PUNE: The third day of the 69th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav commenced with the melodious vocals of a debutant and an exponent of the Kirana Gharana. This five-day mega Indian classical music festival is being held at the Maharashtriya Mandal Krida Sankul, Mukund Nagar.
The first session commenced with a young and emerging artist Rajat Kulkarni of the Kirana Gharana. He started his performance with Bandishes like ‘Hu To Tore Kaaran Aayi Re Balamva’ and ‘Eri Aali Koyaliya Boley’ in Raag Madhuvanti. He also performed a famous Kannada Bhajan ‘Shree Nikethana Paalayamaam’ of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. After leaving the Punekar spellbound with his performance, Rajat’s performance gained many “Once More’s” from the enthusiastic music buffs. His rendition was then concluded with an Abhang ‘Savale Roop Sundar Manohar.’ Rajat Kulkarni was accompanied by Avinash Dighe on Harmonium, Pandurang Pawar on Tabla, Viresh Sankaji and Mobin Mirajkar on Tanpura, Vasant Garud and Mauli Takalkar on Taal.
The second session witnessed the mellifluous renditions of Padma Deshpande, the granddaughter-in-law of Pt. Sawai Gandharva. She started with a Bandish ‘Piya Bin Mohe’ in Raag Saraswati in Vilambit Rupak Taal, followed by her composition ‘Maate Saraswati’ in Teen Taal. She then presented a Teen Taal Bandish ‘Sangaliyo Baal Gopal’ in a self-composed Raag ‘Gopal Sarang’ which she has dedicated to her father after his name. Raag Gopal Sarang is an amalgamation of Raag Desh and Raag Vrindanvani Sarang. She concluded her performance with once again a self-composed Kajari ‘Ghir Ghir Badra Taare Chaaye’ in Mishra Pahadi. Padma Deshpande was accompanied by Dr Arwind Thatte on Harmonium, Ramkrishna Karambelkar on Tabla, Shruti Deshpande on Tanpura, and Aishwarya Deshpande for Vocals.
