Dear Mr. Haldea, thank for your ever so much for a privilege that I dare say I deserve. The event was a thorough pleasure and displayed all the care and attention to detail and researched care that you have spoken about. S.M. Acharya, Retd. IAS
Good morning uncle, Yesterday night was an unforgettable and magical experience. Both my husband and I enjoyed every second immersing into the melody and music. The singers were all so good. Avani Agarwal
Hi, we really enjoyed the show especially we liked the fillers, your shaayari. Please always inform about your coming events. Poonam Agrawal
Dear Prithvi & Priyanka, thank you for the lovely musical evening. We loved it. Sanjiv Agarwal Chief Executive Officer, CRM Consultants and Anu Agarwal, Marketing, OIKOS India
I really enjoy your shows and try never to miss even a single one. Sarita Agarwala
Your excellent shows get better each time. Vineet Aggarwal, Exporter of Lady Handbags
Dear Chacha, thank you for giving us such a wonderful experience. Please find attached small token of gesture for the Foundation. Manoj Kumar Agrawal, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Lok Capital
What a fantastic programme, thank you so much for inviting us. Meera Ahuja, Member, Delhi Commonwealth Women’s Association
Thank you once again for an enchanting evening. I relived precious moments spent with Anmol and I am eternally grateful for the experience. Geetanjali Anand, Founder and Director, Shirdi Clothing Co.
Dear Prithvi, It was wonderful experience, leaving us refreshed listening to lovely lyrics and poetry of the great shaayars. Thanks for your very original contribution to Indian music and Art through the medium of Ibaadat. Komal (and Arun) Anand, Vice Chairman, Urusvati Art and Habitat Centre Pvt. Ltd., Retd. IAS
Dear Prithvi, as after the two past Ibaadat events we have attended, my wife and I came away with our brains flooded with oxytocin. The sound system was a nuisance this time around, though. Millions of streamed songs have not diminished the fans' enthusiasm to physically attend Taylor Swift's live events. The tribute you have so conscientiously constructed to the poets who lent their talent to movie music deserves to be far more widely appreciated than the current format permits. The live performance will remain supreme, but you must start a video channel on YouTube where you put up well-edited footage of all editions of Ibaadat. Today's YouTube video is the cultural historian's raw material tomorrow. Do not deny them the benefit of your labour of love. Of course, you must document your findings in a book as well, on the lives of the poets, but that will not do justice to the actual Ibaadat you perform. Kudos, once again. And dear Prithvi, you are blessed to have children and grandchildren who sing so well. Give them my blessings, as well. T.K. Arun, Editor, The Economic Times
Great show by great showman Prithvi. Good to see you still holding the fort like a young boy. Rajendra Bader, Managing Director, Arihant Solvex Pvt. Ltd.
Dear Mr. Haldea, the show was beautifully curated and lovingly presented. Brilliant, as always. We have made a small donation as token of our support for the fabulous work that the Foundation is doing. Gyanendra Badgaiyan, Sr. Fellow, Artha, Retd. IAS
What a fabulous programme! Anil Bagai, Chief Executive Officer, SRB Securities Services Pvt. Ltd.
The selection of songs and shaayari connected with the audience. Madhulika Bahadur, Retd. PGT
The show was very well organized and directed Dev was so confident, by himself. Sunanda Bahl, Retd. Teacher-History
Excellent performances…very impressed. Your kids were a surprise…also surprised how Dev all by himself did a perfect job. A lovely show. A well-designed tribute to the great lyricists and to Ibaadat. O.P. Bahri, Builder
You produced and directed the show so admirably. Your passion and devotion are praiseworthy. Purnima Baijal, Dramatist
The show was really excellent and we enjoyed going down memory lane! Nalini Bajaj, Office Manager, Sadana Brothers
Extraordinary….so well curated. Your singers were too good. Ravinder Bakshi, Retd. Railways
Totally floored. Your grandson was very endearing. Suman Bali, Dancer-Bharatnatyam
Congratulations for devising a platform for celebrating the lives and creations of poets and composers connected with Hindi Cinema and giving them their rightful place on the music scenario. The poetry and music of these composers was beautifully woven with live shaayari on stage to create a beautifully unique format. The repartee on stage between the hosts was most enjoyable, as was the singing and music by accomplished singers and the music director. I sang wholeheartedly along with all the singers and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a musical show so much. I’m looking forward to the show based on Anand Bakshi. I truly regret missing the earlier events organised by Ibaadat. Kudos to you Mr. Haldea and your dedicated team. Geeta Bansal, Retd. Vigilance Dept., Punjab National Bank
The show was an amazing experience…experienced never before! Extremely well researched, choreographed, scripted, presented and a great selection of songs and shers, as well as mesmerizing singers. We are a permanent fan of Ibaadat, Prithiv Saheb, thank you for creating such fabulous shows. We now feel deeply connected with Ibaadat! Kindly extend the show to 3 hours Sir, for a fulfilling experience. Pawan Bansal, Partner, Verein Merchandising Corp.
Dear Prithvi it was really a good show the way two and half hours gone still waiting to see more it was really amazing programme. Subhash Barjatya, Proprietor, Semi Precious Jewels Co.
An evening to remember forever. In a show of this short duration, it is difficult to do justice to the huge body of 8 shaayars, but your selection was amazingly good. Priyanka Batra, Therapist
It was the most amazing experience and the best choice of songs. We did not want the evening to end; the 2.1/2 hours just flew. Anjuli Bawa
Very nice programme. Really enjoyed it. Sandip Singh Bawa, Chief Engineer
We expect the best from Ibaadat, and you delivered it yet again! And I am delighted to know that you are working on additional shows on Anand Bakshi and other lyricists. As usual, the show started and ended on time. It is always really nice to have family members of the lyricists on the stage with you, but this time I felt we did not "talk" to them enough about things only they could have told us about...perhaps it was due to paucity of time. Once again, thank you all for the amazing work you all are doing...you can see from the response that people love your shows. Sandip Kumar Beri, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Co.
Thanks a million, Haldea Saheb. We thoroughly enjoyed the show and would not have missed it for the world! Would love to remain part of your group of sher-o-shaayari and music lovers group. Now, I would even be happy to travel to other cities to see your show. I was stupid in not taking your suggestion to come to Dubai for Sahir’s show. C. S. Bhadauria, Founder, Alok Masterbatches Pvt. Ltd.
