Tribute to Bhimsen Joshi

It was an evening to remember for connoisseurs of classical music as a musical and dance tribute was paid to legendary musician Pandit Bhimsen Joshi at the Raj Bhavan here on Sunday. The musical extravaganza was a joint presentation of the Raj Bhavan and Doordarshan, Bangalore.

Disciples of the late vocalist, and the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, of which Pt. Joshi was president, recreated the magic of the musician through renditions of bhajans, abhang and dasavani. Jayateertha Mevundi enthralled the audience with “Sada yenna hrudayadalli”, while Upendra Bhat rendered “Maje mahera pandari”. “Nambide ninna nadadevatha” by Nishanth S.V. and “Yenna palisu karunakara” by Ananth Terdal made the evening a magical experience.

Pt. Joshi's son Srinivas Joshi, who also gave a few renditions, including “Yake mookhanade”, told

The Hindu that the concert was a special one, though other concerts have been held across the country after his father passed away in January, as the Governor was hosting it.

Speaking about his father, he said the constant comparison made with his father was difficult, but positively it pushed him into “a never-ending quest for reaching his standards”.

Asked about the deteriorating interest among the present generation in classical music, he said youngsters were faced with a bombardment of information, and they could be veered towards classical arts through efforts of society. “It is not about events and performances, it is about values,” he said.

Addressing the audience, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj praised Pt. Joshi as an artiste whose music came from the heart. “Karnataka has produced many world class artistes. But I have never been more impressed by another musician than Pt. Joshi,” he said.

Among the dignitaries present were Hanumanna Nayaka Dorai, Vice-Chancellor of the Music and Performing Arts University, Mysore, and Pt. Narasimhalu Vadavati, Chairman of the Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy.