Veteran actor-singer urges hospitals to waive medical bills in case of a Covid death
By SHRI RAM SHAW
New Delhi, June 19: Music is a divine sound and is directly related to our metaphysical core. It has the same value and importance in all cultures across the globe and no civilization has ever existed without the colour of music. The Sufi mystic – Hazrat Ali Hujwiri alias Data Gaj Baksh, said in his book, “Kashf-ul-Mahjoob,” “Except hypocrite, every person understands the language of music.’’
With an aim to mitigate the problems and reduce the pains of the people during the global pandemic Covid-19, veteran actor-singer Aroon Bakshi has come up with a soothing devotional song – ‘Rabb Khair Karega’ which has not only caught the attention of the masses, but praises, appreciations and accolades are also pouring in from several Bollywood artists.
Bollywood actors, singers and cricketers like Raza Murad, Mukesh Khanna, Anup Jalota, Surinder Pal, Jeet Upender, Gufi Paintal, Paintal, Kirti Azad and many more have extended their greetings and sent their congratulatory messages for this devotional song. They are all praise for the ‘man behind the mission’ Aroon Bakshi, who conceived, wrote, composed and rendered his velvet voice for the sui generis number. ‘‘When I was contemplating launching such a prayer song, I had never thought that it would be such a huge success…It would be so popular among the masses,’’ Bakshi said.
“This is really a very tough time for all of us, but this too shall pass. We must not lose our hearts and hope amid the dread pandemic. I appeal with folded hands to all the hospitals to kindly waive the medical bills in case of a Covid death for the sake of humanity. Jaan hai toh jahaan hai,” Bakshi added.
Well-known playback singer Anup Jalota, popularly known as ‘Bhajan Samrat’ and Padma Shri recipient said, ““Life is like music, it has high notes and low notes. Each memory has a soundtrack of its own. When you’re happy, you enjoy the music. But when you sad you understand the lyrics. Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heels the heart and makes it whole. No matter how high or low notes may be, keep in tune with God and you will never go out of tune in the music of life!”
Legendary actor Raza Murad said, “It is undoubtedly a very good inspirational song and I liked it very much. In the film industry we keep doing commercial programmes, but this is a song to preserve our rich literary, art and cultural heritage as it conveys a message for social welfare. My heartiest congratulations to Aroon Bakshi who is doing a good job and that too in a testing time when the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.”
Renowned actor Mukesh Khanna, who immortalized the character of ‘Bheeshma’ in the epic TV serial Mahabharat, said, “Expansion and portrayal of essential humanity in his creations has been his hallmark. About the spirit and motivation behind the creation of such wonderful and meaningful lyrics – expansion of situations, thoughts, emotions and characters in literary creations are directly related to a writer’s intensity of imagination and capability of creating appropriate forms and structures through expansive and imaginative verbal ability.”
Distinguished cricketer Kirti Azad said, “The concept is so good that I’m awestruck. I really appreciate Aroon Bakshi’s efforts for creating such a wonderful song. It is very important to keep oneself safe and healthy and others as well. We have done our bit through our endeavours. Artists are also sharing their creative fusion to mitigate the problems of the people.’’
Noted actor Paintal said in his message, “I congratulate him for such a wonderful song. He is a complete artist. I am grateful to him for this remarkable number and want to thank from the core of my heart because he is doing a fabulous job. He is entertaining people through such a wonderful musical endeavour during the global pandemic COVID-19, the whole of the World including our country is grappling with.’’
Gufi Paintal, famous for his role of Shakuni in TV serial Mahabharat, said, “I am extremely happy to know that the song is being appreciated all around the nation so wonderfully. I congratulate Aroon Bakshi for giving us this wonderful song.’’
Actor Surinder Pal said, “He has done this for the sake of humanity. Amidst the unforeseen disruption of the coronavirus pandemic, everything has shifted to virtual platforms. With no clue of the pandemic ending anytime soon, even the music industry is experimenting with virtual concerts. Historically, musicians have been challenging the traditional concert model. A lot of virtual concerts have been trending nowadays. What Aroon Bakshi is doing is undoubtedly very commendable.”
Actor Jeet Upender said, “We all know that any industry today during this COVID-19 period is going through the worst phase ever seen. We must realize that in India, music as a business is not thriving in terms of revenues. There are no revenues for online sales, there are no revenues from physical sales (sale of CDs, cassettes) and there are no other sources of revenue that musicians can make money out of. Yet, they have immensely contributed. We are really thankful to them.”
A Pakistani fan Afshan Baig loves this prayer song and said, “Creativity at such level of expression has to go through a long duration of a sensitive absorption of the world around. Not only this much; for any such output demands a complete identification with content of creation. So, while evaluating any literary work, it is necessary to evaluate it from and at different angles: otherwise, its real significance cannot be projected. The process of analysis now must call for a painstakingly comprehensive and all- inclusive approach toward unfolding the thematic appeal of the lyrics to all readers, audience.”
Internationally acclaimed painter Geeta Das said, “Sensibility of a writer, poet, shayar is the foremost element in giving depth and range to experiences and observations for effective and convincing portrayal of mankind. Literary productions take on giant forms when a writer is capable of extending his limited local experiences and observations over to the entire humanity. The truth is that even the most localized issues can be universalized and can be put into the total psyche of humanity at large. A creative fusion of intense sensibility and profound imagination always result in creating a masterpiece. A skillful telescoping of diametrically opposite elements of the human beings and the world determines how a writer, poet, shayar is going to affect his readers, audience.”