It was a very enjoyable show. Well-structured and flowed very nicely. Anil Bhalla, Partner, J.C. Bhalla and Sons, Chartered Accountants
Dear Sir, each time I think I have seen the best any musical show has to offer, you come up with another one from your magical box, creating another masterpiece with something more to offer than the one before. Though there is no doubt that it takes ingenuity and brilliance to produce one hit after the other, I think what makes each show so special is that you keep adding very unique and personal nuances to them. This time, you touched us all very deeply by sharing about the inception and journey of Ibaadat. I would like to extend my gratitude to the entire team of Ibaadat as well as the awesome singers for a fabulous show that kept us all spellbound for the entire duration. A big shout out to little Dev, Pranav and Pooja for adding a special personal touch to this show. Arpana (and Gautam) Bhardwaj
Extraordinary. The best part of the show was Dev…so cute, innocent and perfect. Madhur Bhargava
The headline “50,000 weddings in NCR on 12th Nov” almost scared us away from your show but we knew that you would put up super entertainment so we braved it to the event! And you didn’t disappoint us at all…in fact you exceeded your own lofty standards. The singers were all superb Your grandson really was outstanding with his “तो मैं क्या करूँ”…such confidence!! And your daughter was also very impressive. Thank God you were able to cajole her to get on to the stage…otherwise we would have really missed a treat You were your usual scintillating self. Kudos to you for researching and executing such a magnificent show May you keep the shows rolling “क्योंकि ये दिल मांगे more”. Pravin (and Mala) Bhargava, General Manager, Saud Bahwan Group, Oman
Well researched, beautifully curated and outstandingly executed. Priya Bhasin, Vocalist
What a treat…the best of 8 shaayars. It was such a wonderful programme. Sonalika Bhatti, Music Teacher
Amazing. Appreciate how you always start on time. Ramani Chaddha, Kathak Dancer
So far, one of the best shows, so well conducted, great singing and the audience stayed glued to their seats. Kudos to the whole team! Veena Chadha, CEO, Samagam
An excellent program. The way in which you integrated eight great lyricists into one show was splendid…with a great selection of songs and shaayari. Smita Chhiber
Dear Prithvi, thank you for inviting us to Ibaadat Ka Safar. Every experience at Ibaadat has been a जुगलबंदी with the soul. The songwriter, the song, the music and the delivery…all threaded by your soulful deep dive into the poet’s works is beyond belief. It takes a special person to be able to bring the history, the context and the poet together into a singular, seamless experience. Not only do you and your team excavate the essence of the songwriter but transport us right into his heart, his life, his articulation. Please accept our deep gratitude for allowing us to be a part of this journey. What you call your second life has become an enriching experience for us. It is a shade of the Prithvi we did not know until he retired. Above all, the medium of direct real conversations with poets that you use is truly unique and unmatched. I loved your grandson’s performance! Your singers are amazing and did full justice to the poet. Of them all, I found Mr. Sarvesh Mishra outstanding. The research you do into every poet inspires the researcher in me. I understand that what you project on stage is only a tiny fraction of what you study and imbibe. I can see the rigour, the diligence and the sincerity you put in to deliver these experiences. Please convey my gratitude to your co-trustees: Mr. Sanjiv Saraf, Mr. Dinesh Kothari and Mr. Akhil Gupta. They are the unsung enablers in this venture. Since I have become a ‘stakeholder’ in this never-experienced-before spectacle. You are a man who understands intent, so I know you will take my suggestion in the right spirit, from a younger friend and admirer. At some point, you may need to think about compressing the lives of all your poets into a book. So, from the experience on stage, this will become an idea immortal. You will be able to tell stories of the poets across time, across idioms and across intersecting lives. There are so many of us who know the songs but not the songwriter. You will immortalize them in ways you can’t imagine. Our best wishes to everyone at Ibaadat, and good health to you to take these soulful conversations forward. Gautam Chikermane, Vice President, Observer Research Foundation and Monika Halan, Author, Personal Finance Books
Dear Prithvi ji, It was as always as a delightful experience for me and my wife Madhu, attending the “Ibaadat ka safar” show. We really enjoyed the specially curated song selections, anecdotes and conversations with the relatives of all the दिग्गज artistes Ibaadat has covered so far. Kudos to you and your talented team of co-presenters, singers, musicians and others for putting up such a mesmerizing, flawless show. Incidentally, like last year, I have sent a small contribution of Rs. 11000. More power to Ibaadat and its mission going forward. Deepak Chopra Director-Group Supervisory Board/Chairman, Operations Committee, Anand Automotive Pvt. Ltd.
Your research is incredible. Dr. Dinesh Chopra
Thank you. It was a brilliant show. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Will make a donation soon. Reva Chopra
You are doing great work. Lata Dang, Advocate
A truly wonderful experience…it was like sitting in a big drawing room. Rishabh Datt
As always…outstanding! 10/10. Renuka Dhingra
The script, the music, the story, the singers…too too good. Krishan Lal Dhawan, Sports Trainer
Fantastic! Supriya and Dev…my picks. Lata Duggal, Housewife
Prithviji, दिल भर आता है आपके प्रोग्राम में भाग ले कर. It's an honour to represent my Daddy at your creative presentations. Thank you for doing what you do. बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद पृथ्वीजी! हर प्रकार से जो support करते हो. It's truly wonderful being associated with your Ibaadat. Rajesh Duggal, Son of Rajinder Krishan
Soulful. Such an excellent experience. Shyam Dwivedi
The show was fantastic. Alka Gambhir
Amazing program! Thoroughly enjoyed the show! Rohini Gandhi, Designated Partner, Aesthetics Exports LLP
The performances by all singers including the cute little Dev were excellent. Sonali Gandhi
Hi Prithviji! We were truly delighted by the outstanding performance from everyone. The narrative was both enticing and fast-paced, and we enjoyed every moment. Thank you for treating us to such an amazing musical evening. It was truly a memorable experience! Prasenjit Ganguly, Vice President-Revenue Accounting and Fraud Management, Air India
Thanks Prithvi. A soul touching show. So happy to be part of it. Made a Rs. 5,000 contribution. Subhash Chandra Garg, Former Finance Secretary, Retd. IAS.
Dear Prithvi, The show was very interesting and well organized. We really enjoyed. Thanks for such beautiful performances by singers and your presentation. Vivek Gautam
It was a wonderful experience. Transported into my youth. Dr. Akshay Ghai
Dear Prithvi, it was really a delight to attend the Ibaadat Ka Safar programme on 12th instant. The program was excellently researched and musically presented. The choice of songs was outstanding . Thanks to you Prithvi and your Ibaadat team I was able to spend a delightful 2.5 hrs. My friend Vishnu's comment about you having done 8 Ph.Ds would be a bit of an understatement -in my view you deserve 8 DSc.s for the work you have put together at putting these programs at Ibaadat. In fact, if there was an EMMY award for Bollywood music and songs research and putting programs for an audience which keeps them enjoyably gripped you would deserve the EMMY. Wish you all the very best for future Ibaadat initiatives. Utpal Ghosh, President, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies
The show was amazing. I was delighted with Dev’s singing. S.S. Gill, Retd. Director
The show was more enchanting and mesmerizing than ever! The story of Ibaadat itself was totally spell-binding. Words cannot even begin to express the totally Immersive experience जिसमे हम अपनी हस्ती ही भूल गए. You are a true musical genius, creating magical shows one after another, with an incomparable team, woven by you with threads of love and passion for music, and taken to new heights with your visualization and designing abilities. Anurag Goel, Retd. IAS, Former Secretary, Corporate Affairs, Member, CCI
Completely mesmerised. Three cheers. Sagar Goyal
It was wonderful as ever. Anand Singh Grewal
How you managed to fit so much in a short duration…amazing. It was a pleasure-filled evening…a fantastic event, as always. Anita Gujral
Your show was smashing. You were brilliant. I loved the amazing way you had woven the script with poets, poetry, events, emotions, situations and songs. Par excellence. So grateful we could be present as part of the audience of this great show. Rupali Gupta, Director, ENZ Communications Inc.
