Truly the zenith of the glory of Indian classical music was the finale of the first-ever-in-Pune Swar Samrat Festival, organised by Shreeranjani Trust, in association with Mitra Foundation, and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The first half of this evening, dedicated to the best and the unique in the classical music world, was devoted to a tabla jugalbandi. The way Yogesh Samsiji and the young maestro, Yashwant Vaishnavji, presented this percussion instrument, often associated as a mere accompaniment, was genuinely incredible.
Both of them proved that a jugalbandi is a communion. They were together exploring the subtle artistry of the different 'taals' whose very 'bols' would be tough to the uninitiated. Both of them presented the 'bols' as a 'duo-logue.' Honestly, at times, the perfect rhythm was so soulfully intense that one could unmistakably hear a melody blooming out of the 'bols', and beyond the lyrical lehra that Yashwant Thittejj's harmonium adroitly offered.
If Samsiji and Vaishnavji were 'tabla tapasvi' devoted to their art without even a single beat playing to the gallery, Padma Vibhushan Parveen Sultanaji, who performed in the second half, had the grandeur and elegance of a crown jeweller proudly displaying the priceless pearls and incomparable diamonds, the exclusive heirlooms royalty alone could own.
Unbelievable it was that a lady in her mid-seventies could present in an hour or so such a peak performance which consisted of an assortment of evening raag's, a bhajan, a bhav geet (in Marathi!), a thumri and a bhairavi. So young was her voice in its 'firat', its taan's, its 'layakari' that her masterful artistry effortlessly defeated ageism.
Equally interesting was her youthful attitude, a mix of nostalgia and endearing naughtiness, as if she was chatting through 'notes' with long lost friends. What a wonderful tribute the enrapt three hours were to classical music in the present times of rappers rupturing sense, beats, rhythm and harmony every possible way! The Puneites would surely look forward annually to such tremendous tributes by the sarod maestro, Padmashree Tejinder Narayan Majumdar to his guru, Padma Vibhushan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
Pratima@ The audience, too, was an asset to the mehfil. In an auditorium packed to capacity, mobiles mostly were out to film the priceless performances. Quite some tribute to the power of these masterful performers!
Quote of the day: "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent," insists Victor Hugo.
Word of the day: ageism Ageism is a type of discrimination based on one's age, generally used to refer to age-based discrimination against the elderly. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe this discrimination, building on different types of "-isms."
Pratima Agnihotri Pune
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