Sur, aman, asha: Different words but all express love Bangalore: Touching music built bridges between two countries. The Bade Ustad and Chhote Ustad of the ghazal world spun magic through their voices and the moving words aman ki asha. Heavy traffic on Saturday evening did not deter many Bangaloreans from being the first to grab front row seats to watch Ghulam Ali and Hariharan.

"This is a double khushi moment," said Hariharan to STOI before he went on stage. He was referring to his being named a national-award winner on Saturday evening, apart from the fact that he was performing with ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali.

Hariharan started with the lovely slow tune 'Kash Aisa Koi Manzar Hota' and went on to a faster number like 'Mujhe Apne Hi Rang Mein Rang De'. People in the audience echoed his swars before he moved on to one of his favourites — 'Krishna Nee Begane Baaro'.

Hariharan mixed classical with ghazal and mesmerized the audience, which clamoured for more. Ghulam Ali, listening to Hariharan, had some wonderful words to say: "Main sun raha tha... Aisa lag raha tha ki mera chhota bhai gaa raha hai'' (I was hearing him. It was as though my younger brother was singing).

The Pakistani ghazal legend then took the stage and sang the well-known 'Dil Mein Ek Lehar Si'. It was a proud moment for both singers to share the the stage for the cause of unity, and it culminated in a grand jugalbandi. 'Is aman ki asha ko hum apne suron se paar karenge, hum ek hi hai, hamara sur bhi' (We are bridging differences through aman Ki asha. We are one, our voice is one).

"Sur, aman, asha are all the same. Everything expresses love. These may be different words, but they convey the same thing — love," he said.


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