Well, this is not a perfect example of ‘following in your father’s footsteps’, but Ankita Kumar, daughter of Neeraj Kumar, the Commissioner of Police did something to make her father very proud.
She charmed the City at IIT Delhi, with her piano performance Harmony that celebrated music from across borders. The one-and-a-half hour instrumental event featured music from across the world on the piano. Accompanied by the rhythms on the tabla and strings of the guitar, the evening witnessed Hindi film songs from the black and white era, techno rich Bollywood music, Boney M songs and timeless English classic tunes on the piano.
The music was mounted on a rich canvas as old melodies like O Haseena zulfon waali, kahin door jab din dhal jaaye, ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si to the latest songs Itni si khushi itni si hasii (from Barfi!), Tum hee ho from Aashiqui 2 were beautifully played on the piano by Ankita.
Ankita aimed to unleash the power of music that speaks no language yet breaks barriers and binds the world to sing the harmonious tune of life. “Through this programme, I wanted to pay a tribute to my father for a glorious four decades’ career in uniform and a successful innings,” said Ankita.
Ankita was drawn to the instrument at the age of 12 when she first heard piano maestro Brian Silas play. Since then her journey with the piano has culminated into an epic romance between the instrument and her. Today twenty performances old, a music album to her credit and the launch of her music school, Ankita continues to scale new heights in her tryst with the magical instrument.
She has also performed at various solo concerts and events including Melody Lane, Amra Sabai at Talkatora Stadium (2012), Resonance (2011), Yaadein (2010) and Summer Sonata (2010). She is also the recipient of the prestigious Sanatan Sangeet Sankriti Award given to her in 2011 for being the most promising young musician of the country.
The blend of music and emotion was witnessed by an elite gathering comprising politicians, diplomats, artistes and music lovers from across the City. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Brian Silas who is also Ankita’s guru were amongst those who attended the event.