Thank you for having me join such a prestigious event. Each and every participant brought out the emotions. The singers especially, and Nandita…you were “सोने पे सुहागा”. Pranav, Pooja and Dev were superb. So glad they sang. Priyanka ji needs kudos for being the backbone of all your ventures. Sangeeta Gupta, Daughter of Madan Mohan
Mr. Sarvesh Mishra and Ms. Supriya Joshi are excellent singers. The script was good... The song by Master Dev Haldea was good. 6. Anand Bahl also sang well. You observe complete punctuality about the commencement of the show and the admission into the auditorium. This is praiseworthy. You have omitted the frills (दीप प्रज्वलन, माल्यार्पण, विज्ञापन, भाषण, पुष्प-गुच्छ भेंट, logo etc.) from your shows. This needs to be applauded. Keep it up. Surender Kumar Gupta, Director, Ministry of Home Affairs
Hello Chacha, it is always such a fabulous experience to watch Ibaadat shows, that even covering miles for those beautiful melodies is never tiring for us but totally magical & refreshing. The anniversary show brought forward best of the songs of lyricists, moments & milestones of Ibaadat's journey, hard toil & effort of the team, weaved together in a seamless story, crafted by the wonderful script writer like YOU! Passion oozes out in every scene and song, connecting strongly with the audience. Love it each time, every time and look forward to the next. Prachi Gupta, Associate Professor, Chitkara University, Chandigarh
The show was wonderful with great selection of songs But I feel it would have been superb if more full songs were sung. Rashmi Gupta
Congrats for an awesome show, Dev stole the show… cutest artist. Rashmi Gupta, Former Teacher, Birla School
Loved it. कितना मज़ा आ गया, कितना मज़ा, कितने पुराने गाने याद आ गए. It was a big hit, मानना पड़ेगा. Shekhar Gupta, Editor, ThePrint and Neelam Jolly
What a lovely show! इबादत के परिवार से जुड़ गये. Sabina Inderjit, Secretary General, Indian Journalists Union
The program was beyond words. Enjoyed every moment. Thanks for beautiful experience. Rohini Iyer, Retd. Officer, Canara Bank
Dear Prithvi bhai, I'm so glad that the shows of Ibaadat completed 13 years and entered its teenage (the best period of lives) yesterday. What a way to celebrate the event, it couldn't have been better!!! I lost count of the number of times it gave me goosebumps (probably 19). And I got emotional on one song from Bandini. This is a testimony to the quality of songs shortlisted by you and consummate singers identified by you. I can still feel the positive vibes of yesterday's mesmerizing evening. It is said perfection is impossible but you have proved it wrong again and again. The way you conceive and deliver (the show:)) after meticulous planning, research and passion, there is a lot to learn for the younger generation. I wish your show should be a part of the case study of the Management Program of Flame University, to start with. Ajay Kumar Jain, Principal Consultant, Jus and Associates
It was a wonderful program. Not even for second did we get bored. Will be happy to contribute. Lokesh Chand Jain
All the anchors (including yourself) and all your singers were too good. Narendra K. Jain, Handicrafts Exporter
Dear Prithvi ji, the programme was AAA+++. Naresh Kumar Jain, Independent Director, Global Finserve LLP., Retd. Secretary and CEO, Institute of Company Secretaries of India
Dear Prithvi ji. The programme was really soulful and mesmerising. A big shout out to you for conceiving yesterday’s format and fructifying it in the short period of just 2 months. Hats off! Many thanks and compliments to you, Dinesh uncle and the trustees for such noble act of recognising the poets and their families. Truly heartening to be part of the evening. Prashant Jain, Director, Pathways School
Dear Prithvi Sir, I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for organizing such a spectacular musical show. The event was an incredible success, and it truly reflected your dedication, hard work, and exceptional organisational skills. The show not only brought immense joy to everyone in attendance but also showcased the brilliance of talented artists. It was a privilege to witness such a beautifully coordinated and inspiring event. I greatly appreciate your efforts in making this happen and are eager to contribute to similar initiatives in the future. Please be assured of our support. I shall be making a contribution for this noble cause towards the end of the FY. Once again, thank you for your outstanding efforts and for bringing such a vibrant experience to the audience. Zameer Jaiswal, Retd. General Manager, ACME Solar
Brilliant. We enjoyed it a lot. Ajay Jaitly
Thanks for another awesome presentation. This time you and your family totally overshadowed everyone else. Your shaayari jokes were a class apart and Dev stole the show. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that your daughter and son are great singers too. Music seems to run through your family's veins! Sarvesh, Anand, Supriya, Debu, were excellent, as usual, with Anand adding that special touch with his add-ons. The new singers were a pleasure to listen to. Both your accompanying comperes did a wonderful job. Your labour of love was, all in all, a super hit. Neeta Jalan
ज़िंदगी के गिने चुने यादगार शामों में एक! Thank you so much dear Prithvi for giving us such an experience of a lifetime. I see people with passion but yours is at a different level brother! The misfortune of our music appreciation over the years has been the neglect of the Shaayars and Kavis who are the backbone of great songs. Till today even in most of the dedicated music apps lyricist name does not even find a mention. Singer, music composer, even the star who lip syncs…never the poet! In this background your extraordinary research, connecting with their families, selecting stories and songs, writing the script for the show.... stunning boss! Then the music. Creating the music tracks specially needs special mention. I was enjoying the expertise with which these have been made enormously. While not deviating from the original tunes the orchestration has been created just for track singing of great quality. The singers were fantastic and I managed to tell Supriya...कमबख़्त...आप का सुर भी कहीं नहीं हिला! The Rafi voice of Sarvesh, the other ladies were most enjoyable. Interspersed shers were outstanding, with you and Obaid leading from the front. Woven with periodic humour made for a great flow. Your anchoring too was flawless ably supported by Nandita. Great team work by Priyanka, Pranav and all, including your cute grandson and Pooja! I can go on and on. K.N. Jayakumar, Retd. Director, Saud Bahwan Group, Oman
Mesmerising experience. Anupama Jhingon, President, Dr. Anupama's Academy, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist
Prithvi ji, as always, what between you and Sanjeev do are nothing short than the best. It was good that in between the programme you reminded the audience of the basic principles on which you would not compromise like - always starting on time, no interval and the reason as to why, etc. are all the hallmark of the success of Ibaadat, not just the artists and their performances. I hope you would continue to follow all these difficult principles. I am proud to be associated with Rekhta and Ibaadat. Ravi Jhunjhunwala, Chairman, LNJ Bhilwara Group
Brilliant program. Very difficult to imagine sitting for a 2.5 your program but we sat through it. Gopal S. Jiwrajka, Chairman, Salora International Ltd.
Dear Uncle, Thank you for inviting me to this outstanding performance. My favourite parts were seeing three generations of your family on stage, and the witty shaayari that you recited! More power to you. Bharat Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, JCurve Ventures Pvt. Ltd.
