Mumbai, Nov 4 : Veteran ghazal singer Talat Aziz has managed to salvage one of his prized harmoniums after a devastating fire gutted his residence in Mumbai's Juhu area last month.
Aziz shared a video on Instagram on Wednesday, showing himself playing the instrument, which had initially appeared to be beyond repair. Although the harmonium produced clear musical notes, his fingers could be seen covered in ash from the fire.
In an accompanying note, the singer described the incident as an extraordinary experience, saying the instrument had "come alive again" despite the damage caused by the blaze.
He said the 13-scale harmonium had been specially commissioned with premium-quality reeds and was extensively used for his online music classes.
Recalling his first attempt to examine the instrument after the fire, Aziz said it failed to produce any sound. He subsequently contacted a harmonium maker and repairer, who advised him to dispose of it after examining its photograph, as it appeared beyond repair.
However, when he tried playing it again at his residence, the instrument unexpectedly started producing music, leaving him overwhelmed with joy and surprise, he said.
Comparing the experience to a phoenix rising from the ashes, Aziz said the incident had reinforced his belief that one should never give up hope.
He said the fire had caused some superficial damage to the instrument's exterior, but its reeds remained intact and it was still functional.
"Music has a soul, and if Allah wills, it can survive even the fiercest of fires," the singer wrote, expressing gratitude to the Almighty for what he described as a little miracle.
The fire broke out at Aziz's residence on October 2. The blaze reportedly originated near an air-conditioner on the ground floor before spreading rapidly through the duplex apartment, filling it with thick smoke.
Aziz, his wife Bina, their two sons and their trainer Sikandar Singh were affected by the incident.
Bina was reportedly trapped on the upper floor and was rescued through a bathroom window with the help of a ladder.
Five people were hospitalised after suffering from suffocation but were subsequently discharged.
The fire destroyed several valuable belongings, including some of Aziz's harmoniums and paintings belonging to his wife.
The singer's latest social media post has highlighted his emotional attachment to music and the instrument that survived the devastating incident.
