The recital at ‘Gurudakshina auditorium’ was an experience. Sneha Datar a trained dancer of Bharatnatyam, took a pen & wrote Urdu shayari! Her words lit up the stage. Later she confessed that the music makes a difference. I can’t recognize her own verses!
It was superb. The three dark black boards formed the backdrop. Only her face in black & white along the word ‘Bayaaz’ made it mysterious & deep. The musicians sat in the front with their instruments. Among them two gents, a male singer, composer Hrishikesh & a compere , Nachiket with a female singer, Priyanka Barve.
On a raised table were Sneha aka Ahilya, her pen name & Dr Ashwini, her interviewer. She said, she has been impressed by Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar & thought of using that name. The name from ‘Ramayana’ has a flavor of it’s own. Incidentally, she has named her elder daughter, Ahilya!
The verses simple, direct, from the heart! They touch you like none other. No wonder she was praised by Mr Amitabh Bachchan for her work! He messaged on social media in the wee hours of the morning! Those two verses were mis-fits, so her publisher had advised to drop them. But her persistence paid off.
She went to ‘Vari’ & wrote. Her Marathi verses are endearing. The Covid period saw her writing her first book & publishing it. She developed her art, sharpened her tools & is ready for more.
A man saying ‘Aap to Chaand pehenke aayi ho!’ at Ajmer brought her closer to the Moon. The moon is the ever favorite of all the poets. Poetry is incomplete without him. It brought in verses praising him!
Blessed with two daughters she manages being the director of companies, her household duties & her poetry. When we are bogged down by the mundane, shouldn’t we look up to her for inspiration?
It was a lovely Sunday evening for all of us.
Asian Entertainment 