What a programme! इबादत ज़िंदाबाद. आज तो आपने बेहोश कर दिया. Najeeb Jung, Retd. Lt. Governor, Delhi
Speechless…The show was fabulous. Shankar Kakkar
Such a captivating show. Did not even blink my eyes for 2.5 hours! Kudos! Sunil (and Sapna) Kala, Trustee, Fostiima Business School
Simply outstanding. Simply awesome. I enjoyed every moment. Pooja Kalindikar
Amazing. Each singer was fabulous. The way you narrated the story was marvellous. The details were incredible. Your passion for music is applaudable. Nalini Kamal
A wonderful musical programme. Rohan Kanwar, Retd. Banker
First, I must say how much I appreciate the effort you and your core team put into organizing such a superb program. This anniversary event, in particular, stood out due to the unique and fresh elements you have introduced. The inclusion of well-chosen couplets to create a lighter, more enjoyable atmosphere was a delightful touch—something I believe added a special charm that was perhaps missing in your past shows. It would be wonderful to see you continue experimenting with new ideas while phasing out anything that feels less relevant. One suggestion I’d like to offer is to consider involving the younger generation more actively. It seems that the organizers, presenters, and even the audience largely fall within the same age group. Bringing in younger participants would not only diversify the perspectives but also ensure the timeless idea of Ibaadat continues to thrive and evolve. This could be instrumental in keeping the program both relevant and vibrant for future generations. Sanjay Kapoor, Director and Co-Founder, Iris Corporate Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Dear Prithvi ji, absolutely exhilarating performance! The script required research as well as critical thinking. The singers were melodious, the selection of songs eclectic, the stage setting appropriately modest, the adherence to schedule-clockwork and, last but not the least, the Urdu poetry was enchanting and blended well with the narrative unfolded by you. Paying homage to the artists of yesteryear in the presence of their children was a paean to the Indian culture of respecting elders. Also, between the lines, the message is simple- in the world of art and culture there is no division - in diversity lies our strength. Incidentally, your grandson’s performance was brilliant. Your labour of love to promote Urdu poetry and Hindi songs is indeed laudable. Such efforts keep the wheels of India rolling smoothly. My congratulations on a job well done! Ashwan Kapur, Managing Director, Uniproducts Pvt. Ltd.
Your mission is praiseworthy. Your singers are exceptional, including your son, daughter and grandson. Veena Kapur
Par excellence! You should get your son and daughter to sing in every show. Poorna Kasliwal, Jewellery Shop
Dear Prithvi As always for the last so many years the experience is always 7 star. For me, it is always therapeutic. Sanjay Kaul, Director, FE Securities Pvt. Ltd.
Your show was classy. Your singers were classy. Harsimran Kaur, Homemaker
Thanks a ton, Prithvi...Enjoyed it. The show was extremely good. Jasleen Kaur, Principal, Cambridge School, Indirapuram
You were simply genius today. Scaling new heights...each time. God bless you, Prithvi. You are a boon...I came to Delhi specifically for this show. Amir Ullah Khan, Research Director, Centre for Development Policy and Practice, Hyderabad
Your show has high production values. Resham Khan, Designer
The best show of Ibaadat. The audience were spellbound for the duration of the show. Meticulous research on the eight lyricists by Prithvi brought about the known and unknown facts on the lives and work of the lyricists to the amazement of the audience. Thanks to Ibaadat foundation for the enjoyable evening and especially to . Prithvi for the selection of songs which took the audience down memory lane to the golden era of film lyricists. Truly an amazing show. And for one man to handle everything to the minutest detail is awesome. The research and the story telling was outstanding. Your songs selection couldn’t have been better. Your singers are so gifted. And your anchoring was perfect, full of emotions. Anil Khandelwal, Director, Lallsons Fabrica Pvt. Ltd.
Thanks for the lovely evening. It was enjoyable. Rekha Khandelwal, Doctor, Vardaan Hospital and Vardaan Sr. Citizen Centre and Rajiv Khandelwal, Director and Chief Paediatrician, Vardaan Hospital and Vardaan Sr. Citizen Centre
Enjoyed the show. Preeti Khandelwal
As at many of your shows earlier, we both admired your collection and presentation, and enjoyed the show very much indeed! Ashok Khanna, Trimaster Pvt. Ltd.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. One of your newest female vocalists in the blue saree was just superb, What a voice. Her voice made me so happy. I was listening to the entire show with my eyes closed. Loved your string of shers in between. Salute your efforts and passion. This is the way to be and contribute! Shefali Khanna, Founder, Dear Sunshine Foundation
Awesome. Magical. How 2.5 hours flew. Arun Khosla, Advocate-Supreme Court
We applaud your outstanding work. Dr. Mukesh Khosla
The audience was enthralled. Sandeep Khurana
The show was great. Yogesh Khurana
A very nice performance. Abhishek Kohli
Completely disappointed with myself for missing the 8 previous shows! What a great effort to create, carry out the holistic marvellously executed in-depth experience of music exhilarating show. Not one minute devoid of excitement. Some of the melodies dug out from the faded memories flooded the mind. Lokesh too simply loved the rich so well woven show. Met Ranjan and old times friend. Chandigarh would be blessed to have may be 2025 show! Thanks for having us. Anil Kohli, Partner, Vital Nutrients LLP
Many many thanks for a wonderful evening yesterday. Don't know where the time passed, was busy singing along and noting down the various lovely songs that you had selected so thoughtfully. Superbly scripted and curated. So glad I was in town to catch this... Your children and grandson are very talented-sang beautifully and confidently. Yasmin Javeri Krishan, Independent Director, Nucleus Software Exports Ltd.
Pranam. Outstanding as always. You mentioned five/six shows under production. Best way to support would be to make a donation. K.P. Krishnan, Hony. Professor, Centre for Policy Research/ Retd. Secretary to GOI
The show was outstanding on all parameters. Thank you for inviting me and also accommodating my request for a third pass made at the very lastminute Manish Mehrotra was equally impressed. Your knowledge and mastery of the subject and your dedication is unbelievably high It’s rare. It was a pleasant surprise! Paras Kuhad, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Thanks for a lovely show. Loved the confidence and perfection of your grandson. Krishan Kumar, Author
What an event you put together. The 2.5 hours just flew past, with such lovely singing by the artists of the highest calibre. The no live musician set up gave a different fragrance to the artists' performance. Your passion and dedication showed up in the whole format of the show. When I got the brochure at the gate, I saw Akhil Gupta’s name in the list of trustees. Our friendship goes back one generation. My father and his father were friends and we have known each other for decades. It was such a pleasure to meet him. Had a quick hello with Sangeeta. Rajiv and I went to the same school and she is friends with Mukesh mama's daughter Rita. Kushal Kumar, Motivational Speaker
What an outstanding show! Madhav Kumar, Horticulturist
Too good a show. Singers were too good. Dev stole my heart. Rajendra Kumar, Movie Historian
Hi Prithvi, It was really good; my mother loved every minute of it, she was singing the song she was transported on time, it was really nice and you looked I must say very handsome in your black long sherwani it was the lovely one and women such good singers, and there was such guy Anand Bahal, उनकी आवाज़ तो बिल्कुल मुकेश से मिल रही थी, so really liked it and Shekhar and Neelam his wife also said loved it and Neelam just kept saying: कितना मज़ा आ गया, कितना मज़ा, कितने पुराने गाने याद आ गए, so yes it was a big hit, मानना पड़ेगा. Rama Lakshmi, Editor-Opinion and Ground Reports, The Print, Retd. Washington Post
Thank you so much for inviting us. It was so well organized and curated. It is always such an immersive and engaging experience, since you help us relive the entire life of the yesteryear artist, and at least for me, make so much context, music, sher-o-shaayari's bring them to life. Not to forget the minutest of details that you get into in getting the right team on board, selecting such nice songs and managing the entire show. Also, Dev is such a sweetheart and it is great to see his confidence and stage presence. God bless him! Rohit Lall, General Manager, GMR Airports Ltd. and Ashima Lall
A wonderful experience. Great singing. Your kids should sing more often. Very good voices. Brijesh Lamba
Dear Prithvi ji. Heartiest congratulations for the extraordinary show, presented so well. The selection of songs was superbly selected with emphasis on lyrics. Your presentation made the audience glued to their seats for nearly 150 minutes. Your presentation improves the image and honour of lyricist when we relate the song with its creator. Once again, many congratulations. And all the best of your next program on Anand Bakshi. Eagerly await for its date. Kindly also send me your Foundation account details I would like to donate. Rajendra Lavasa, Founder, Rachitech Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
