Kamal Sabri (right) and Sukhomoy Banerjee perform at Cimage in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Oct. 12: His voice may have fallen silent but ghazal exponent Jagjit Singh’s immortal numbers continue to remind his fans why they loved him so much.

Spic Macay and Cimage today paid a musical tribute to the late singer at an event organised on the college premises. Sarangi player Kamal Sabri and table exponent Sukhomoy Banerjee performed at the event.

Sabri said: “Singh’s demise is an irreparable loss to the world of music. This is a very sad time for us.”

He also entertained the audience with a rendition of Raag Gaursarang and a popular Rajasthani folk number, Kesaria baalma padharo mhare desh.

Explaining his instrument to the audience, comprising students and teachers of the institute, Sabri said: “Perhaps, many of you are hearing the sarangi for the first time. It is perhaps the only instrument that can so closely replicate the sound of human voice. Other musical instruments cannot compete with the sarangi in this regard. A piece can be played on the sarangi as it has been sung.”

To substantiate his claim, he first sang Raag Gaur Malhar-inspired Aye ri maye ko jaane na dungi and then played it on the sarangi.

Later, on the request of Cimage director Neeraj Agrawal, Sabri also played the title track of the first Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo.

Impressed by the performance, Agrawal said: “It is very difficult to play the sarangi. Sabriji performed with great ease.”

For BBA student Heena, another audience member, the best part of the show was the jugalbandi between Sabri and Banerjee. She said: “It was amazing to listen to Sabriji playing the sarangi. I never thought classical music could have such charm. Now, I have a different opinion.”

Before the performance, Sabri told The Telegraph: “Unfortunately, I played with Jagjit Singhji only once. My father Ustad Sabri Khan, however, played a number of times with him. The last time I met Jagjitji was at a concert on September 17, a few days before he suffered the haemorrhage.”

Singh died at a Mumbai hospital on October 10, where he was admitted after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Sabri added: “Hoton se chulo tum… and Chitthi na koi sandesh… are two of my favourite Jagjit Singh numbers. He took ghazal to the common people. That was his greatest contribution to music.”