In its 8th edition now, the Delhi Government sponsored Classical Music Festival has steadily established itself on the map of the Capital’s music events. Organised by the Sahitya Kala Parishad, the festival this year is rightly giving emphasis to Delhi-based artists – sitar exponent Ustad Shujaat Khan, Pt Bhajan Sopori and his son Abhay on santoor, seasoned vocalist Pt Madhup Mudgal, affectionately called “Bhaiji”, Pt Rajendra and Ajay Prasanna on flute, Ustad Murad Ali Khan on sarangi and his twin brother Fateh Ali on sitar, and last but not the least, tabla jugalbandi of Ustad Akram Khan (now khalifa of the Ajrara gharana after the recent demise of his father Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan) and his young 14-year-old son, Zargham Ali.
From Mughal times, Delhi, the centre of the empire, naturally attracted to itself the best talent that existed, including in the field of music. In the thirty years that followed the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, Muhammad Shah II, called Rangila, or colourful, proved to be a discerning patron of all the arts and classical music in particular. His pen-name was Sada Rangila (he who is always colourful).
In British Delhi, the arts languished once again, but after the abolition of the princely states in 1947 the role of patronising the classical arts was taken over by the government, and also shared by Indian industry. Delhi remained in the forefront in this role, being the nation’s capital.
Musicians from many states shifted to Delhi and made it their home, including the Senia Bangash family, the Dagars from Jaipur and Calcutta, the Lucknow based premier kathak dance family, now spearheaded by Pt Birju Maharaj, Ustad Munawwar Ali Khan of the Patiala gharana, Pt Debu Chaudhari of the Senia Jaipur gharana, Pt Abhay Narayan Malik of the Darbhanga Dhrupad gharana and many many more. It is indeed a welcome move of the Sahitya Kala Parishad this year to focus on Delhi-based artists at the festival.
The festival opens with veteran vocalist Begum Parveen Sultana, followed by the sarangi and sitar duet by brothers Murad Ali and Fateh Ali.
‘Matter of pride’
The next day features Pt Ajoy Chakravorty, Pt Rajendra and Ajay Prasanna, and tabla duet of Ustad Akram Khan and his son. Akram says, “It is a matter of great pride that my young son too has been allowed to perform on this great stage, and I am truly humbled by this opportunity. After the demise of my father Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan, the duty is now mine to keep the great tabla tradition alive of the Ajrara gharana, which has a distinct baaj (style) of its own Hum log teesri ungli ka bhi istimaal karte hai, ye sunne se hi farq maloom parta hai. (We use the third finger of the right hand too, and our tabla playing is quite distinct, which one can clearly listen to.)
The third day features Pt Venkatesh Kumar, Bhuvanesh Komkali, and Ustad Bahauddin Dagar on the rudra veena. On the 28th, Pt Madhup Mudgal, and Pt Bhajan Sopori and his son Abhay Rustom are joined by newcomer to Delhi, vocalist Nishad Bakre. The festival concludes with Pt Jasraj, young Nitin Sharma (disciple of Pt Ajay Pohankar) and Ustad Shujaat Khan. Khan says “Delhi is my home now, and I enjoy playing for my fans in Delhi who have loved me since I first played here in the 1970s.”
The emphasis is definitely on vocalists this year, which is perhaps hard to understand, given that the same organisation also organises the Thumri festival which of course comprises only vocalists. As such, hearing more instrumentalists would have been welcome. It is, of course laudable that the festival this year will give a platform to rudra veena and sarangi, but one will miss sarod violin and surbahar recitals, given the fact that there will be as many as 15 performances in the festival, and thus ample opportunity for inclusion. Having three artists per evening is not conducive to serious classical music as it takes time to settle down to the business of spontaneous creativity – when one knows one has to wind up in 40 minutes, the process obviously is marred. Perhaps, it is impossible as an organiser to please all listeners, and undoubtedly, the line-up this year has something for everyone.
(From 25th to 29th October, 6.30 p.m., Kamani Auditorium, Mandi House, New Delhi)