इबादत का सफ़र…The Best of Ibaadat. What a mesmerising musical extravaganza ढाई घंटे ढाई मिनट में उड़न छू हो गए What a collection of songs and shaayari…Amazing .Hats off to One Man Army Mr. Prithvi Haldea for his spellbound organising capabilities. In addition, your anchoring was very jovial and witty. G.P. Madaan, Managing Partner, Madaan Law Offices
An enjoyable show. Prajakta and Dev were the 2 new great finds. Ramchandra Madhok
A show which was perfect…script, stage design, story-telling and singers. Dr. Rajeev Mahendru
Prithvi ji, it has been as amazing as always. God Bless You and your team. Thanks a ton for remembering me and my family. Lalit Maheshwari, Lara Global, and Rachna Maheshwari and Purushottam Maheshwari and Indu Maheshwari
Dear Mr. Haldea, Wow - what an incredible show!! Congratulations on such a fantastic event! 'Ibaadat ka Safar' was not only the 'Best of Ibaadat' but, for us, the best show ever!! Your creativity shone through in every part of it, from the concept to the script to the choice of songs to the overall production. The flow of the program was seamless and deeply enjoyable. It’s not easy to bring together such a perfect blend of music and poetry, but you did it, as always, with such elegance and flair - clearly a result of the immense research, thought and effort you put into every detail. Everyone in the auditorium was completely enthralled by the beautiful songs of yesteryears - bringing back fond memories and a great sense of nostalgia. The singers were superb, the choice of songs was spot-on, and each performance was filled with such heart and passion. The mesmerizing music along with the very interesting on-stage conversation and the lovely shaayari made the evening a complete treat!! And what a delightful surprise it was to see dear Pranav, Puja and little Dev take the stage! They sang so beautifully - it’s clear that the talent and love for music runs deep in your family. Their performances added such a warm and personal touch to the evening. God Bless them all! Thank you, again, for an unforgettable experience! Nandini Malhotra, Former Doordarshan Newsreader
Sir the program yesterday was truly wonderful and so beautifully orchestrated My heartfelt congratulations on hosting such a successful show... really superb. It was the first time I attended an Ibaadat program and realised what I had missed in not being able to attend the earlier shows. Preeti Malhotra, Independent Director, AGS Transact Technologies Ltd.
We thank you for the excellent program. Rajni Malhotra, Retd. Teacher
Incomparable. The singers were too good. Ashok Malik
Thank you! It was such a pleasure to be at the show the remarkable weaving of the experiences of the poet, their pains and pleasures, interaction with their children, the beautiful performances and personal connection created with the audience. Thanks Yet another wonderful show. Achal Makan
Ibaadat from the heart and soul indeed. Pam Marwaha, Head, Dept of Social Studies, Air Force School
What an awesome show. Vineet Mehra
Dear Prithvi Bhai, The programme was really mesmerizing, wonderful and awesome. It emotionally transported the audience in the era of those great lyricists. Kudos to you and your team for keeping the audience spell bound for 2 1/2 hours. Presentation, selection of songs and signing was par excellent. The final song - Rahein Na Rahein Hum, was an apt ending to a near perfect programme. A small suggestion - I felt that enactment of the songs by the singers robbed the songs of their emotional depth. It could have been avoided. Otherwise, except for some technical glitches, it was a near perfect presentation. Congratulation to you. Please convey the same to your entire team. Hoping to see many more such magical presentations. How about one more programme in Agra and this time in Sur Sadan? Mradul Mehrotra, Managing Director, Mahim Patran Pvt. Ltd. and Neelam Mehrotra, Retd. Teacher, St. Patrics, Agra
The research and the script were too good. Singers outstanding. Uttam Mehrotra, School Teacher
Thank you so much for inviting us to yet another fantastic Ibaadat program. Our heartiest congratulations to Ibaadat team for this anniversary celebration. Neena Mehta, Learning Head, Riverside School
Dear Mr. Prithvi, I wish to thank you and congratulate you for yesterday's show "Ibaadat ka Safar". We enjoyed it thoroughly. We would wish to contribute in our humble capacity and request you to send a link for us to transfer our contribution. Just a small introduction about us. My wife and me are both senior citizens, now retired with a passion in singing. Post retirement and post a heart surgery I took to singing, being my passion and now I have a YouTube channel and also have songs featured on Saregama and few music apps like Spotify, Amazon music, Wynk etc. Given an opportunity, i would love to be a part of what you are doing. We look forward to seeing your fabulous shows. Rupak Mehta, Former General Manager, Bahwan Group
Very good experience. Sanjeev Mehta
Dear Prithvi, your show was simply exhilarating. My husband and I had a wonderful time listening to our favorite songs for a couple of hours. Your program transports me to a place where I feel so much happiness that my soul and my inner child are both peaceful and joyous at the same time. The feeling is indescribable. Thank you so much for this initiative that you have curated over so many years. I feel so good about caring for Ibaadat that it's meaning gets fulfilled. It is actually like a prayer. Looking forward to more shows...Thanks again for another soulful evening. Gauri Mishra, Prof. and Head-English Dept., College of Vocational Studies
What a wonderful performance, so well researched. The poetry and songs held their sway over everyone present, Rasika Mohan
Sabina has become fond of you (as we all are). Payal for instance hates to travel but for Ibaadat she is always ready! In addition to my affection, I also hold you in esteem. Manoj Mohanka, Chairman, Deccan Chronicle, Kolkata
Marvellous show. Manjeet Mongia
Dear Prithvi, thanks for the amazing show of Ibaadat. This was my first experience and let me admit it was one of kind unique experience. Really appreciate the efforts you and your team must have put in scripting this and staging this. Harish Pai, Head-Treasury, Air India
Outstanding event. Not just Best, but Bestest of the Best! Vivek C. Pande, Founder, Vivea Consulting LLP, Retd. CEO-Lifestyle, Khimjis Oman
The show was "super excellent" as usual. Amazing research and marvellous 'जुनून' to put up the show. Such talented children are God's gift to you. We are lucky to have you and your family in our lives. Cannot thank you enough for the invite. Asha Lata Pandey, Retd. Chairperson, Sanskrit Dept., DPS, RK Puram
The show was highly entertaining, full of pathos created in memories of lyricist. It was a grand success and enjoyable. The performances were better than my earlier experiences. They were mesmerising and they held us fixed with stage not letting the audience even blink eyes. Kudos to you and your team for great show. Pradeep Poddar, Agra
Dear Prithvi, thank you for the opportunity to attend the Ibaadat ka Safar. As usual it was a great show. It is incredible how time after time you produce such high quality. This edition was more interesting due to the sprinkling of anecdotes and background commentary. My best wishes are with you and I am looking forward to the next edition. I have made a small donation. Dhruv Prakash, Director, Indiamart
The show was too good. Inviting the families of the poets was a brilliant idea (though must have been expensive). Sanjeev Puri, Sr. Advocate
Prithvi ji. Thank you for presenting such a marvellous and mesmerizing show taking us back to our times of 60s and 70s. I wish to contribute s sum of Rs 11,000/- as a small contribution for this wonderful effort. Please continue with this great effort. Sukumar Rajagopalan, Founder, Techno Management Services
Impressive....enjoyed. Anuradha Rawat, Bengaluru
Respected Chacha, First of all it was an honour for me to be invited to this one of a kind event - many thanks to you for extending me this invitation. The moment I received the invite, I had decided that I shall travel to Delhi and attend the event for sure. Because if normal Ibaadat shows are so good - then one could only imagine what this kind of show from Ibaadat would be like - and I did not want to miss it for anything. As expected, it was worth the trouble of coming all the way to Delhi from Mumbai to attend the event - in fact it was much more than that. As always it was a delightful evening with a crisp script and excellent singing. What made it more memorable was presence of the family members of the illustrious lyricists who regaled the audience with some beautiful anecdotes from their personal lives. We also came to know in detail about what goes into making of Ibaadat shows and I can only say hats off to you for putting in so much of effort. It is thanks to your pursuit of excellence for Ibaadat that makes this show what it is. And last but not the least - the selection of songs was absolutely amazing. It must have required a massive effort to select few songs that could fit in a two and a half hrs program out of hundreds of songs that these great lyricists have penned. Once again, I thank you for the invite to this memorable event and giving me and all others who were present an unforgettable experience. Ragesh Rawat, Jt. President & Head-Sales-Birla White, Ultratech Cement Ltd.
