As I drove towards the hills to get rid of the scorching Delhi heat this past week, Salil Chowdhury was my trusted companion. Of course, the conversation began with the ultimate travel song, ‘Suhana safar aur ye mausam haseen’ (Madhumati), but, as rain clouds gathered, the subtle undertone of longing and wistfulness in Mukesh’s voice gave way to an interplay of rain and romance in Lata Mangeshkar’s ethereal voice in ‘O sajna barkha bahar aayi’ (Parakh). Soon, Talat Mahmood came on with a velvety riposte in the form of ‘Itna na tu mujh se pyaar badha ki main ik badal awara” (Chhaya), and the time melted away. Revisit the unparalleled musical legacy of composer, writer, and poet Salil Chowdhury in his birth centenary year: https://newsth.live/0YPgXX