Pune: Young talents received overwhelming appreciation on their debut at Sawai on Day four
Pune, 13th December 2025 : The artists performing for the first time on the ‘Sawai’ stage showcased their musical talent, earning appreciation from connoisseurs. Through these performances, a young generation capable of carrying forward the legacy of classical Indian music was presented to the audience. This proved to be a highlight of the fourth day of 71st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav.
The third day of the 71st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mohotsav began with Raag Bhimpalas by Siddhartha Belmannu. He started with the famous Bandish “Ab to badi ber bhayi…”. The stability and clarity of his performance enthralled the audience. The behlawas and the andolit Nishad and the Madhyam focus were the highlights of his performance which helped develop the mood of Bhimpalas. He then started a teental Bandish “Biraj mein Dhoom Machaye shyam…” in teental. He ended Bhimpalas with the well known “Ja ja re apne Mandirwa…”. He then sang ‘Mazhe Maher Pandhari…”, an Abhang which is made famous by Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.
After that renowned vocalist from Bhendibazar gharana Anuradha Kuber began with Raag Multani. She started with the Bandish “Kaise Kara man samjhaun…” in Vilambit Ektaal followed by a tanrana in Jhaptaal. She ended the Multani with the teental Bandish ‘Naina neer jharan…’, Raag Pratapvarali Bandish ‘Baran Saajan Sakhi…’ followed after the splendid Multani. She ended her performance with a Raag Durga Trivat in Jhaptaal. She was accompanied by Bharat Kamat on Tabla, Soumitra Kshirsagar on Harmonium along with Mrudgandha Kad and Ovee Tendulkar Tanpura.
The third performance was of Pandit Rupak Kulkarni on the flute. He started with the Raag Shuddha Kalyan. The meend of Pa to Re was properly demonstrated on the flute which is technically very difficult to do specifically on the flute. It was followed by a very strong Jod session where a lot of attractive patterns were put on display by Pandit Rupak Kulkarni. The Jhaala followed with an extraordinary display of Tatkars and Sapat Taanas. The first Bandish was in a Taal which has an 11 beat cycle. Then he played a Bandish in teental which transcended into Drut Teental in time. After a powerful chakradhaar, he concluded Raag Shuddha Kalyan. Post Shuddha Kalyan, he sang a very unconventional Raag Sindhura and played a rendition in Addha Teental which marked the end of his performance. He was accompanied by Ishan Ghosh on tabla, Jaikishan Hingu on flute support along with Hariom Sharma and Renuka Likhite on the Tanpura. Anand Deshmukh anchored the festival.
Anand Deshmukh, who has been effectively comparing the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival, organized annually by the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, for the past 33 years, has been recognized by the ‘World Book of Records’ in London, and his record was officially registered today in the ‘World Book of Records’. The certificate of achievement and a memento for this record were presented to Anand Deshmukh today by Vikram Trivedi, Director General of the ‘World Book of Records’, during the 71st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival currently underway at Maharashtriy Mandal’s Sports Complex in Mukundnagar. Shrinivas Joshi, Executive President of the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, and Trustee Shilpa Joshi were present on the stage.
Today on the fourth day of the festival, Union Minister and Pune MP Muralidhar Mohol visited the Mahotsav. During his visit, he felicitated renowned flutist Pt. Rupak Kulkarni. Mohol also assured that a major festival commemorating the memory of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi would soon be organized in Delhi.
Photo Caption – Anand Deshmukh, who has been effectively comparing the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival, organized annually by the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, for the past 33 years, has been recognized by the ‘World Book of Records’ in London, and his record was officially registered today in the ‘World Book of Records’. The certificate of achievement and a memento for this record were presented today by Vikram Trivedi, Director General of the ‘World Book of Records’, to Anand Deshmukh during the 71st Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival currently underway at the Maharashtriy Mandal’s Sports Complex in Mukundnagar. Shrinivas Joshi, Executive President of the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, and Trustee Shilpa Joshi were present on the stage. In the photo (from left) Shilpa Joshi, Shrinivas Joshi, Anand Deshmukh, and Vikram Trivedi.
