Pride of India Award winner Mohammed Vakil brought his talented musical group for a soulful musical evening entitled ‘Surmayi Shaam’ at the Nehru Centre in London this week.
The packed auditorium echoed with memorable poetry and ghazals, including melodious tributes to the legendary Indian musicians Jagjit Singh and Begum Akhtar.
“It is a real privilege to be invited by the High Commission of India to present these iconic melodies to such an appreciative London audience,” said Vakil, as he welcomed a sing-along to popular renditions including Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho and Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo.
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Vakil is a beloved Indian television personality since his early victory on the stage of the show ‘SAREGAMA’ and one of the country’s most celebrated playback singers, behind songs from Bollywood blockbusters such as ‘Veer Zaara’. His career has been described as a rich tapestry of dedication, artistry and tradition. Born into a legendary Rajasthani singing gharana and trained under the illustrious Ustad Mohammed Hussain and Ustad Ahmed Hussain, Md Vakil brings with him not just talent but a heritage of classical excellence.
In the special one-hour session in London, he shared not only his musical milestones and inspirations but also live renditions and behind-the-scenes stories from his global performances and hit albums like ‘Kasak’ and ‘Tera Khayal’. More than just a performance, the evening proved a tribute to the journey of a voice that resonates across borders.
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“It was the honour of my life to be blessed by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar, a dream that I felt I was dreaming with open eyes,” he shared, amid appreciative applause from the audience.
Besides his riveting ghazal and folk renditions, the evening was also lifted by his incisive poetry on patriotism and devotion, some of them an ode to the greats such as Mirza Ghalib.
