Ghalib's Dilli comes alive as live music befriends pretty platters at some old world eateries in town
Ghalib's Dilli comes alive as live music befriends pretty platters at some old world eateries in town
When Delhi was still Dilli and the last of the Shahenshahs ruled and the White Mughals hadn't bombarded their way through all traces of a fine culture, there was a born a tradition. With shayars like Mirza Ghalib filling Dilli's air with poignant words, even the most mundane chores became an indulgence of the senses. Every meal, even the most meager, was turned into a festival accompanied with soulful poetry and songs. The tradition, borrowed from the Mughal palaces, became a part of the not-so-kingly meals as well.
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Even when Dilli became Delhi, the tradition lived on. Today, however, you only find hackneyed snatches of the rich heritage recorded Bollywood tracks killing rather than appealing to your tastes.
Tandoori tale: One such heritage-keeper is the Moti Mahal restaurant at Daryaganj in the Walled City. Established around Independence, the eatery is famous for its juicy tandoori preparations and the khasta rotis. But what many don't know and patrons can't do without, is that it is one of the few places in Delhi where live music accompanies dinner.
So as you relax under the star-lit sky, with just a fragrant mesh of flowering veil keeping the dark night away, ghazals fill the air.
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Though Giri Sharma and Company cannot be termed the best ghazal artists in the city, they add to the intoxicating mix of Old Delhi's romance and lip-smacking Mughlai cuisine. They don't deviate from ghazals and love when diners send in requests.
Mere ghar aangan: For better music, walk into Aangan, the Indian restaurant at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Bikaji Cama, where live ghazals have just made a comeback.
The artist, Divyyajyoti, is a veteran, a familiar voice on the circuit for the last decade, and doesn't fail to impress. He mixes soft Bollywood numbers with ghazals to make your candle-lit dining experience unforgettable.
"I have been singing in hotels for the last 11 years and love to see people enjoy their food with my music. The beauty of Indian traditional music is such that even foreigners, who don't understand the lyrics, sway along as I sing," says the soft-spoken Divyyajyoti.
At Aangaan, just to maintain the balance, Divyyajyoti plays instrumental music till 9 pm and then begins the soothing ghazals. "Foreign guests often don't understand Hindi and don't like our songs. But they enjoy our music. Instrumental music is the safest," says Divyyajyoti, who feels his evening is successful when guests send in song requests. "Jagjit Singh is a favourite with diners in Delhi. I sing the ghazal at least twice every evening."
Enjoy musical evenings over morsels at
Moti Mahal
Where: 3703, Netaji Subhash Marg, Daryaganj
Cuisine: North Indian
Call: 23273011, 23273661
Live Indian music on all days except Tuesdays
Angaan
Where: Hyaat Regency
Bhikaiji Cama Place, Ring Road,
Cuisine: North Indian
Call: 2679 1234
Live Indian music till 11 pm on all days
Bhowani Junction
Where: The Connaught,
37 Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg
Cuisine: Multicuisine, Northern, Continental, Chinese
Call: 23364225
Light, live Indian music on all days
Daawat
Where: A-3, Green Park
Cuisine: Continental, Chinese
Call: 26857660/ 26857660
Live contemporary Indian music
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