This one is for the music lovers. Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra is all set to kick off the 67th Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival. The festival will witness a host of big names performing over four days in the Capital. The first day (13 February) will witness Shujaat Khan and Ulhas Kashalkar. Shujaat Khan, one of the greatest north Indian classical musicians of his generation. He belongs to the Imdad Khan gharana of the sitar and his style of playing sitar, known as the gayaki ang, is imitative of the subtleties of the human voice. His musical pedigree extends seven generations. Ulhas Kashalkar belongs to a family of musicians and was initially groomed by his father Nagesh Dattatray Kashalkar, a well-known vocalist of Gwalior gharana. Ulhas is one of the prime representatives of Gwalior and Jaipur gharanas, who has earned wide recognition in India and abroad. Rakesh Chaurasia, Rajan & Sajan Mishra will take on the stage the following day (14 February). Rakesh Chaurasia, the nephew and child prodigy of flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, has a famous name to live up to. Amongst the promising musicians of the second generation, Rakesh has carved a niche for himself, as an accomplished flutist. Rajan and Sajan Misra made remarkable progress in their vocal lessons from their father Pt. Hanuman Prasad Mishra and uncle Pt. Gopal Mishra. Blessed with melodious voices, they were able to assimilate the essence of the age-old Banaras gharana with consummate ease.
Biswajeet Roy Chowdhury and M. Venkateshkumar will be performing on 16 February. Biswajeet Roy Chowdhury had his first lessons in sitar and sarod from his father as a child, and moved to Calcutta in 1974 to learn under Pandit Indranil Bhattacharya, a pupil of Ustad Allauddin Khan. Born in 1953 in Bellary, Karnataka. M. Venkateshkumar gifted with a robust and vibrant voice, has carved a niche for himself in the field of Hindustani music. Having trained a number of students, he is at present a regular performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan, having presented his art before audiences both in India and abroad with several recordings to his credit.
The final day will witness Subhra Guha and Pandit Jasraj. Subhra Guha received her earliest training from late Shri Satish Bhowmick, and later from one of the learned Pandits of the Agragharana, Pandit Sunil Bose. In 1982, she joined the prestigious Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata where she received training. It was from Pandit DT Joshi that Guha learnt the art of thumri rendition. Born in a family that has given to Indian classical music four generations of outstanding musicians, the Mewati maestro Pandit Jasraj had his initial grooming in music under his father, late Pandit Motiramji. Endowed with a rich, soulful and sonorous voice which traverses effortlessly over all three and a half octaves, Panditji’s vocalising is characterised by a harmonius blend of classic and opulent elements. Don’t miss this!
WHEN: 13 to 16 February
WHERE: Kamani Auditorium
Biswajeet Roy Chowdhury and M. Venkateshkumar will be performing on 16 February. Biswajeet Roy Chowdhury had his first lessons in sitar and sarod from his father as a child, and moved to Calcutta in 1974 to learn under Pandit Indranil Bhattacharya, a pupil of Ustad Allauddin Khan. Born in 1953 in Bellary, Karnataka. M. Venkateshkumar gifted with a robust and vibrant voice, has carved a niche for himself in the field of Hindustani music. Having trained a number of students, he is at present a regular performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan, having presented his art before audiences both in India and abroad with several recordings to his credit.
The final day will witness Subhra Guha and Pandit Jasraj. Subhra Guha received her earliest training from late Shri Satish Bhowmick, and later from one of the learned Pandits of the Agragharana, Pandit Sunil Bose. In 1982, she joined the prestigious Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata where she received training. It was from Pandit DT Joshi that Guha learnt the art of thumri rendition. Born in a family that has given to Indian classical music four generations of outstanding musicians, the Mewati maestro Pandit Jasraj had his initial grooming in music under his father, late Pandit Motiramji. Endowed with a rich, soulful and sonorous voice which traverses effortlessly over all three and a half octaves, Panditji’s vocalising is characterised by a harmonius blend of classic and opulent elements. Don’t miss this!
WHEN: 13 to 16 February
WHERE: Kamani Auditorium