Khaanyacha suddha gaanya sarkha shastra aahe," wrote PL Deshpande, drawing parallels between the art of singing and eating. "A seasoned gourmet, like a khaandani singer, wouldn't eat shrikhand with bread, for the latter is a varjit swar [forbidden note] in this scheme raga. Shrikhand and poori on the other hand are vaadi-samvaadi, or complementary notes," explains noted vocalist and archivist Satyasheel Deshpande, as he recalls just how big a role music played in his life. "All his identities as a celebrated humorist, writer, director, playwright and actor apart, he was a musician at heart," agrees Dr Suvarnalata Rao, programming head, Indian music, NCPA, where he served as honorary director in the mid-80s.

In the birth centenary year celebrations of Purushottam Laxman Deshpande, or Pu La as he was lovingly called, the NCPA has joined hands with Deshpande to present an evening that brings out the music lover in the writer. "I have been associated with him since my early childhood. As a singer, I was close to all his favourite musicians, including Kumar Gandharva who was my guru. And as an archivist, I shared a common connect with him because he would love listening to archival material," Deshpande tells us. This evening, the vocalist will discuss Pu La's writings replete with metaphors from music, share anecdotes, and also include live demonstrations and rare recordings of Akhtaribai Faizabadi, Kesarbai, Barkat Ali, Kumar Gandharva, Balgandharva, Mallikarjun Mansur and other masters whom PL adored and wrote about.