MUMBAI: Her mastery over classical music was lauded even by the legendary Ustad Bismillah Khan and the great film music composer, Naushad. In fact, it was the latter who encouraged Dr. Soma Ghosh to sing ghazals. He felt that she had the soul of the illustrious ghazal singer Begum Akhtar in her. And Dr. Ghosh now seems to have fulfilled the legendary musician's dream.

On the evening of April 20, the noted classical vocalist from Banaras held music buffs enthralled with her masterly renditions of ghazals at Mumbai's Rangasharda Natya Mandir. The show presented by Blue Cross, Sham-e-Akhtari, was Dr. Ghosh's heartfelt tribute to Begum Akhtar. Begum Akhtar has been my favourite ghazal singer ever since I began listening to ghazals. In addition, it was the great Naushad saab's dream that I sing ghazals along with classical music. So I feel deeply privileged at having been able to pay this tribute to one legend and to fulfill the dream of another,... said Dr. Ghosh.

Among the huge audience applauding the accomplished vocalist whole-heartedly were several well-known media personalities, including Jaiprakash Agrawal, noted radio announcer Amin Sayani and Rita Ganguly, the immediate disciple of Begum Akhtar.

Accompanying the singer were Ustad Jabbar Hussain on the tabla, Ustad Karim Niyazi on the harmonium, Sandeep Mishra on the sarangi, Krishna Mohan on the side rhythm and Indru Atma on the swarmandal.

Dr. Soma Ghosh recently won the Best Ghazal singer award of 2010-11, at the Big Star IMA Awards, for her album �Ishq'. She is also the founder of the NGO Madhoo Murchhana, which strives to preserve India's ancient musical heritage, including the attempts to save musical instruments that could soon become extinct.