ITC Grand Chola celebrating the Music of India presented a jugalbandi between violinist Sharat C. Srivastava, disciple and grandson of renowned violinist Late Pandit Joi Srivastava and ‘raga’ pianist Utsav Lal, disciple of Dhrupad legend Ustad F.W Dagar. He is referred to as raga pianist for his innovative handling of classical music on the piano.
Their performance brought out the aesthetic and spiritual aspects of Hindustani music.
Utsav’s rendition evoked a trajectory of emotions. He proceeded with an alap in Bihag, no mean feat, using ghaseet, meend and legato and creating the mood of separation (virah).
Although the atmosphere was pensive, Sharat’s deft strokes on the violin while setting out with the alap, led to a feeling of exhilaration as he beautifully manoeuvred swaras touching the sa on taar saptak.
Next came jod and jhala that heightened the excitement.
Utsav’s seamless and skilful moves over the keys created the effect of both a string and wind instrument. On the other hand, the fast vibrato on the violin felt like treading on an undulating land.
As the two artists traversed the three octaves, they indulged in repartees through sargams and taans and created movement within movement.
Sharat’s musical dialogue with Utsav bore the traits of the Senia gharana, an offshoot of the Maihar gharana.
Sharat combined the dhrupad ang alap with the khayal ang gat. The alap-jod pattern of the dhrupad was followed by khayal-style vilambit gat that had expansive passages with taans while the gat ended with jhala.
The pianist rose to the occasion and responded with an amazing robust play. He played quick strokes to sustain the notes in the jod section. It involved wrapping the ladi through the midh and then forming knots out of ladi patterns.
Jaijaivanti in Ada Chautaal of 14 matras was a synthesis of harmony and percussion.
Joined by Udairaj Karpoor on the tabla, disciple of Pt. Ravindra Yavagal and P.T. Suresh Talwalkar ; it was indeed wonderful to see Karpoor keeping pace with Utsav on the one side and Sharat on the other.
Utsav and Sharat next indulged in tarparan (imitating the strokes of the tabla). They ended the concert on a patriotic note with , ‘Aye mere watan ke logon’ followed by ‘Raghupati Raghav Rajaram, a fitting tribute to the Mahatma and the nation on the eve of the 70th year of Independence.
