Blogs & Articles

June 12, 2025

From the age of five, I would sing Hindi film songs I heard on the radio- Vividh Bharati and Radio Ceylon were my windows to melody. I learnt music by the ear, soaking in my beloved father’s singing who was a self-taught passionate singer of Hindustani Classical ragas and we children would gather around him to listen in awe.

Marriage and responsibilities took me away from music. Life went on. And for 36 long years, music quietly stayed in the background.

Then came 2021. One day, I saw people singing live on a Facebook page hosted by a platform called FrontRow. It welcomed anyone who loved music. I joined—out of sheer curiosity. I kept my camera off. When the host invited me to sing, I requested to remain unseen. The audience was filled with vibrant young boys and girls. And here I was, a Dadi ji, all of 66 years!

I sang “Waqt Ne Kiya…”, my all-time favorite by Geeta Dutt ji, from Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), composed by S.D. Burman da and penned by Kaifi Azmi Saab.

The response? Applause. Gasps. Requests to show my face. When I finally switched on the camera, silence fell. Then came the flood of “What?!”, “How?!”, and “OMG!!”

The host asked me to join another live session. Again, I sang- with the camera off—”Awaaz De Kahan Hai” from Anmol Ghadi, composed by Naushad Saab. The young crowd erupted when I revealed myself. Some even doubted it was me singing. I had to prove it by singing “Waqt Ne Kiya…” again, this time, with the camera on!

From there, FrontRow became a golden chapter. I sang folk songs, even won a virtual gold medal for a Himachali folk song: “Mayi Ni Meriye Shimle Di Raahen…”

My passion to sing film songs, gazals was reborn thanks to virtual groups where an elderly person like me could easily participate from the comforts of home.

There were multiple sessions a day. I wrote down lyrics I had long loved but never dared to sing. I began exploring songs I once thought were out of reach. My song list has now grown to nearly 200 pieces.

After FrontRow stopped its free sessions, I found GetSetUp. Then came Evergreen Seniors Club, where we sang ghazals every Friday. Later, I joined a private group called SFC—singing daily for 4+ beautiful years until I had to step back due to daytime work in June 2025.

But destiny wasn’t done with me yet.

I found a new musical haven- Music Verandah on YouTube. Sessions from 9 pm to 10 pm, just perfect. I joined on 27th May, 2025, and I continue to sing there joyfully.

And it’s here I met an enterprising young man full of energy and digital wisdom-
Chi. Kapil Bhargava, founder of ClickVeda, along with Leander and the entire team from Gurugram. In just a week, they built this beautiful website for me.

To them, my heartfelt gratitude. May God bless them and their loved ones with happiness, health, and every kind of good fortune.