Kerala - Thrissur   

Sarod recital kicks off theatre fete preparation

— PHOTO: K.K. Najeeb

SPELLBOUND: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performs at a programme in Thrissur on Monday.

Thrissur: Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performed here on Monday as part of the upcoming International Theatre Festival of Kerala organised by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.

The recital was billed as a ‘proclamation programme’ (Vilambaram). The maestro officially declared that the theatre festival would be held here from December 20 to 29 and focus on Afro-Asian productions.

Cultural Affairs Minister M. A. Baby said that Amjad Ali Khan’s life and art represented a confluence of cultures.

“Even as he is rooted in the Hindustani tradition, he has fearlessly striven to expand the boundaries of music. For example, he has teamed up with mridangam maestro Umayalpuram Sivaraman to present a concert that invoked the essence of Carnatic and Hindustani music. He married Subhalakshmi, a dancer born in the North East and trained in Kalashetra in Chennai. In every way, an eclectic mix of cultures has brightened up his life,’ he added. The Minister recalled a famous anecdote related to sarod legend Hafiz Ali Khan, Amjad Ali Khan’s father.

At a garden party at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Rajendra Prasad had asked Hafiz Ali Khan what he wanted from the Government. Hafiz Ali Khan replied, “Raga Durbari Kanada is in great danger. Please protect it.”

“"The anecdote shows that for great artistes music matters more than material achievements,” Mr. Baby said.

Therambil Ramakrishnan, Babu M. Palissery, MLAs, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi chairman K. M. Raghavan Nambiar, secretary Prabhakaran Pazhassi, Kerala Sahitya Akademi secretary Purushan Kadalundi, Mohiniyattom dancers Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, Pallavi Krishnan and playback singer Gayatri Ashokan were present.

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