eVaranasi.com

Source: http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=42354
By Team Mangalorean

(This concert by world class musicians was specially covered for Mangalorean.com by Jaya Ramesh in Bangalore, India)

Bangalore April 17: India is a land of contrasts - and the biggest contrast is between "the Haves and Have-nots." The bridge has to be strengthened by the conscientious efforts of the "haves" to provide love and care for the ill-fortunate - the "have-nots", and it has to be built on the pillars of humanitarianism.

Mr. A. Balakrisha Hegde along with like-minded individuals, founded "Premaanjali" in the year 1988, focusing around homeless, destitute and needy children. The prime objectives apart from providing a roof, are education, care and love and personality development.

By Team Mangalorean

(This concert by world class musicians was specially covered for Mangalorean.com by Jaya Ramesh in Bangalore, India)

Bangalore April 17: India is a land of contrasts - and the biggest contrast is between "the Haves and Have-nots." The bridge has to be strengthened by the conscientious efforts of the "haves" to provide love and care for the ill-fortunate - the "have-nots", and it has to be built on the pillars of humanitarianism.

Mr. A. Balakrisha Hegde along with like-minded individuals, founded "Premaanjali" in the year 1988, focusing around homeless, destitute and needy children. The prime objectives apart from providing a roof, are education, care and love and personality development.

The Fifth Part of the Festival began with a rich and abounding vocal recital by the foremost Hindustani duo - the stalwarts of Hindustani music - Pandit Rajan and Sajan Misra. They enthralled the music lovers with an ancient and divine melody of Hindustani Sangeet - Prabhu Ke Charan Kamal" in Raag Shree, 10 beats. This was followed by 12 beats. Their next melodious chanting was a composition on Basant Rithu and a Taraana. The concluding piece was a devotional song - Guru Nanak Bhajan - Jagath Mein Jhooti Dekhe which was very meaningful and soulful. Their wide ranging mellifluous voices combined with a masterly command over technique, helped to translate and transport our flight of imagination into sublime music.

Their recital reflects their total mastery over the nuances of Hindustani Music. After their concluding piece, there was a round of felicitations of all the artists. The entire audience applauded and felt very fortunate to be present and to witness this part of the event.

The second treat was a mesmerising jugalbandi by Kalaimamani Padmashree Dr. Kadri Gopalnath (who hails from Dakshina Kannada, South Kanara in Karnataka) on a vibrant and strong wind instrument - the saxaphone and Pandit Ronu Majumdar on the flute, (the Baansuri) which is one of the most ancient and natural musical instrument.

They began with an invocation to Lord Ganesha with the most popular "Vaathapi Ganapati" in Raag Hamsadhwani - Their rendering of this composition made the audience sway to the lilting tunes. They were well accompanied by the other artists on Mridangam, and Morsing.

The second item of their magic was a Kriti in Raag Chandra Kauns and then in Raag Mallika followed by Taniyavartanam - which was a rhythmic session that was expertly synchronized. The concluding pieces were a Thyagaraja Kriti "Chinna Chiru" followed by a Purandara Dasa Kriti. It was indeed a perfect ensemble and the manner in which Dr. Kadri Gopalnathji and Pandit Romji plugged in the air holes of their instruments and puffed in soulful life to the instrument, bewitched the audience. For classical music lovers, it was nothing but eternal bliss.

Was it, the saxophone or the flute? Which one supplemented the other?? It was difficult to gauge as harmony rented the air.

They say imagination knows no boundaries. It is so apt, here - in their case, their Jugalbandi carried us to a plane where their music, their raag their exemplary skill in exuding musical joy enabled us to visualise two soulful melodies entwining or the entwinement of a Nayak and a Nayika. Or was it the sublime zenith of both North and South or the intermingling of waves rising and falling and interspersed with the mingling of rumbling waters along with the chirping of birds. The audience was spellbound with this spray of music.