The show was exemplary. The script and execution of the show was extraordinary. Punctuality is the hallmark of your events. Singers are very melodious. Sheh Rawat, Oncologist, American Oncology Institute
Hats off to you. Anita Relan, Author
Dear Prithvi ji, Congratulations on another well researched, choreographed and presented Ibaadat production " Ibaadat ka Safar. My husband and I were immersed in it thoroughly. Your productions are beautiful. Dr. Vandana Roy, Director Professor and Head Department of Pharmacology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals
The program was awesome! It was so engrossing that I didn't even blink. The one-liners and shers in between were so interesting that I wanted to pen them down. On the whole, the program was classic and incomparable. Abha Saha, Agra
The program was exceptionally good and spell-bounding. Ravindra Kumar Saha, Founder, GM Industrial Corporation. Agra
A super show…an enjoyable evening. Meenu Sahni, Retd. Teacher
I was totally mesmerized. A flawless show. Great concept, great execution. All 3 Haldeas sang so well. Gurudas Sandhu
Dear Prithvi ji amazing programme, performance of artists was par excellence, well curated story and songs. Passion and commitment is reflected in Ibaadat team. You deserve full complement from me. We enjoyed thoroughly. Thanks. Good luck for the continued journey to achieve bigger milestones. Rajender Kumar Sanghi
Thank you for such a lovely evening. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The couplets were at a level which we could understand and enjoy. The singers and music were superb! Sunanda Saraf, Director, RB Shreeram and Co.
As usual the program was fascinating and interesting. Prashant Saran, Retd. Whole Time Member, Securities and Exchange Board of India
Thank you for putting up an amazing show. Kudos to your passion, knowledge, and dedication towards keeping the legacy of great poets and lyricists of India alive. Please plan to bring this programme to US too. Palak Sardana, USA
Our dear Haldeas, It was a musical night par-excellence that we happened to be part of yesterday – the 12th Nov. It was a very well-coordinated program, chalked out to interest all music lovers while paying homage to famous singers and directors of yore. We got to see your petite daughter and her talented son for the first time...and evening where old era came alive. Wishing you all the best for conceptualizing and arranging such a memorable evening. Our grateful thanks for your kind invitation. Meena Sarin, Ex-Principal IESG Tanzania and Mahender Sarin, Consultant, World Bank
Hello, thank you so much for a delightful, wonderfully curated musical evening! It was perfectly executed with great attention to detail! Absolutely divine! Ratna Sawhney, Retd. Thriftshop, Lajpat Bhavan
Excellent show. Thoroughly enjoyed. Jawahar Lal Sehgal
Dear Sir, It was indeed another superlative experience delivered with wit, humour and a playlist of soul-stirring songs garnished with some wonderful anecdotes. To use a “बम्बईया” term, your programmes are always “हट के,” and the one we had the privilege to attend on 12th November was no different. To label it as an evening of film songs would do it disservice - the Ibaadat shows are always so much more, and provide an "experience" that stays with us for a long long time, and whets our appetite for more. So, we are indeed looking forward to your next production and would eagerly await your invite for the same. Shantanu Sen, Head-Public Policy and Partnerships, Broadcast Audience Research Council
Hello Prithvi, The Ibaadat programme was class, it was great to see you and your leadership passion and commitment for everyone joy through music, is unique. Our warm regards and congratulations for such a great show, inspiring and exemplary. Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute
I attended the above show and still haven’t stop talking about it!!! It was so well done! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to see it! Bhavna Seth, Director, Travaholic Stays
Yet another brilliant show. Surely one of its kind. Anita Sharma, Homeopathic Doctor
Loved listening to so many of my favourite songs. Pooja and Pranav were a revelation. Dr. Hitesh Sharma
Prithvi, your show was outstanding…loved your choice of songs and loved the snippets you shared about the musicians What a rare treat to have the children of all the famous talented musicians on stage…and the icing on the cake was the songs by your grandson. What a confident young lad? And so talented...Loved your daughter’s singing too. Stay blessed Priyanka and you…and three cheers to Ibaadat! Thank you once again for the mesmerising experience. Radhika Sharma
Thank you Prithvi for as usual a terrific show. I know it is too much to pack in one show but I missed the special anecdotes about the lyricist and the songs. My colleagues also enjoyed and were really appreciating you personally taking care of the passes and arrangements. Sanjay Sharma, Chief Financial Officer, Air India Ltd.
Your connect with the audience is too good and rare. Seeta Sharma, Interior Designer
Dear Prithvi ji, we really enjoyed the program very much. Really a great result of your hard work and dedicated efforts of your small team. We have sent out donation cheque for Rs 4k. Amrita Tripathi Sheikh, Retd. Associate Professor, Miranda House, Delhi University and Shahid, Consultant, Shahid Sheikh
In one word…magic. Shailendra Sibal
Super. Duper. B.S. Sidhu
Bringing together 8 geetkaars into one show…incredible. Such an interesting, fast-paced script…a very high-quality show. Sudip Sikka, Portfolio Manager
A perfect programme. Baldev Singh
Fantastic. Please keep doing such shows and please keep connecting with hearts. Mahinder Singh
Hi Sir, the show was simply superb (as usual). I feel putting together a 'best of 8' is tougher than focusing on 1 poet. You did a remarkable job in this different format. The presence of the special families made it so complete. Your grandson, daughter and Pranav were awesome. What a talented family. By the way, the graceful way you handled the technical glitches was a great lesson in itself. It made the show even more amazing. Ravi Pratap Singh, Retd. Executive Director, Nucleus Software Exports Ltd.
