Sangeet Samaroah, a scintillating experience

The plethora of artistes took part in the Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroah and enthralled the audience with superlative performances. Narration of anecdotes by Durga Jasraj was the icing on the cake

The 42nd Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroah witnessed a Hindustani classical music recital by Ramakant Gaikwad and a Qawalli program by Janaab Munnawar Masoom on the first day at the CCRT (Centre for Cultural Resources Training) campus at Madhapur.This Festival is held in memory of Sangeet Ratna Pandit Motiram (father of Pandit Jasraj) and his elder brother and Guru Sangeet Mahamahopadhya Pandit Maniram. A few hours before Sangeet Ratna Pandit Motiram was to be honoured as the Royal singer in the court of the Nizam, (today known as the Chowmahalla Palace), he left for his heavenly abode. At that time Pandit Jasraj was only 4 years old.

The second day had Pandit Rattan Mohan Sharma; nephew of Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj began his Hindustani music recital by a Soordas composition in raga Gorakh Kalyan ‘Preet Mori Lag Rahi Tuma Sanga’. Mohan set to Vilambit Ektaal (twelve beat cycle) followed by a composition ‘Nek Kripa Kariye Aatahi Mana Kar Rahi Kishori Kar Manuhar Manayo’. He then presented a ‘Tappa’ in raga Kafi ‘Oh Miyaweh Janewale, Tenu Allah Di Kasam’.

‘Tappa’ is a form of Indian semi-classical vocal music.‘Tappas’ were sung mostly by songstresses, known as ‘Baigees’, in royal courts. Rattan Mohan Sharma aptly handled the complicated way of rendering the ‘Tappa’. He then went on to present a ‘Tarana’ in raga Megh set to Ektaal (twelve beat cycle). Rattan Mohan Sharma hails from the ‘Mewati Gharana’ and has specialized in the rendition of Tarana and Haveli Sangeet.

He is an ‘A’ grade artist on All India Radio. He was ably accompanied on tabla by Pandit Ramkumar Mishra, the grandson of Late Pandit Anokhe Lal Mishra.This was followed by a solo ‘Mohan Veena’ concert by DrVishwamohan Bhatt who played raga Bihag. The speed of the ‘Taans’ and the rendition in ‘Drut Teentaal’ was a scintillating experience to the audience and was followed by a Carnatic flute recital by the child prodigy Master Shashank Subramaniam. Later both artistes played a very mellifluous ‘Jugalbandi’. The final day of the festival had Pandit Jasraj in conversation with Dr Mukund Lath from Jaipur about the Mewati Gharana and the compositions made by Panditji during his lifetime.

Hemang Mehta, Pritam Bhatacharjee, Tripti Mukherjee and Ankita Joshi sang many of the compositions that were discussed during the conversation. Surendra Bharti on harmonium; and Pandit Ramkumar Mishra and Harjit Singh on tabla accompanied the musicians. Durga Jasraj enlivened the proceedings with some anecdotes and remembrances of the family.