In memory of the beloved grandpa

Do lafzon ki hai kahani, from The Great Gambler, was the song with which Abhay Goel commenced his piano recital. It is not the song that he loves the most.

But it was his grandfather’s favourite song which Goel decided to play to mark his grandfather’s death anniversary. “Each year I organise a piano concert in the memory of my grandfather and play one of his favourite songs,” said Goel, who recently performed at the Essex Farms, Aurobindo Marg.

The 19-year-old played mesmerising numbers like Lag jaa Gale, Main tenu samjhawan, Raat kali ek khawab aayi. On special request of the audience, he played Titanic’s Every night in my dream. As the theme of the concert was ‘Cruise’ so was the set up of the place where the event was organised.

According to the talented teen’s father, Ashish Goel, they wanted to take an element of nature as the theme for the evening. “We chose water as the theme and cruise emerged from it,” he told Metrolife.

To grace the occasion, friends and members from his family were present, including Abhinav Chaturvedi, of films like Baaz, Suryavanshi, Yodha and Saudagar fame. Goel’s piano guru Jaideep Laktakia also marked his presence at the event.

The youngster started learning piano when he was just six. “My grandfather used to make me sit with him while playing piano. The first song that he taught me was Om Jai Jagdish. I instantly learned the first four lines he taught me.

Next day he made me learn the next four lines of the song. Thereafter, there was no end to it,” he says enthusiastically.

He gave his first recital in public when he was eight. The concert was organsied by his grandfather, who besides being a pianist was the owner of a hospitality firm.  

“I performed with various artistes like Kavita Krishnamurthi, Anoop Jalota, Pankaj Udhas and Nitin Mukesh,” said Goel. It was in 2005 when he lost his beloved grandpa on December 25.

“Since then I organise a piano concert in his memory and play one of his favourite tracks,” he said, adding, “I want to continue with piano as my passion and join my family business.