Pune: ‘Shraddha Suman’ – a wholesome two-day music fest
Pune, 03 September 2023 : ‘Shraddha Suman’ – a two-day Indian Classical Music’s dive into the Banaras Gharana’s grandeur to commemorate the Birth Centenary Celebrations of Tabla Samrat Padma Vibhushan Pandit Kishen Maharaj was organized by Talayan Music Circle, at the MES Auditorium, Kothrud recently.
To pay tribute to his Guru and Tabla Maestro Padma Vibhushan Pt. Kishen Maharaj, Pt. Arvind Kumar Azad had organized concerts throughout the year to mark his Guru’s Birth Centenary Year.
Shraddha Suman’s first day commenced with Pt. Kishen Maharaj’s student, Pt. Arvind Kumar Azad’s solo Tabla performance. He performed the traditional Uthan, Qaidas and Relas of the Banaras Gharana. Following his performance on the first day, the acclaimed Kashyap Bandhu – Dr Prabhakar and Dr Diwakar Kashyap (Classical Vocals), and the students of Banaras Gharana’s Padma Bhushan Pandit Rajan Mishra and Pandit Sajan Mishra presented ‘Vilambit Jhaptaal’ in Raag ‘Megh’ along with Bandishs like ‘Prabal Dal Saaj Jag’, ‘Kajra Kare Kare, Lage Ati Pyaare’ and ‘Barsan Laage.’
The second day of the festival started on high notes with Rudrashankar Mishra’s rendition, a Kathak Dancer from Banaras Gharana, and the student of Mataprasad Mishra and his uncle Ravi Shankar Mishra. He performed ‘Teen Taal’ in various Andaaz. He also performed Dadras like ‘Laage Na Mora Jiya’ and ‘Kaari Badariya’. He ended his piece with the famous ‘Thali Dance’ of the Banaras Gharana.
After his performance, Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, a student of the legendary Hindustani Classical Singer, Padma Vibhushan Vidushi Girija Devi of Banaras Gharana performed Thumris. She started with the Thumri ‘More Raja Kiwadiyan Na Khol’ of Raag Tilak Kamod and the Thumri ‘Aaye Sawan Gheri Aaye Badarwa’ of Raag Des Malhar. She also presented an old Dadra of the Banaras Gharana ‘Kaun Albele Kinare Chamacham.’
The closing of the program was with the performance of an acclaimed violinist, Padma Bhushan Dr N Rajam accompanied by Ragini Shankar (violin). They presented Raag ‘Miyaan Malhar’. They ended the performance with the ‘Bhairavi.’
The artists were accompanied by Pt. Dharmnath Mishra (Harmonium), Pt. Arvind Kumar Azad (Tabla), Neeraj Kumar Mishra (Sitar) and Sandeep Mishra (Sarangi). The event was compered by Anand Deshmukh.
