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New Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Dhrupad notes stir soulful peace in Hyderabad concert
HYDERABAD: Dhrupad, a serene and meditative form of Hindustani Classical music, goes beyond entertainment to evoke inner peace. This essence was beautifully captured on June 28 at Ravindra Bharati, during a soulful performance by students of the Dhruvpad Gurukulam Foundation. The event marked the sixth anniversary of the foundation, established in 2019 by Manish Kumar, a noted Dhrupad musician, and art enthusiast Vijaya L Ramam. Accompanied by Dnyaneshwar Deshmukh on the pakhawaj, the students delivered a three-hour musical journey that immersed the audience in the spiritual depth of Dhrupad. The programme began with a Ganesh Vandana in Raag Bhupali, introduced through a calming alaap by Sindhu Rajesuryah, followed by the bandish Sankara Suta Ganesha and Sur Laya Bhed Ko Bakhan. Senior students then took the stage: Supriti Chakraborti presented Saghana Bana Chhaayo in Raag Bhairav, while Shivali Shukla sang Tero Daras Se in Raag Yaman. Premlatha Zaveri performed Kahaan Se Tum Mad Pi Aaye Ho in Raag Bihaag, followed by Sannihita Murthy's powerful Jab Kartaar Karam Kare in Raag Pardeep. Raag Chandrakauns came alive with Vamsi Madhavi and Mahati's rendition of Chalo Sakhi Braj Mein Dhoom Machi and Hey Shiva Shankara. The concert concluded with Hriday Bhushan's emotive Aayi Hai Ghata and Shambu Bholanath in Miyan ki Malhaar. Manish, who has been teaching Dhrupad for over a decade, expressed pride as he spoke about his students: 'They are of different ages and from diverse occupations but are still so dedicated to Dhrupad.' Vijaya, who is 81, revealed that she started learning the Dhrupad style when she was 70. She told TNIE, 'In a world with digital dominance, I urge more youngsters to take up music. Dhrupad, in particular, brings peace to a listener. However, not many Dhrupad concerts have been taking place in Hyderabad. So, Manish and I have been promoting it greatly.'
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
In a world on fire, Jagjit Singh helped me make sense of the chaos
In the small town of Jabalpur, my mother raised me on a healthy diet of middle-class values, the Marathi language, and Jagjit Singh. The singer and music composer known for his ghazals was one of the earliest male role models I had — the other being my grandfather, an honest, hardworking man who loved to meet and help people. The downside of being exposed to Jagjit Singh's ghazals from an early age, though, was that I stuck out like a sore thumb. Not many 12- and 13-year-olds listened to him. My references fell flat in the company of others my age. During impromptu antakshari sessions, I realised they hadn't heard or weren't remotely interested in the songs I knew. It was like singing 'Tere Liye' from Veer Zara when the one from Vivek Oberoi-starrer Prince was all the rage. As I journeyed through my 20s, a quiet transformation began to unfold. I moved out of my hometown for the first time, and met people from different parts of the country. Reciting a sher from a Jagjit Singh ghazal under the moonlit sky or humming to the tunes among friends became a way to connect. Many of my new friends confided that growing up, it was always their parents — and never them — who listened to this brand of music. But now, something had shifted. It did not feel alien to them. It was as though Jagjit Singh, with these verses on heartbreak, yearning and loss, was lending his voice to their thoughts. His musical genius gently allowed the words to take over only when required, leaving space for the melody to wash over you once the singer's voice faded. His calm, yet emotional baritone, trained as he was in Hindustani Classical music, always played its part earnestly, never overshadowing the song at hand. It was only when you tried singing one of his ghazals that you realised the elegant and elaborate harkaten (vocal movements) inherent to the piece, which Jagjit ji would perform with no fuss. But beyond this cultural reappraisal, which was part of a larger romanticisation of everything that Gen Z and Millennials now consider vintage, I rediscovered Jagjit Singh in my 20s on a deeply personal level. For one, his extensive body of work meant I continued to unearth songs I hadn't heard before. And two, as I encountered life-altering moments, both personal and political — the falling standards for what passed as news, the Delhi riots, the Covid-19 pandemic, my first romantic relationship and my first break-up — I began to find greater meaning in his songs. As the public sphere and the family WhatsApp groups became more savage and bloodthirsty, demanding a pound of flesh from 'the other', Jagjit Singh's voice felt like a balm. As he sang 'Main na Hindu, na Musalman, mujhe jeene do (I am neither Hindu nor Muslim, let me live)', it reminded me of the enduring value of human decency, compassion, and kindness. 'Sab ke dukh dard ko bas apna samajh kar jeena, bas yahi hai mera armaan, mujhe jeene do, (Treat the sorrow of others as your own, that's my hope, let me live)', he pleaded. Like many in their 20s, I had other worries too — something more mundane and crushing: money and whether I was making enough. So, when he sang 'Itni mehengai ke bazaar se kuch laata hoon, apne bacchon me use baant ke sharmata hoon (I manage to bring little home from the overpriced market, and feel embarrassed as I divide it among my children)', I felt he captured the inadequacy I felt when I compared my salary to others. And he wasn't beholden to the purists, using a guitar, no less, in a ghazal. Despite the backlash he had to face, he came out of it, having liberated ghazal as an art form. While a cultural revival has made Jagjit Singh 'cool', the characterisation of his work as a library of 'sad songs' or 'breakup-core' ghazals is a lazy and reductive assessment. Make no mistake. He sang some of the most heartwrenching songs. I feel something stir deep inside me when he asks, 'Koi ye kaise