The concluding piece of the tricolor festival was a solo performance by the young Tabla sensation and phenomenon called Rimpa Siva. She displayed her skills meticulously and was at ease. Her deft fingers played all the way. One could visualise the perfection she has achieved at this young age. Her beats on the tabla are so powerful. She is indeed a child prodigy. She played her Guruji's composition on the tabla and explained the BOL before each piece. She kept the audience rejuvenated with her every hit in the tabla as she displayed her own unique "Rimpa" style. Each and everyone in the audience personally congratulated her and her performance speaks volumes of her mastery on the Tabla. Her in depth knowledge and her impressive display won all the hearts that night.

A brief profile of the five Maestros

Pandit Rajan and Sajan Misra

Both are not only blessed and gifted with a soulful voice but also come from a great lineage of maestros of Banaras Gharana with Pt. Ganesh Misra (Great Grandfather), Pt. Sursahai Misra (Grandfather), Pt. Hanuman Prasad Misra (father) and Pt. Gopal Misra (their uncle). The Hindu Goddess of Music and Learning, has amply showered her blessings on the two brothers.

Pt. Rajan and Sajan Misra have delighted audiences all over the world. They have been conferred the 'Sangeet Natak Avademy Award' in 1999 by the President of India, , the 'Kashi Gaurav', 'Kumar Gandharva Award', 'Sangeet Ratnas', 'Sangeet Bhushan Award' and 'Sanskriti Award' by Prime Minsiter of India.

They have toured extensively all over the world , many times to USA, the whole of Europe, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Countries of the Middle East like Qatar, Dubai etc. They have also given an all night concert in the Royal Albert Hall in London and at the Lincoln Centre in USA.

Pt. Rajan and Sajan Misra's recordings are available with every company in India, like Music today, HMV, Virgin records, Magnasound, Sony, BMG, Crecendo, Venus, T-Series, AMC and many more. They have started a 'Gurukul' in the serene environment of Dehradun where students can learn music in the age old 'Guru-Shishya-Parampara.'

When questioned about singing in Bangalore, they had this to say  "We love to sing in Bangalore as we receive a lot of love from the people here." They feel the essence of music is purely "Pooja" or worship.

Their views on the decline of Classical Music  "Classical Music is deep-rooted. It cannot die out. The younger generation is still showing a great deal of enthusiasm and as long as this interest is there, it will not die out." The secret of their Divine Unison on stage is, "When we sing, we are one soul singing, even though we are in two bodies".

Their Message to all readers and music lovers  "One must be humble and grateful to their Gurus and parents. Good values make a good human being. Being good, noble, respectful, truthful - is what is needed today.

Both the maestros were very happy to be a part of the Premaanjali festival as essentially it was being a part of a noble and good cause.

Rimpa Siva - a child prodigy

Born in a family of musical heritage, she has been playing table since the age of three. Showed a keen interest in playing with the Tabla instead of dolls, pots and pans like other children of her age. Her Guru is her father Guru Prof. Swapan Sinha, disciple of the Late Ustad Kermatullah Khan of "Farukhabad Gharane".

Rimpa is doing her B.A. at the Rabindra Bharati University. She has won many awards, accolades and has achieved many distinctions in playing tabla.

Rimpa confidently asserts that, Tabla is no more a male domain. With a good Guru, sincere riyaaz, and The Almighty's blessings she found it a cakewalk to master the techniques of Tabla. A general feeling that girls cannot learn it, is no more present in the present generation, she says.

She also maintains that she was well encouraged by her parents and considers her father to be her greatest guru. Initially her father wanted her to do vocal, but later, when he foresaw that Rimpa had something divine in her small nimble fingers, he accepted her as his shishya and encouraged her to continue playing tabla. Today she not only enjoys playing Tabla but wishes to scale greater heights.

Rimpa has obtained scholarships from Salt Lake Music Festival and West Bengal State Music Academy in 1995 and also won the Shanmuka Sangeet Shiromani Award in 2004. In 1996 she received an award from 'Arun Land Rej Memorial Fund of Norway' for her great performance on Tabla. In 1997 she was invited by Netherlands to participate in the World Child Festival. Rimpa has also participated in a documentary film named 'Rimpa Siva Princess of Tablas' in 1998, organized by France.