Dear Mr. Prithvi, thanks for the invitation. I must say I had a mesmerizing evening. Have seen many live performances and this one is one of its kind. I didn't feel like getting up even once as didn't want to miss a bit. Format of the program was too good for any comparison. My best wishes for you and team for many more success. Sangeeta Singh, Air India
Passion and insight were so evident. Great to hear the kids and grand kid! They did so well. Anil Sinha, IFC, World Bank Group
Every second of being present for Ibaadat Foundation show has been more than worth it. Thanks a lot for such amazing work. Ashutosh Sinha, Sr. Editor, The Economic Times
Dear Prithvi ji, Congratulations and complements on another wonderful show which we enjoyed every minute of, your dedication and talent was so apparent and appreciated. Lavi Sinha
Dear Mr. Haldea, Ibaadat is the most beautiful music program I have the opportunity go to. Ibaadat speaks to my heart. I have been to a few music concerts of big known singers but always come back thinking I could have enjoyed that beautiful music more in my own home. But each time I come to your Ibaadat I go away in awe marvelling at how you put together such a heart touching music evening! How many many hours of love and labor must have gone in putting it together. Each time you start the program on time and end on time I give a big salute to you and your team. Your dedication and professionalism are evident from beginning to finish of the musical evening. I want to thank you and your team for putting out this unique meaningful and heart touching music night to honour the music genius of the bygone days. With humble gratefulness. Thank you for inviting Raj and I to this beautiful program for the last three years. Ankur Sirohi
Dear Prithvi, Words cannot express the beauty of the show. It was mesmerizing. Songs woven beautifully into the script, which you researched so diligently. Eagerly awaiting the next show. Cheers to team Ibaadat. Arun Sogani, CEO, Sysnet Global Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Lavalina Sogani Secretary, Vimukti Sanstha
The show was simply outstanding. Dev was the show stealer. Bharti Sood
What a fabulous show uncle. Heartiest congratulations on bringing such fabulous musical and poetic evenings to life. You must publish a book on all the couplets you research as they cannot just be found! The audience was having such a great time. And glad you emotionally blackmailed Pooja to sing!!!! She was outstanding. Bhawna Talwar, Partner, EY
2.5 hours of magic! How you put together 8 shaayars into one show…incredible. Gurcharan Talwar, Retd. Army
Thanks for inviting us to yesterday’s memorable Ibaadat event! Congratulations Prithvi ji. What a mesmerising programme. Shows your research, effort, selection of songs. क्या-क्या तारीफ़ करूं. No words. Thanks for inviting. Lata Tandon, Director, Surtaal
Congratulations. Such a melodious evening...unforgettable. Your diligence shows. Narinder Thukral, Retd. Banker
Wonderful evening, as usual. Thanks so much for making us a part of it. Your hard work and more so, love for it, shines through. Wishing you many more. Reva Tripathi, Sr. Consultant and HoD, Sitaram Bhartia Hospital
Dear Haldea Saab, we thoroughly enjoyed the programme. आपके programme की special ख़ासियत ये है कि वो दिल को ही नहीं, रूह को ख़ुश करता है. We know that it takes a lot from you to put it up together but I can most honestly submit that we shall be indebted to you for all time to come. Anil Tyagi, Former Vice Chancellor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
The programme was as usual amazing. We have sent ₹2000/ as donation. Jyothi Unniraman, Dy. Director, All India Management Association
It was a beautiful show. I feel honoured to have been a part of Ibaadat’s journey since the last 10 years. Mamta Vaish, Counsellor, Sanjivini Society for Mental Health
Prithvi, your shows are so well crafted that one has to dig deep to even find areas of improvement and give you any suggestions. I have had to look outside the box to suggest something different that maybe you can look towards the suggestion. How about moving ahead from the Lyrics Champions and move towards their partners i.e. the Music Directors. Rajan Varma, Retd. PWC India, Retd. Director Finance, Dabur India Ltd
Dear Mr. Haldea, the show was exquisite, as always. One thing I noticed this time was that the average age of the audience was 60+ years. Hence audience participation was good. Ravi Varma, Sr. Partner, Dentons Link Legal
Amazing, amazing show. Please stay the way you are…authentic, well-researched and such an amazing format. It is such a personal connect with the artists family...It is sheer magic…only feedback will be that please have more shows. Ritu Venkatesh, Income Tax Officer, Department of Income Tax
Dear Mr. Haldea, As fabulous, as always. The Ibaadat Ka Safar was a beautiful journey on a path of melody and poetry. The show also was poignant in the fact that we missed watching so many gems unfold on the stage. Hoping that there would be some repeats in the future for us to enjoy. The show, like all Ibaadat programmes, was thoughtfully curated by you and your team. You have elevated the art of showcasing Hindi Film lyricists to another level. The set up, the selection of songs, the intermittent shaayari, the conversations with the close family members of the great lyricists were a treasure to behold! Many of the songs chosen became earworms for the next few days and we played them at home from various sources. The appetite for the continuing Ibaadat Ka Safar can never be whetted. Keenly looking forward to the programme on Anand Bakshi ji that is coming up. Wishing you and your team all the very best in continuing to make the beautiful Ibaadat Ka Safar even more memorable in the years to come. V.P. Venkatesh, Consultant, Zuno General Insurance Co. and Retd. Head- Reinsurance, Edelweiss General Insurance Co. Ltd.
Dear Shri Prithvi Saheb, It was a marvelous performance. The platform and the organisational support you have provided is unparalleled. Let this organisation spread its wings and become a Global set ip. It may also foray into other related verticals of music, dance, art and entertainment. Let it also become a Centre for Excellence for learning in these stated fields. In due course, it may get corporatised also. Our all the best wishes are with you. Let God bless Ibaadat! Chandra Shekhar Verma, Chairman, SML Isuzu Ltd. and Former Chairman and Managing Director, Steel Authority of India Ltd. and Archana Verma
Thanks for such a beautiful celebration of music woven with passionate story telling. Rashmi Verma, Corporate Lawyer
Your best show. Shalini Verma
Dear Mr. Haldea, This is to take a moment to thank you for the kind invitation to the musical evening. It was such a delightful experience and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. The performances were exceptional and the atmosphere you created was both elegant and welcoming. Sir, you and your team evidently put a lot of thought and effort in organizing it and it was extremely memorable. It’s clear you have a wonderful gift for bringing people together through music. Please know how much I appreciated being part of such a lovely occasion. Vikram Vig, Sr.Vice President, Indusind Bank Ltd.
Dear Mr. Haldea, I absolutely enjoyed even if some of the poetry went above my head!! My guests Dr Ashwan Kapur and his wife Palka also enjoyed the show very much and thank you for having arranged invites for them as well. Permit me to make a small donation of Rs.25000/- to the Ibaadat Foundation. I have not given up on my endeavour to bring Ibaadat to a Bangalore audience. With every best wish to you and your family and the Ibaadat family. Shekar Viswanathan, Retd. Vice Chairman and Whole-time Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Pvt. Ltd.
