“I did not take to it, it drew me in,” says Pelva Naik, among the few women dhrupad singers in the country. Born and raised in Ahmedabad, she belongs to a family with cultural leanings. She is a disciple of the legendry dhrupad maestro Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar. She has also received guidance from rudraveena exponent Ustad Mohi Bahauddin Dagar.
Though Pelva knows that dhrupad is not as popular as khayal, she decided to specialise in it. “The way the raag swaroop comes to the fore in dhrupad cannot be experienced in any other style of Hindustani music,” says the vocalist. “Also the beauty of the sound, its depth and tone in dhrupad are unparalleled,” she adds.
Reaching out to a wide audience through dhrupad, known for its relaxed pace, does not bother Pelva. “I feel those who understand its inherent quality of meditativeness, will definately enjoy the music. I cannot tamper with its traditional framework to appease listeners. Musicians have the responsibility to make the audience understand the essence of an art and not dilute it in the name of making it popular.”
Pelva will perform for the first time at Udayswar@Prithvi on November 5 (7.30 a.m.), in an unamplified ambience. Dhrupad one of the oldest style of Hindustani music is based on ‘naad yoga’. Prithvi Theatre’s intimate space is ideal to enhance this experience. She will be accompanied by Sanjay Agale on pakhawaj.
The concert is presented by Pancham Nishad and Prithvi Theatre.