Kalaimamani Padmashree Dr. Kadri Gopalnath

Dr. Kadri Gopalnath actually began training in Nadaswaram from an early age, but due to his enchantment of the saxophone, he changed course. It took him 20 years to conquer the vibrant wind instrument. He was eventually crowned "Saxophone Chakravarthy".

Dr. Kadri Gopalnath has also been ranked along with Pandit Ravi Shanker for popularizing Indian music in other parts of the world. He has won many accolades, played for many fusion albums in India and abroad, including the Royal Albert Hall of London and has widened his horizon of music.

President A.P.J Abdul Kalam has awarded him the 'Padmashree' and the National Award from 'Kendriya Sangeeth Natak Academy.' Dr. Gopalnath has the distinction of performing in all the major sabhas in India and has been crowned Saxophone Samrat Ganakalaq Shree, Ganakala Bhushana, Nada Gandharva and much more. He has also been honoured by the Tamil Nadu Government and the Karnataka Government. He is also the only saxophone player to the ranked 'A top' by the All India Radio in its listing of artists. Shri Kadri Gopalnath has also been the first Carnatic musician to be invited to perform by the BBC in the Royal Albert Hall of London.

Shri Gopalnath has extensively toured abroad and participated in the Jazz Festival in Prague, in the Berlin Jazz Festival, the International Cervantina Festival in Mexico and the Music Haile Festival in Paris. Apart from this, he has performed in concerts in Switzerland, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar, Muscat, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Kadri Gopalnath with the trustees of Premaanjali

According to him, "Music brings joy and peace. It carves a person and can change the entire rhythm of his life for the better."

Being from South Kanara, he had a special message for the readers of Mangalorean.com. He said "I am very appreciative of the work done by this site in reaching art and culture to most of the places in the world and I wish all success to Mangalorean.com in every endeavor."

Pandit Ronu Majumdar

India's Ace flautist needs no introduction to music lovers all over the globe. He and the flute are synonymous. Pandit Majumdar began playing under the guidance of his father, Dr. Bhanu Majumdar, Late Pt. Laxman Prasad Jaipurwale and finally under the revered Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao. His upbringing has been rooted in the Malhar Gharana, which has sprung out musicians of eminence like Pt. Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Pandit Ronu Mazumdar with Mr. A. Balakrishna Hegde

The flute was the principal pastoral instrument for many centuries. It was left to the genius of the Late Pandit Pannalal Ghosh to elevate it to the status of a concert instrument. This was then followed by many maestros like Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pt. Ronu Mazumdar, etc.

Pt. Mazumdar has an incredible range of achievements and has been associated with international greats like Pandit Ravi Shankar, ex-Beatle George Harrison, ace guitarist Ry Cooder & other legends. He has the distinction of being the first flautist to give a concert at the town hall in Auckland, New Zealand.

Pandit Majumdar has won the prestigious 'Aditya Vikram Birla Award' for the year 1999, 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by Sahara India Pariwar and 'National Kumar Gandharva Award for the year 2005-06' by the Madhya Pradesh Government.

His message to all is "spread the message of peace, love and tolerance to everyone in this world."

Sponsors of the show

The main sponsors of the show were the Puruankara Group (property developers). The co-sponsors were Chaithanya Builders, Embassy Group, Hinduja Holdings and Prakruthi Nest. The Publicity Sponsor was Confident Group.

The Radio City Sponsors: Brigade Group, V3 Group

Venue Sponsors: Adarsh Group, Sonata, Sterling developers, Madhura Developers, Prestige Group apart from other very many sponsors.

The Audience reactions to the show were very positive. They all felt the show was well and meticulously organized. The Acoustics were perfect and many said that the Indoor Stadium at Koramangala had been transformed into a perfect auditorium.

The venue being prepared prior to the show

The Premaanjali Concert was not only a confluence of music maestros but also a confluence of the top builders and property dealers of Bangalore. And for the discerning music lovers in Bangalore this was indeed a triple cultural treat.