Sanjay Manjrekar's "Rest Day"

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Back in the mid-90's, middle-order batsman Sanjay Manjrekar gifted us an album titled Rest Day.

[The concept of 'Rest Day' in Test Cricket is no more with us. I guess the last match in India which featured it was the Ind Vs. SL Test at Ahmedabad in 1994. The 'Rest Day' was 11th February. India won by an innings and 17 runs. Sanjay Manjrekar scored 16 runs in that match. I'll write more about "Rest Days" in Cricket later in another post.]

Coming back to the album, it began with Sanjay speaking on how Cricket and Music are related. According to him, the bowler's run-up and the batsman's shot are musical in nature. Moreover Music also has its own 'different strokes' too.

Firstly he sings his own favourite song, Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi from the 1971 film Buddha Mil Gaya.

Then he introduces the then Indian captain Md. Azharuddin to the listeners. Azhar says that he loves old songs only and admires the voices of Mukesh and Md. Rafi. According to him when he was going through a bad-patch in 1989, the song Kisi Raah Mein, Kisi Mod Par, sung by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar, from the 1970 film Mere Humsafar was his constant companion. He lovingly says that at parties and other social occasions, the teammates used to force Sanjay to sing songs, and the latter used to succumb to that pressure. In the album, Sanjay now sings a song which he says that Azhar used to sing in the dressing-room and sometimes even in his ear. The song is Oh Re Taal Mile Nadi Ke Jal Mein from the 1968 film Anokhi Raat.

In the third track, Javagal Srinath talks about his favourite singer Kishore Kumar and how the song Ruk Jana Nahi Tu Kabhi Har Ke from the 1974 film Imtihan is almost like his philosophy in life. This song takes him back to his childhood days too.

Now Sanjay announces the end of the cassette's first innings and brings in Anil Kumble by saying that the latter has helped in ending many innings of the opposition by his wonderful bowling. Anil talks about his most favourite Kishore Kumar song Chalte Chalte Mere Ye Geet Yaad Rakhna from the 1976 film Chalte Chalte. 

Next we hear a commercial advertisement.

In the cassette's second innings, Sanjay opens with Sachin Tendulkar. Sanjay says that among all the cricketers Sachin listens to music the most. Sachin talks about his two favourite singers, Md. Rafi and Kishore Kumar, and his most favourite song, Mein Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya from the 1961 film Hum Dono.

After this Sanjay sings one of his own favourites, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas from the 1973 film Black Mail. 

Then he sings a ghazal Barson Huye Hai Dil Mein Teri Arzoo Liye. 

Now Sanjay takes a break and sends in Vinod Kambli to sing Tum Se Achcha Kaun Hai from the 1965 film Jaanwar. 

[There is nothing more erotic than a real talent gone waste, I'm talking about Kambli's batting skills, not his singing capabilities.]

Finally Sanjay Manjrekar ends the cassette's innings with Hum Kasam Khayenge, Kandhe Se Kandha Milayenge...

On the whole, Sanjay Manjrekar sings well and with all the musical tit-bits by his teammates, this album is a real treat. With a little more singing practice and perseverance, he could have rendered that irritating Babul Supriyo jobless.  

[I don't remember whether this is true or not, but just for fun let me share a funny story : When Sanjay Manjrekar was dropped from the team for the 'Singer Cup', he brought out his Rest Day album and said that the BCCI had not done the right thing by dropping a 'Singer' for the 'Singer Cup'.]

Have a Rest Day... 

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