years – from Tezaab to Lagaan, from 1942: A Love Story to Kal Ho Naa Ho.
Each song, from the time he started writing in 1981 for the film Silsila, came with its own origin tale, sometimes humorous, sometimes deeply emotional.
He’d often begin a story with a vague hint, never revealing the song title until the very end – building suspense and letting the audience guess.
When the singers began the song – flawlessly rendered by Meiyang Chang and Jahnvi Shrimankar – there’d be gasps of recognition followed by thunderous applause.
One particularly moving segment was his recounting of writing O Paalanhaare from Lagaan. As a self-proclaimed atheist, Javed Saab admitted he still doesn’t quite understand how he tapped into something so spiritually powerful.
“I don’t believe in miracles,” he said. “But writing that song… it was a mystery even to me.”
Voices that Brought Words to Life
Third-generation Indian-Chinese Meiyang, with his smooth, emotive vocals, brought a lightness and freshness to the show. His rendition of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha was particularly beautiful.
And the versatile Jahnvi – best known for Dholida in Gangubai Kathiawadi – stunned the audience with her powerful, soaring voice. Backed by a tight, energetic live band, the music perfectly complemented Javed’s storytelling.
A Format That Just Works
What made the evening magical was the format – part conversation, part concert. Javed Saab didn’t merely narrate events; he lived them on stage.
His anecdotes were peppered with one-liners: “Maine jab sharab chhodi toh driving bhi chhod di!” (when I stopped drinking, I also stopped driving) and sharp observations about life, love, poetry, and the film industry.
It wasn’t a formal performance – it felt more like an invitation into his world. Many in the audience would have wanted him to talk more than the actual singing that happened.
Incredibly, a narrator managed to outdo the singer, in this case there were two. That was not the case on Sept 11, when Manoj Muntashir Shukla, known for his evocative Hindi lyrics, was overshadowed by the mesmerising voice of Pratibha Singh Baghel during the Jashn E Bahaar show at the very same Esplanade Concert Hall.
The Standing Ovation
By the end of the night, the audience had laughed, cried, sung along, and even danced. Yes, I spotted Mr Piyush Gupta, former DBS CEO, clapping and grooving during the medley finale.
When Javed Saab took his final bow, the hall erupted into a standing ovation. It was loud, long, and deeply heartfelt.
The Verdict
If you ever get the chance to see “Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon”, don’t think twice. It’s not just a concert. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s a masterclass in storytelling, a tribute to the art of songwriting, and a reminder of the timelessness of words when penned with honesty and heart.
For me, it was an unforgettable evening – and as Kaifi Azmi once said: “My thirst is still not quenched.”
V.K. Santosh Kumar
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25 Nov 2025 16:13
