An evening dedicated to monsoon ragas

Just when it seemed that the monsoon had bypassed many parts of India, the skies finally opened up. Aptly a three-day concert organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), titled ‘Malhar — a Festival to Celebrate the Spirit of the Monsoon,’ was recently inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’wife Gursharan Kaur in New Delhi on August 17.

The curtains went up with a sarod recital of “Raga Desh” by the redoubtable brothers Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan — greeted with much applause from music lovers. The duo, sons of the famous sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, represent the seventh generation of a musical lineage known as the ‘Senia Bangash’ School. They were backed up by Sandeep Das and Fateh Singh who displayed effortless mastery over the tabla.

Next came ghazal singer Shanti Hiranand who rendered thumri, kajri, chaiti and dadra. Shanti has the distinction of having the legendary Begum Akhtar as her guru, guide and mentor. In fact, Begum Akhtar thought so highly of Shanti that just before her death at a concert in Vadodara she remarked, “If you want to hear my music after my death, hear it through Shanti’s singing.” Today Shanti has won much acclaim and her albums titled “Ye Hai Ghazal” and “Expressions of Love — Thumri and Dadra,” have received superb reviews from both critics and the media.

August 18 showcased the talented Kanak Chaturvedi (Hindustani light classical vocal), brothers Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha (Hindustani vocal) and a sitar recital by Padmabhushan Pandit Debu Chaudhari. August 19, the concluding day of the festival, saw performances by Shruti Sadolikar (Hindustani vocal) and seasoned singers Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra.

Legend has it that the “Raga Malhar” when sung impeccably, brings down rain. Many great artistes of the medieval era and much earlier used to sing this raga. Among the singers who are said to have invoked the rain gods through this melodious medium are Tansen, Baiju Bawra, Baba Ramdas and Krishna devotee Meera.

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