ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Hyderabad : 2008

The 6th ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Hyderabad, was held on 4th and 5th October, 2008 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Auditorium, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad. This year it was organized as a celebration of 30 musical years of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. Mr. Pradeep Dhoble, Chief Executive, ITC’s Paperboards and Specilty papers division inaugurated the sammelan by lighting of the lamp. Executive Director,ITC-SRA Dr.Vidyadhar Vyas spoke at length about the activities of the academy and the scholarship scheme of the academy for youngsters who are interested to pursue their learning in classical music in the traditional “Guru-Shishya” parampara.

The festival began with the vocal recital of Jainul Abedin, who has taken rigorous "talim" in the true Guru-Shishya tradition at the ITC-SRA, from the doyen of the Agra gharana, Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan. He is currently working with the Prefect’s Department of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy.Jainul began his recital with khayal in Raga Yaman “ Sumaran Tora Tu Karim Rahim – Rabba Rehman” set to twelve beats Vilambit Ektaal followed by “'Mori Gagari Na Bharan De” in sixteen beats Madhyalaya Teentaal.He then took up a composition “ Durge Jagata Mate, Deena Daya Dani” in Raga Durga set to ten beats Jhaptaal.This composition brought about the Bhakti element in the festival at the apt time of the onset of the Navaratri festival.Jainul concluded with another beautiful composition “Ae Mori Durga Maa, Darashana Deeje Apane Bhagatana Ko” set to Teental.He was accompanied by seasoned Tabla player Anand Gopal Bandopadhyay and the fast moving fingers of Jyoti Guho on the Harmonium.

The next program was the all woman “Stree Shakti” ensemble lead by renowned tabla player Anuradha Pal. This ensemble consisted of Anuradha Pal on the Tabla, Ruchira Kale on the vocals, Anupriya Deotale on the violin, Sukanya Ramgopal on the Ghatam and Ranjani Siddanti on the Mridangam.The invocation song “Mahaganapatim” was sung by Ranjani Sidhanti accompanied by Sukanya Ramgopal on the Ghatam. This was followed by a vocal accompaniment “ Sajana More Ghara Aayo” wherein Anuradha Pal played a few rhythmic structures on the Tabla.After this, came the main item “Raga Taal Yatra” in which Ruchira Kale sang Raga Vibhas, Multani, Bageshree, Adana, Jog and Bhairavi accompanied by Anupriya Deotale on Violin, with the rhythms of Anuradha Pal on Tabla, Sukanya Ramgopal on Ghatam and Ranjani Sidhanti on Mridangam moving in beats ranging from 5 to 8 matras.This was a unique presentation of melody and rhythm.

The next day started with a Flute recital by Pandit Ronu Mazumdar, a disciple of Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao.Ronu Mazumdar started with a very detailed “Alaap” in Raga Marwa. But to everybody’s surprise he moved away from this raga and suddenly started a “Gat” in Raga Yaman Kalyan set to the seven beat Rupak Taal. He then played a composition in Raga Pilu and concluded the recital with the bhajan “Thumaka Chalata Ramachandra”.He was accompanied on the Flute by his disciple Kalpesh Sachla and on the Tabla by Ramdas Palsule.

The concluding recital of the festival was the much awaited Hindustani vocal recital by Ustad Rashid Khan.Ustad Rashid Khan , a torch bearer of the Rampur Sahaswan gharana is an ex scholar of the ITC – SRA and a disciple of his illustrious uncle Padmabhushan Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan.Ustad Rashid Khan began with Raga Bihag which brings the mood of romance and yearning .He started the program with a khayal “Mero Mana Aatako” in the twelve beats Vilambit Ektaal with a very detailed exploration of the Raga Bihag with Shudda Nishad and Shuddha Madhyam phrases being used very prominently. This was followed by ‘Aeri Ma Surajhana’ in ten beats Madhyalaya Jhaptaal.He concluded the raga with “Aali Ri Alabeli”in Drut teentaal.The sargams and taan patterns in the Raga Bihag showed the command of Ustadji over “Shruti” and “Laya”.He then went on to sing a khayal “Dekh bekh mana lalachaye” in Raga Sohini which was set to the sixteen beats Teentaal.The concluding item was a beautiful dadra “Tore Bina Mohe Chain, Brij Ke Nandlala” in Raga Kirwani which had the audience asking for more.Ustad Rashid Khan was ably accompanied on the Tabla by the very soft and sweet playing of Anand Gopal Bandopadhyay and the very apt Jyoti Guho on the Harmonium.