If you are in a mood for some retro Hindi music then head to Kaviko auditorium in Mylapore on June 29 at 4 p.m. There are no tickets for this show. A motley bunch of music enthusiastic promise to make it a nostalgia fest for lovers of old Hindi songs. Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi’s melodious presentation of love in Saaz e dil chhed de from Passport will be the highlight of the evening.
Twenty passionate singers make up ShreeDhwani, a music group that meets to rewind to good old Hindi songs. It started in 2013 when Mohan Krishnan and V. Sivasubramaniam met at a friend’s son’s wedding reception. The host wanted some old Hindi melodies to be sung and this music journey began with fanfare but quiet determination.
“The two of us managed to sing for close to three hours as requests after requests poured in from guests. That is when we thought: why not bring like-minded people together?” says Mohan Krishnan, who retired as general manager from Reserve Bank of India.
In the initial years, the group would rent an auditorium for the performances. (Now, they meet at a school)
ShreeDhwani continued without any hindrances until the pandemic, when the routine was disrupted.
In 2023, ShreeDhwani was revived with a renewed focus.
“The coming event is special as it is the first anniversary of ShreeDwani 2.0,” says Mohan, who has a database of 500 songs and also anchors along with singing. Since this year, the group has started raising funds for a cause. The proceeds from the February show was given to Dignity Foundation’s Dementia Day Care Centre. “So far we have not raised funds through sale of tickets but we get sponsors. We plan to raise funds for old age homes and organisations working towards autism awareness,” says Mohan, a resident of RA Puram and a professional storyteller.
Legendary singers
Renditions of songs by Hemant Kumar, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt feature in the performances. Among themes based on musicians include an RD Burman show, artistes from Bengal and Mohammed Rafi (two events are held a year in his memory).
The eclectic mix of the group makes the performance rich. “We would have met either at a performance or on a common platform, and most of us are either retired or reaching retirement,” says Mohan, adding that they take karaoke support.
There is Badrinarayana who retired from the Indian Institute of Fashion Technology; Sukanya, a student of Carnatic musician M.L. Vasanthakumari; Neeta, a medical administration professional; and Vishwa Padmanabhan, a practising chartered accountant.
A. Surya Narayana Rao, an octogenarian and correspondent of Jawahar Vidyalaya Schools, and a connoisseur of music, gives the team infrastructure support by offering a space at the school at no cost.
Sixty-two-year-old V. Sivasubramaniam says there is so much learning and sharing in the group and that makes every event special. “I was not well-versed in Hindi when I started singing. I had the lines written in English. It was Mohan who mentored most of us,” says the cost accountant who retired from the Southern Railway.
Sheettal Rayathatha, a storyteller-cum-psychologist, who is taking part for the second time, says the motivation that she got from the group when she sang her first song was a big moral booster to join the platform and quench her thirst for Hindi melodies.
To connect with the group members, call 9840322236/ 8610888056/ 9840091290
Published – June 21, 2025 10:49 pm IST