Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 2: Coinciding with International Friendship Day, ‘The Harmony’, a unit of Jhumurr Socio-Cultural Society, A & N Islands in association with Hotel Driftwood & Resorts, Sri Vijaya Puram, presented a memorable Facebook Live musical programme, “Salamat Rahe Dostana Hamara,” on Thursday evening, celebrating the enduring friendly bond between legendary playback singers Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar. Organised ahead of Rafi’s death anniversary on July 31 and Kishore Kumar’s birth anniversary on August 4, the programme received a encouraging response from music lovers across the Islands and beyond.
The programme, held at the Mehfil Banquet of Driftwood Hotel & Resorts, commenced with the ceremonial garlanding of the joint portrait of Legendary Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar by Shri Rajesh Anand, Proprietor of the Resort, along with all the Senior Artistes, in presence of Smt. Sonali Podder and Shri Biswajit Das, the General Secretary and Vice President of Jhumurr respectively, setting a befitting tone for the evening’s musical tribute.
Conceived by Shri Asheesh Poddar, Creative Director & Programme Designer, the presentation celebrated not only the immortal melodies of the two legendary singers but also the mutual admiration, affection and respect they shared throughout their illustrious careers. Through songs, narration and interesting anecdotes, the programme effectively highlighted that while Rafi and Kishore were professional competitors, they remained close friends and profound admirers of each other—a message made even more meaningful by its presentation on International Friendship Day.
The musical tribute opened with title duet, ‘Salamat Rahe Dostana…,’ beautifully rendered by Shri Abdul Rasheed and Shri Shailender Singh, setting the tone for the evening. This was followed by soulful renditions from Shri/s Abdul Nisar, Mohd. Nisar, Raaj, Hassan Shah, Junaid Ali and Shri Asheesh Poddar. Shri Rajesh Anand also presented a song, adding to the charm of the programme. Together, the artistes recreated the timeless magic of Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar through a delightful selection of evergreen duets and solo classics.
The programme featured several memorable songs associated with the two legends, including Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Hum Premi Prem Karna Jaane, Ye Duniya Ke Badalte Rishte, Janu Meri Jaan and the immortal ‘Bane Chahe Dushman Zamana Hamara’ among others, reinforcing the central theme that friendship always stood above competition.
The programme was streamed live through the Facebook page of Shri Abdul Nisar, enabling music lovers from across the Islands and elsewhere to enjoy the presentation. The event was anchored by Shri Raaj, and also covered live by Shri Dharmendra Lall through his Facebook platform, extending its reach to a wider audience.
The live presentation evoked an enthusiastic response from viewers, who appreciated its unique concept, meaningful narration, carefully curated song selection and soulful performances. Smt. Sonali Podder expressed heartfelt gratitude to one and all for their valuable support including the artistes for their wholehearted performances, and the viewers whose encouragement contributed immensely to the programme’s success.
With this unique presentation, ‘The Harmony of Jhumurr’ once again reaffirmed its commitment to presenting thoughtfully conceived musical programmes that celebrate not only timeless melodies but also the inspiring stories behind them. The programme concluded on an emotional note with the immortal refrain: “Bane Chahe Dushman Zamana Hamara, Salamat Rahe Dostana Hamara,” leaving viewers with a timeless reminder that true friendship transcends competition and professional rivalry—a message made even more meaningful as the programme was presented on International Friendship Day.