- Names of artists performing at the 70th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav announced
- A blend of emerging, promising, and renowned artists define this year’s ‘Sawai’ Mahotsav
PUNE: The Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal has announced the lineup of artists for the 70th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav to be held at the Maharashtra Mandal Krida Sankul, Mukund Nagar, Pune, from Wednesday 18th December to Sunday, 22nd December 2024. This milestone year of the Mahotsav, a cherished tradition in Indian classical music, promises an enriching experience of musical heritage. The announcement was made by the Executive President of Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, Shrinivas Joshi, during a press conference held in the city today. Joining Shrinivas Joshi at the press conference were Mukund Sangoram- Secretary, Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, and Shilpa Joshi- Trustee, Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, Shubhada Mulgund, Anand Bhate, Dr. Prabhakar Deshpande and Milind Deshpande.
Sharing insights about the Mahotsav, Shrinivas Joshi said, “The Mahotsav, initiated by my father, Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi in honor of his guru Sawai Gandharva, has provided a platform for countless stalwarts to showcase their art. The overwhelming love of connoisseurs and audiences has made it a benchmark for Indian classical music. As the Mahotsav enters its 70th year, we continue our tradition of promoting promising young talent alongside eminent artists. This balance ensures the rich legacy of Indian classical music thrives for future generations.”
The Artist Lineup for the 70th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav is as follows-
Day 1 (Wednesday, 18th December – 3 pm to 10 pm)
The Mahotsav opens with a soulful shehnai recital by Dr. S. Ballesh, a disciple of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, accompanied by his son Dr. Krishna Ballesh. This will be followed by a vocal performance by Shashwati Chavan-Zurunge, a disciple of Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan and Sudhakar Chavan. Ram Deshpande, an eminent vocalist from the Agra-Jaipur gharana, will present the next session. Dr. L. Subramaniam, a violin maestro in the Carnatic tradition, will enchant the audience with his artistry. The day concludes with a vocal recital by Pt. Ajay Chakrabarty, an acclaimed exponent of the Patiala gharana.
Day 2 (Thursday 19th December- 4 pm to 10 pm)
Krishna Bongane and Nagesh Adgaonkar, disciples of Ustad Rashid Khan, will present a duet to start the second day. Sangeeta Katti-Kulkarni, a prominent vocalist trained by Basavaraj Rajguru, will perform next. Post this, renowned sitarist Anupama Bhagwat, a disciple of Bimalendu Mukherjee, will take the stage. The evening will conclude with a performance by acclaimed vocalist Pt. Venkatesh Kumar.
Day 3 (Friday 20th December – 4 pm to 10 pm)
The third day will open with the Mohini Music Ensemble, featuring Sahana Banerjee (Sitar), Ruchira Kedar (Vocals), Savani Talwalkar (Tabla), Anuja Borude-Shinde (Pakhavaj), and Aditi Garade (Harmonium). Viraj Joshi, grandson of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi will present a vocal recital. The mother-son duo of Kaushiki Chakrabarty, exponents of the Patiala Gharana, and Rishit Desikan will perform next. Purbayan Chatterjee, a celebrated sitar virtuoso, will conclude the evening.
Day 4 (Saturday 21st December- 4 pm to Midnight)
The day begins with a vocal recital by Saurabh Kadgaonkar, a disciple of Raghunandan Panshikar. This will be followed by a sarod jugalbandi by Ayaan Ali Bangash and Amaan Ali Bangash, the seventh-generation torchbearers of the Bangash Gharana. Anand Bhate, a disciple of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi will present a vocal performance. Rakesh Chaurasia, a bansuri maestro trained by Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, will enthrall the audience. The evening will feature a vocal performance by Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar and conclude with a recital by Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar.
Day 5 (Sunday 22nd December -Noon to 10 pm)
The final day opens with a vocal recital by Sanjeev Abhyankar, an eminent artist from the Mewati gharana. A Carnatic duet by Shashank Subramanyam (Flute) and R. Kumaresh (Violin) will follow. Milind Chittal, a disciple of Pt. Firoz Dastur will present a vocal performance. Renowned artist-composer Adnan Sami will display his classical piano collection. Acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer and actor Shobana will present a captivating dance performance. The Mahotsav will conclude with a tribute to the Swaryogini Padma Vibhushan Dr. Prabha Atre through a group performance by her disciples: Arati Thakur Kundalkar, Atindra Sarvadikar, Chetana Pathak, and Ashwini Modak.
First-time performers at the Mahotsav are Shashwati Chavan- Zurunge, Krishna Bongane, Nagesh Adgaonkar, Anupama Bhagwat, Sahana Banerjee, Savani Talwalkar, Anuja Borude-Shinde, Aditi Garade, Rishit Desikan, Saurabh Kadgaonkar, Adnan Sami, Arati Thakur Kundalkar, Atindra Sarvadikar, Chetana Pathak, and Ashwini Modak.
The 70th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival is supported by esteemed sponsors such as Kalyani Group, Kirloskar, Nanded City, P. N. Gadgil & Sons, Kele Realtors, Ranjekar Realty, Lokmanya Multipurpose Co-operative Society, Suhana, and Asha Publicity.
