Prologue
At a recently conducted music event in her singing classes, my daughter Arya won the highest accolades amongst a host of other talented singers from her class. Here’s a tribute to all those who helped Arya in her journey, which in many ways, has just begun.
P.S. The videos links are available at the end of this piece.
This one’s for you…Arya
That, essentially, sums up how Arya lives life; akin to a bird in full flight. She is carefree, happy and has an infectiously lovable quality about her. She lives each day to the fullest – an essential component of each day being Music.
While she goes through the motions in doing all her daily chores, Music is an extra. It is a rare embodiment of her soul, not a mere condition required to be fulfilled. She absorbs music, wallows in it, remembers and recites it to near perfection. Music sets her free. It lets her be. Her mind – otherwise trapped in the humdrum of everyday life – finds a perfect escape in the musical universe. With nothing to hold it back, the mind breaks its shackles to create a symphony orchestra on the panorama of the virtual stage. |
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Arya’s singing is like an open sky – clear and boundless. There’s a
Bindaasquality in her rendition, which is what she brought to the fore in her recent Jam event. And yet, something was different. Usually Arya’s singing is accompanied by lot of restless movements, but this time she brought a lot of poise, grace and steadiness in her voice, that won her the accolades. It was as if the swish of a wand had magically transformed the bubbly child into a poised young girl. |
This one’s for you… Shagrieka & Shagota Chakraborty
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It is very difficult to restrain Arya. Especially when it is anything to do with music. She is constantly excited – largely because she is very happy and in no mood to follow the rules. Which is all fine. Only it affects her performance, or at least it used to. Until Shagrieka Chakraborty happened. Shagrieka is one of the teachers (and co-owner) at Shagota Music Academy, where Arya has been training for the past 2 years. Shagrieka is an extremely talented singer and a wonderful teacher, apart from being an amazing human being. |
Like her mother (Shagota), Shagrieka too has the ability and patience to teach singing to a log of wood, if need be. But what she has done with Arya is beyond words. It’s sheer magic! To nurture a young soul, and one as restless as Arya, takes enormous patience and perseverance. To understand Arya, to believe in her talent and then to make her achieve her potential requires an innate love for music and a desire to nurture. |
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While it is still early days and Arya still has a long way to go, we are forever indebted to Shagrieka & Shagota ma’am for taking Arya under their tutelage. Take a bow, Shagrieka! |
This one’s for you…all the Rest of Us
A number of people keep Arya motivated and don different hats to help her.
Her Aaji, who takes her to her class to Matunga every week. Rajesh – the ubiquitous mama – always around and amongst other things, gets Arya back from her class. Archana – mom – the central figure around whom Arya’s day revolves. Rest of the Rest of us – Star Yaar Parivar – who contribute in our own small ways to make Arya’s day. |
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Tailpiece…
This is just the beginning. Arya still has a long way to go. But with each passing day, it never ceases to amaze me how my child has grown, always overcoming challenges that life has thrown at her. And she does it with a remarkable attitude and a smile that never fades. As her teacher Shagrieka puts it – “There’s so much that we need to learn from Arya.”
Amen to that!
As Arya continues her onward journey, here’s a few lines from the wonderful Taare Zameen Par song, which is an apt reflection of her self
Yeh To Jhonke Hai Pawan Ke,
Hai Yeh Ghungroo Jeevan Ke,
Yeh To Sur Hai Chaman Ke…
12 Comments
Archana Soparkar · April 21, 2018 at 11:23 pm
Excellent post. love you Arya!
Rajesh · April 22, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Awesome Arya & Awesome article. !!! Good to see sopakatales back in action.
Rajan · April 22, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Wow awesome….keep it up aarya…love u sweety girl…great parents adi archana n not to forget Rajesh mama…keep it up guys n thanks for sharing the joyous moment…
Jitendra pandit · April 22, 2018 at 11:09 pm
So proud of her
TANYA POWELL · April 23, 2018 at 1:29 am
This is so beautiful, precious , heartmoving and inspiring.. well done arya.. bless you , you are blessed with the loving support
. Your pillars of strength your mom , dad and uncle as well as teachers who have faith in you all the way…
Aunty Tanya
Sameer Warik · April 23, 2018 at 6:49 am
Awesome Arya….
star yaar parivar zindabad…
sopaka tales after ages…. but back with a bang….
wowvie to read and feel the success….
all the very besht to Arya and the entire team….
Sumeet Vaid · April 23, 2018 at 7:41 am
Dear Aditya this is beautiful story about a beautiful girl Arya written by an Awsome Dad this is just the Beginning for Arya Best is yet to come keep rocking Arya
Jai Ho
Sonia Telang · April 23, 2018 at 8:26 am
Superb article,great Arya!love you Arya!
Aparna Padgaonkar · April 23, 2018 at 8:56 am
Lovely piece. God bless..
Arya ia an angel who has hold the entire family together through her charm.. love you, Arya.
And Aditya , waiting for many more pieces from you.
Sur n phrases should keep flowing.
Shivani · April 23, 2018 at 12:01 pm
Love you so much, babu! More powrer and lots and lots of love and kisses ?
Aini · April 23, 2018 at 10:25 pm
God’s special gift…precious and priceless. Love you a lot Arya! God bless you always…Dedicated to her..her favorite on demand song..
मेरे घर आई एक नन्ही परी, एक नन्ही परी
चांदनी के हसीन रथ पे सवार
मेरे घर आई …
उसकी बातों में शहद जैसी मिठास
उसकी सासों में इतर की महकास
होंठ जैसे के भीगे-भीगे गुलाब
गाल जैसे के बहके-बहके अनार
मेरे घर आई …
उसके आने से मेरे आंगन में
खिल उठे फूल गुनगुनायी बहार
देख कर उसको जी नहीं भरता
चाहे देखूँ उसे हज़ारों बार
मेरे घर आई …
मैने पूछा उसे के कौन है तू
हंसके बोली के मैं हूँ तेरा प्यार
मैं तेरे दिल में थी हमेशा से
घर में आई हूँ आज पहली बार
मेरे घर आई …
sopakatales · April 29, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Thanks all, for the wonderful comments… It’s baby steps yet for Arya in the singing world and with your blessings and her Gurus’ teachings, she is sure to go a long way.. Love you all
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