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Nurturing music

Lovers of Hindustani classical music can look forward to a feast as the 20th edition of the Devnandan Ubhayaker Yuva Sangeet Utsav, which promotes younger musicians, gets under way tomorrow

PHOTO: MAHESH HARILAL

NOTEWORTHY The hugely talented Rashid Khan of the Rampur Sahaswan gharana performs on Tuesday

When you're sitting in classical vocalist Lalita Ubhayaker's living room, it is difficult to keep your eye from appreciating the exquisite art pieces all around. It is equally difficult to get the septuagenarian to talk about the past and the hordes of firsts she has notched up as a singer and art patron. But ask her about the fate of classical music today, and her eyes start dancing. "I'm pleasantly surprised by the interest and passion that young people seem to have for classical music," says the founder of the Crafts Council of Karnataka.

"During the recent concerts at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall the auditorium was full. Young people sat on the aisles, along the walls, on the stage. It feels wonderful to know that classical music is alive and flourishing."

What Lalita Ubhayaker does not mention is that she and her husband Shivaram Ubhayaker have been quietly and graciously helping sustain the interest in music for the past 20 years. They started the Devnandan Ubhayaker Yuva Sangeet Utsav in memory of their son. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Utsav.

Feast of music

Lovers of Hindustani classical music can look forward to a feast of music from December 3 to 7. The Utsav will feature these musicians: Bahauddin Mohiddin Dagar (rudra veena) and Sanjeev Abhyankar (vocal) (December 3); Pravin Godkhindi (flute) and ), Kaushiki Chakravarty (vocal) (December 4); Rashid Khan (vocal) (December 5); Shaunak Abhisheki (vocal) and Rafique and Shafique Khan (sitar) (December 6); Shubhendra Rao (sitar) and Saskia Rao-de Haas (cello) andand Umakanth and Ramakanth Gundecha (dhrupad) (December 7).

The aim of the Utsav has been to provide a platform to talented musicians mostly under the age of 25. The Utsav has promoted the guru-shishya parampara by featuring outstanding disciples of famous gurus like the Dagar Brothers, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Rama Rao Naik, Pt. Jasraj and Padma Talwalker. The performers at the Utsav have included the Gundecha Brothers, Dhananjay Hegde, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash and many others from around the country.

This year, as Bangalore is poised to transform itself into Bengalooru, the Utsav has joined hands with Artistes Foundation For the Arts and Bangalore Habba to promote the arts. In a departure from earlier programmes, this year's Utsav will feature musicians who have already performed on this platform many years ago.

"Till now, the Utsav has always featured concerts by young musicians. Friends and well-wishers have often pleaded with me to include at least one `crowd-puller' to make the Utsav more `attractive.' But I have resisted that suggestion. And I have felt very happy that just the merit of these youngsters has drawn our audiences to the Utsav."

The Devnandan Ubhayaker Yuva Sangeet Utsav is an event under the banner of Smriti-Nandan. The organisation includes the Smriti Nandan Cultural Centre, `a space for creativity to soar'. The centre works with young musicians through the Devnandan Ubhayaker Yuva Sangeet Utsav. It works with senior citizens through the Ashvasan Foundation and it helps to promote craft and culture among young people through the Smriti Nandan Creative Centre.

Free entry

Entrance to the Utsav is free and the organisers welcome music lovers. The performances will be held between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Ambedkar Bhavan, Millers Road, Bangalore. For more details on Smiti-Nandan's activities, you can email info@ashvasan.org or visitwww.smritinandan.org for programme details.

MALA KUMAR

CD release

On the occasion of the 20th Devnandan Ubhayaker Yuva Sangeet Utsav, the Smriti Nandan Cultural Centre is releasing a set of three compact discs featuring rare ragas sung by Lalita Ubhayaker herself. She belongs to the Agra gharana and the CDs, entitled Kalaanjali, Rasaanjali and Raagaanjali, are the result of the efforts put in by Malavika and Prasad Bijur, daughter and son-in-law of the singer. Retrieved from six live concerts, the CDs promise to charm music lovers. Lalita Ubhayaker is known to have been the first to present Hindustani classical recitals in several countries, and is also credited with introducing it to Yehudi Menuhin.

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