A dash of nostalgia

Indie singer Ankur Tewari, whose debut album Jannat made him a popular name, is set to re-visit his good old days at a concert, where he will perform some of his oldest compositions

A dash of nostalgia

Indie singer Ankur Tewari, whose debut album Jannat made him a popular name, is set to re-visit his good old days at a concert, where he will perform some of his oldest compositions

Singer and songwriter Ankur Tewari, who started composing music in his school days, calls himself a living room musician. "I used to play in the living rooms of my friends and the intimate setting offered the perfect atmosphere for a great musical evening," he says.

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At a concert titled From the Archives -- One Night Only, Ankur plans to perform some of his oldest compositions that were created during his school and college days. "The only problem is that I would need a decent amount of rehearsals," he says, emphasising the fact that he hasn't re-visited the songs in a long time. "I am making a checklist and I will be singing as long as the audience wants to hear me," says the 34-year old with a smile.

Ankur Tewari. Pic/ Santosh Nagwekar

From hotel to show business
Ankur hails from Roorkee and completed a degree in Hotel Management from Bhopal. But all the while he was burning with a passion for music. "I was always composing music. During my college days, I started performing in a hotel nearby. By the time I finished my course I was sure that I was going to be a musician," he recalls.

A musician's journey
Having come to Mumbai once but unable to get a break, Ankur went to Delhi. He returned eight years ago and since then has made Mumbai his home. Ask him if it was a struggle making it as a musician in the city of dreams and he says, "I wouldn't call it a struggle as I knew what I wanted to do -- make music and write stories. It also provided fodder for my music. I remember a time when I didn't have enough money even to pay the rent; I then wrote a song about being broke," he explains.

His words not only reflect his love for music but for life itself. Talking about his song Jannat, which was based on a Vipassana course conducted by Kiran Bedi for 12 prisoners convicted of murder, Ankur says, "I realised that we usually judge people by standing on a moral pedestal. Jannat was born out of that. I felt that each person, even if he is judged a criminal, should get a piece of heaven. I still believe every person has the right to get a piece of Jannat," he signs off.

On: Today, 9 pm onwards
At: Cafe Chez Moi, Shop no 13, Building no 3, ONGC complex, opposite Lilavati Hospital, Bandra Reclamation,
Bandra (W).
Entry: Free