Dear Prithvi Bhai, hats off to you for conceiving and showcasing a spectacular spell binding Ibaadat evening on 12th. With a big hug to you! As before, and it goes without saying that, I will be making another contribution to Ibaadat in the coming days. It was delightful to hear your daughter and your grandson perform on stage! Inder Walia, Sr. Advisor and Board Member
Dear Prithvi Bhai, It was an eminently enjoyable and unforgettable experience. Through this series of programmes, you and your team has made an enormous and weighty contribution to preservation and enhancement of the memory of unforgettable lyricists, maestro music directors and soulful singers of the golden age of Hindi film music. This evening also introduced us to the process and hard work involved in putting together this sort of a programme. Your clarity of vision in not having any Chief guests, speeches, tickets, sponsors and bouquets and your steadfast adherence to these principles is praise worthy indeed. We consider ourselves fortunate in having attended at least four of your programmes in Delhi. Our warm congratulations to you and your team members on adding yet another feather in your cap. Manoj Yadava, Director General, Railway Protection Force
Gone but not forgotten—Delhi keeps its date with Majrooh Sultanpuri, Madan Mohan golden hits. The performance ‘Ibaadat ka Safar’ weaved together tales of lyricists' lives, the journey behind the timeless songs, unforgettable moments, and poetry. Ibaadat Foundation celebrated its 13th anniversary with a musical show titled Ibaadat Ka Safar at the Kamani Auditorium in Delhi on 12 November. Songs, stories, laughter, and a nostalgia-filled audience often broke into a chorus as the renditions of their beloved lyricists were performed. That’s how the anniversary celebration of the Ibaadat Foundation began and ended on Tuesday evening in Delhi, which saw hundreds of fans brave the pollution to keep a date with the unforgettable lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri, Madan Mohan, Shailendra and others from the golden era. The stage, set up to resemble a dining hall, was not only filled with artists but also with the family members of the lyricists whose lives were being celebrated — Saba Sultanpuri, daughter of Majrooh Sultanpuri; Sangeeta Gupta, daughter of Madan Mohan; Dinesh Shailendra, son of Shailendra; Rajesh Duggal, son of Rajinder Krishan and many more. “Not only does our format set us apart, but the hard work that goes into it makes the show unlike anything else. From old archives and online research to reaching out to the people who were connected to the poet, every effort brings the show to life,” said Prithvi Haldea, founder of the Ibaadat Foundation, an initiative celebrating the lyricists of a bygone era. The spell-binding performance titled “Ibaadat ka Safar” at the Kamani Auditorium weaved together captivating tales of lyricists’ lives, the journey behind the timeless songs, some unforgettable moments, and, of course, poetry. It’s a 10-year-old effort by the foundation to pay tribute to the film industry’s much-ignored army of poets and songwriters. Movie histories and celebrations are mostly obsessed with stars and singers and have notoriously paid less to lyricists and pushed them into the background. In the past decade, the nostalgia industry has grown and there is a hunger for information about the bygone era. In recent years, more books, plays and performances have tapped into this appetite. To celebrate the significant contributions of lyricists and poets in the music world artists performed songs written by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shailendra, Shakeel Badayuni, Rajinder Krishan, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The innovative approach of the show was evident from the very first performance, with its “no orchestra” rule. Instead, the team collaborated with music directors to create high-quality, pre-recorded tracks, allowing the singers to focus on delivering powerful renditions of the songs without the distraction of an orchestra. “An orchestra would have distracted the audience from our storytelling, and it would also have made the stage look overcrowded,” said Haldea. The entire auditorium, packed with an engaged audience, was constantly clapping, laughing, or singing along with the artists, their eyes closed in deep connection with the performance. What began as a humble experiment with just 250 attendees nearly a decade ago has now grown into a phenomenon where the organisers have to turn fans away due to house-full shows. “People call and message us for tickets, and we have to say no because we get short of seats,” said Prithvi Haldea. On Tuesday evening, the audience enjoyed the stories as songs such as Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri Muhabbat ki Kasam (Mere Mehboob, 1963) and Jab Pyaar Kiya to Darna Kya (Mughal-E-Azam, 1960) both written by Shakeel Badayuni; Raat Akeli Hai Bujh Gaye Die (Jewel Thief, 1967) by Majrooh Sultanpuri; Tere Mere Sapne (Guide, 1965) by Shailendra echoed nearly six decades after they were first penned. Haldea had a vague idea about what he wished to do for the lyricists. But he wanted to confirm his hypothesis. To test people’s knowledge of lyricists, he conducted an informal survey among 100 people, asking them about the song Chaudhavin Ka Chand. While most could recall the melody and the singer, Mohammed Rafi, only two people out of 100 could name the lyricist, Shakeel Badayuni. The abysmal apathy toward Bollywood lyricists even among the die-hard fans of the songs shocked Haldea. Film songs became popular largely because of their lyrics, yet people often forget the lyricists behind them. As a lover of poetry, Haldea wished to undo this injustice. In 2011, he founded an organisation dedicated to celebrating lyricists, their work, and their lives through a musical show. “Television, radio, or social media, everybody talks about film heroes-heroines, singers and music directors. No one ever felt that the lyricist should also be introduced,” said Haldea, the founder of Ibaadat, and founder of Prime Database, which offers all information about capital markets. While cassettes and CDs with ‘hits of Dev Anand’ or ‘Kishore Kumar hits’ or ‘Hits of RD Burman’ were popular in the 1980s and the 1990s, lyricists didn’t get the same spot in the hall of fame. A group of friends from diverse backgrounds came on one platform – all tied together by their shared love for Bollywood songs and shaayari. Haldea himself had made a name and built a successful business in the financial market world. Dinesh Kothari, who is based out of Dubai, is a Chartered Accountant. Fond of Hindi poetry and Urdu shaayari, Kothari has been providing support to poets. Akhil Gupta is vice chairman of Bharti Enterprises, India’s second-largest telecom operator. Also associated with the initiative are Vishnu Dusad, co-founder and MD, Nucleus Software, and Haldea’s friend and lawyer Vijay Singh Yadav. “I want people to understand that these are not just songs, but poetry in lyrical form. Lyrics are the soul of songs, and songs can’t survive without a soul,” said Haldea. But Haldea had a rocky start to the endeavour. The very first door he knocked on was slammed shut. The first-ever show of Ibaadat was an experiment, a risky endeavour to create a new format where poetry, music, and storytelling come together. And he hoped the family of the lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri would be elated about the planned celebration of his life. “Majrooh Sultanpuri was a difficult subject to choose.” recalled Haldea. He delved into archives and travelled across the country to uncover books and stories about lyricists. However, it wasn’t that easy. Eventually, Majrooh’s daughter, Saba, agreed to meet him. Their conversation led to a valuable collaboration, with Saba joining the first Ibaadat show as a guest, adding an emotional and authentic touch to the performance. “I still remember the first call by Haldea and the next day he visited me from Delhi to Mumbai just to know about my father,” said Saba Sultanpuri. That’s how the first show of Ibaadat premiered at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi on 12 November 2011. It was a simple, intimate gathering of just 250 people in the audience. It was a success. The group had tapped into an unexplored catchment. “At first, the audiences were mostly 40 plus. Now, young people are also coming to our programs. We are not targeting only old people and taking them into the old era. Our goal is that lyricists who have done good work should get recognition,” added Haldea. One of the most touching aspects of Ibaadat’s journey is the emotional bond it has forged with its audience. Over the years, even as the audience size grew larger, the intimacy of shared Bollywood nostalgia grew deeper. “After the shows, some people are so moved that they can’t even speak, but you can see tears in their eyes,” recalled singer Supriya Joshi. The Ibaadat website features a feedback section where messages are attached to the details of each show. “Words cannot describe how I felt during and after the show. A great effort… I am truly overwhelmed”; “Unforgettable evening”; “This was quite easily the most magical music event we have ever experienced” are just some of the heartfelt messages shared by the audience. Each program of Ibaadat is based on nearly a year of research, including reading the poet’s work and speaking with their family and friends. Each show features 16-18 of the poet’s best songs, performed by singers. For example, the process of creating a show about a lyricist like Majrooh Sultanpuri involved gathering not just his famous songs and writings, but also lesser-known works and personal stories that can connect with the audiences. “There are stories about these lyricists that you will not even find on Google searches. Prithvi ji has done such good research on the lyricists, we present anecdotes and information about their lives, which he has collected from their family members. He meets them and writes all the information into the script. And it takes him months to write one script,” added Joshi. The two-and-a-half-hour–long musical that made the audiences travel back in time, had a quintessential ending underlying the classics these golden era lyricists have left back. The song was ‘Rahen Na Rahen Hum’ written by Majrooh Sultanipuri.Almina Khatoon, ThePrint