Chandigarh 1 December, 2024: Record-breaking crowds gathered on Sunday, shopping was done in full swing in the bright sunshine, youth, women, children from Tricity and surrounding areas were seen enjoying the fair throughout the day. The special attraction of the 14th Chandigarh National Crafts Mela being held at Kalagram was the presence of acclaimed Bollywood singers including Suresh Wadkar, his wife Padma Wadkar and Amit Kumar. We spoke to Suresh Wadkar and his wife Padma Wadkar to know what their visit to the beautiful city of Chandigarh means to them.
Suresh Wadkar said “I was really excited when I got the invitation to perform at the Crafts Mela. It was a déjà vu moment for me and my wife Padma. It took me back to my childhood days when I came to perform at a classical music concert at Tagore Theatre. I was overwhelmed by the tremendous response I received from the audience including my 'Guruji' under whose guidance I learned the nuances of singing. I was 14 years old then. The memories of the city of dreams remained etched in my mind.
“Then, decades later, after entering Bollywood and joining the ranks of the industry's biggest singers, I shared the stage with my guru. I consider myself fortunate for that. He appreciated my work and I will always be grateful for that. It was a huge morale booster for me to move ahead in the competitive music industry,” he said.
The second opportunity to visit Chandigarh came my way when I was invited to an award ceremony for my humble contribution to the world of music. It was indeed a cause of joy for me as I got a chance to visit the city, which is known for its high-end architectural marvels and its clean green environment. The city is known for being a city of music-loving citizens.
When asked who is his favourite singer in the industry, he said, “My all-time favourite singers include Rafi sahab, Kishore da, Mukesh ji, Manna Dey and their contemporaries, who were like Gods to me and many like me. Whenever I get some free time, I hum Lata ji's famous songs. She is one of my top female singers.
On his Padma Shri award, he said, "I was given the award at the age of 63, while there are instances where people in the industry got such awards at the age of 25. I had to wait for decades despite being in the industry for more than five decades. But no complaints." Chandigarh is not a new city for his wife Padma Wadkar.
She has accompanied him to the city of dreams on several occasions. "I am a huge fan of Punjab and its people, who are known for their big hearts and unfailing courtesy. When asked what she likes about Punjab, she said she loves Punjabi food the most. She would definitely eat at roadside dhabas.
She said she has many unforgettable memories of the city which she would like to cherish forever.
The last time I was in Chandigarh was for a government concert. I remember well how fans were excited about Suresh ji's presence and were requesting him to sing their favourite old hit song, which he graciously sang. The singing couple performed their evergreen hit solo and duet songs on Sunday evening.