bataye, ke woh tanha kyun hai… yahi hota hai to aakhir yahi hota kyun hai, (How does one tell, why they are alone… if this is the way things happen, why do they)'. But there's more to him than that. I hope everyone opening up their hearts to Jagjit Singh for the first time gets to experience him in all his multitudes. Of course, listen to 'Tere khushboo main base khat main jalata kaise' (How could I burn the letters that smelled of you) and 'Chitthi na koi sandes… kahan tum chale gaye' (Without a letter or a message…where have you left for) — they will help you put into words many of life's tragedies. But don't miss out on 'Suna tha ke woh aayenge anjuman mein' (I had heard they would come to the gathering) and 'Ye tera ghar ye mera ghar' (This is your house and mine), two lovely songs in the voice of Jagjit and his wife Chitra Singh, which speak of reciprocated love. When faced with injustice, these two tracks, 'Jo bhi bhala bura hai, Allah jaanta hai' (God knows all that is right and wrong) and 'Badi haseen raat thi' (The night was beautiful), will help you reason, or come to terms with the lack of one. If you seek a religious prayer to calm your racing heart, there's 'Mere mann ke andh tamas mein, jyotirmay utaro' (Appear as radiance to rid my heart of darkness). And when you find a song that speaks to you, share it with others. Jagjit Singh's voice always sounds sweeter, drifting in from a neighbour's open window or an Instagram story marked Close Friends. Before you know it, you will find yourself humming along: 'Hothon se chulo tum, mera geet amar kardo (Lend your lips to my song, make it immortal)'. ... Read More
New Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Spirit of abhangs comes alive with Rahul Deshpande
Rahul, also trained in Hindustani Classical music, attributes his skill and success to his many gurus. 'When I was six years old, I began training under Pandit Gangadharbuva Pimpalkhare ji, and went on to learn from greats such as Dr Madhusudan Patwardhan, Shrimati Usha Tai Chipalkatti, and Pandit Mukul Shivputra. So, I studied for a good 20-odd years. That's how my classical upbringing has been,' he recalls. Unlike many who train in a single genre and dedicate their lives to it, Rahul stands out for his versatility, making waves in theatre and on the big screen. Notably, he portrayed his own grandfather in the acclaimed Marathi film Me Vasantrao (2022). This role not only showcased his acting talent but also earned him the award for 'Best Male Playback Singer'. When Rahul was younger, he was rather impatient, wanting to sing as well as his grandfather and other greats. 'But what I learnt was patience. The formative years were all about riyaaz (practice), followed by a stage where I began exploring raags more avidly. Now, I don't have to put in the effort to think — music flows in my mind, 24/7. On stage, after the first note, I fall into a trance, unaware of what overcomes me,' he shares with refreshing honesty. The singer is far from cynical when it comes to the debate on how Hindustani Classical music and other forms of traditional music are treated in period films and shows. 'Films and shows are doing right by such music — they haven't done chedhkhani (tampering) with the essence, which is why the younger generation is enjoying it more,' Rahul says, adding that in fact, people watch films and shows for the music. He then takes a page from his past, reminiscing, 'While growing up, I remember watching the Telugu film Sankarabharanam (1980) so many times! What a phenomenal film it is,' he says enthusiastically. Despite all his achievements, Rahul humbly notes, 'Acting has only enriched my music. I have not mastered anything; rather, I am just making sense of things, learning every single moment. Music is an ocean… I am nothing in front of it.' Well, that was Rahul Deshpande's take on music and life. So, to watch Abhangwari, you don't have to be 'religious' or 'spiritual'. Do your ears, heart, and soul love music? Well, that's all you need…
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Pandit Ronu Majumdar: I dedicate my Padma Shri to the families of the Kashmir victims
Pandit Ronu Majumdar was honoured with the Padma Shri on Monday. Having received it from President Droupadi Murmu, the flautist tells us, 'It (the honour) means the world to me. I dedicate it to my mother's tears, Bharat Ratna Ravi Shankar ji, my guru Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao (late flautist) and my first guru and father, Bhanu Majumdar ji. With this honour, I feel my responsibilities towards my craft and the flute have grown. My goal is to establish the flute across the world, just like the tabla and the sitar.' A post shared by Ronu Majumdar (@majumdarronu) Sharing anecdotes from the ceremony in Delhi, he adds, 'Receiving the Padma Shri title from President Droupadi Murmu ji was a divine feeling. This was my third visit to the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It was great to meet Prime Minister Narendra (Modi) bhai. There was a VIP dinner planned after the ceremony. However, it was cancelled in wake of the recent Pahalgam attack. I dedicate my award to the families of the people who lost their lives in Kashmir.' The recognition follows another recent achievement by the flautist, where he led a symphony and featured 546 musicians that achieved a Guinness World Record for the largest Hindustani Classical Band ever assembled, performing a single composition. Sharing his future plans, Pandit Ronu adds, 'Through my flute foundation, I want to teach more people. I am next coming up with a Gandhi album with musician Ricky Kej in June. Then, I have a bhajan with Anup Jalota (singer), which marks my debut as a singer too. I have also played the flute for the song.' The flutist recently performed at the Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi. In response to the prestigious Padma Shri award, Pandit Majumdar also thanked his wife Anandi and sons Siddharth and Hrishikesh for supporting him emotionally during the hardest moments in the life.
