‘Swaranjali,' an offering of divine music, was started by Sudipta Das to promote Hindustani music and dance forms in Coimbatore. Their first programme, ‘Sur Tarang,' featuring sitar and vocal recitals in the Hindustani style, inaugurated by Shashi Gulati, a multi-faceted personality, was held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore.
Prabir Bhattacharya from Bangalore, disciple of the late Deepak Choudhury began with Hamsadhwani in teen tal and merged it with Yaman Kalyan in ek taal, before completing it with Jhala and Tihai. He concluded his sparkling recital with Kirvani in ek taal. Joydeep Das accompanied him on the violin and Partha Mukherjee of Bangalore on the tabla, whose nimble fingers created magic and lifted the concert to a greater level.
Classic numbers
Later, Hindustani vocalist Navodeep Chakraborty from Kolkata, disciple of Ustad Rasa Ali Khan, gave a heart-warming performance. He began with Raga Malkauns followed by a Punjabi folk song. He formed an immediate rapport with the audience and gladly sang their favourites. ‘Aaye Na Balam,' ‘Yaad Piya Ki Aaye' and the old classics originally sung by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan were presented to the delight of the audience. This was followed by ghazals.
Farida Kanum's ‘Aaj Jaane Ki Jid Na Karo' and Mehdi Hasan's ‘Shola Tha Jo Jal Bhuja Ho' were some of the favourites. He was accompanied by Partha Mukherjee on the tabla and Deborshee Mukherjee on the harmonium.
Sudipta Das mentioned three specific causes that Swaranjali plans to support – promoting famous as well as up-and-coming artists from the North, aiding the needy, aged and ailing yesteryear music and dance artists and felicitating children raised by the Missionaries of Charity. The first beneficiary of the concert is Pt. Vimal Chatterjee, a sitar stalwart from Kolkata, who will receive an assistance of Rs. 25,000. Also, they will donate 65 mattresses and 25 wrist watches to the children of Presentation Convent Home For Children, Somanur. The Hindu was the media partner of the event.
