While celebrating its 40th year of glorious existence as India’s premier institution of Hindustani classical music, ITC Sangeet Research Academy dedicated its ITC Sangeet Sammelan to the late Girija Devi, the Academy’s very own Appaji, venerated Guruma and loving mother-figure of the SRA-family, right from its inception in 1977. The soiree was inaugurated at SRA by Sanjiv Puri (chief executive officer and executive director, ITC Ltd) who also felicitated renowned vocalist Pandit Venkatesh Kumar with the ITC Sangeet Samman 2017 following the tradition of honouring revered musicians annually.

SRA Family

Recounting her life within the SRA premises, Appaji’s daughter Sudha Dutta (Munni di to all) said, “Ma’s spirit is very much present in this musical ambience”. True to her words, almost all the participating musicians offered at least one item following her Purab Anga Gayaki. The opening item of this much awaited major winter soiree touched hearts when a few SRA Scholars, groomed by Appaji, paid her warm tributes, led by Omkar Dadarkar, a SRA scholar turned Guru following the footprints of Ajoy Chakrabarty, Arun Bhaduri, Subhra Guha.

The team (Sucheta Ganguly, Aparajita Lahiri, Shoumi Roy and Omkar) offered soulful glimpses of a few of Appaji’s favourite compositions in khayal, thumri and allied forms along with anecdotes regarding her style of teaching. The presentation, steeped in musical tehzeeb, once again proved that ITC’s claim of grooming brilliant performers and able gurus for future in a living-learning ambience of the age old gurukul, albeit with modern facilities, continues to hold value despite drastic changes due to the socio-economic scenario.

Pandit Vijay Kichlu, the founder director of this unique institution, had chalked out a plan to present SRA-groomed young aspirants along with bigwigs of classical world in all its events. It is commendable that SRA continues the tradition with greater enthusiasm even now. This year there were three young musicians from the SRA stable. Sucheta Ganguly, also training with Guru Arun Bhaduri, once again regaled listeners as the opening artiste of the night-long session on the second day (Yaman, Desh thumri, dadra). On both days Ashoke Mukherjee (tabla) and Rupashri Bhattacharya (harmonium) provided support that helped the young ones to push boundaries of innovations.

Sitarist Ayan Sengupta, groomed under Guru Partha Chatterjee, etched pristine version of ragas Jog and Sohini, imaginatively blending vocalism with instrumentalism with Indranil Bhaduri’s alert yet indulgent tabla on his side. Flautist scholar Paramananda Roy displayed dexterous rhythmic-variants while playing gatkaris (raga Yaman) with Ashoke Mukherjee’s steadfast tabla.

The seniors

All the participating Gurus of SRA offered memorable recitals during the three-day spread that included one whole-night session in the wee hours of which Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty offered an introspective Nat Bhairav, followed by a Bhairavi thumri eschewing the ornate style of Patiala. On the other hand, Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar offered Kausi Kanada in Nayaki anga, a Punjabi tap-khayal in Sohini and the immortal Jamuna ke teer in Bhairavi with Sarwar Hussain’s sarangi in tow. Tabla maestro Yogesh Samsi and young Gourab Chatterjee accompanied both the masters with superb sensitivity.

Ustad Rashid Khan captivated all with the beautiful melody of Gorakh Kalyan followed by two dadras, one of which was Deevana kiye Shyam that he picked up from Appaji. His companions, tabla wizard Subhankar Banerjee, veteran harmonium expert Jyoti Goho and sarangi exponent Murad Ali oozed warmth. Dhrupad maestro Uday Bhawalkar portrayed the majestic character of Malkauns with Pratap Awad’s pakhawaj by his side. Kaushiki Chakraborty, one of the most dazzling stars of her generation, sang raga Puria Kalyan and a Majh Khamaj thumri in her super-ornate style.

Invited stalwarts

On the award evening, Pandit Venkatesh Kumar treated his fans and followers with ragas Bihag and Durga followed by a Khamaj Hori and his favourite philosophic Bhairavi bhajan, Samajh mana, koi nahi apna. Around the day break when initiated listeners were expecting rarely heard early morning melodies, sitar maestro Shahid Pervez chose oft-heard late night ragas Bageshri and Rageshri, followed by a Bhenge mor gharer chabi-based dhun. Ace tabla player Subhankar Banerjee accompanied both artistes. Violinist Kala Ramnath’s emotive Jogkauns rendition, beautifully accompanied by Abhijit Banerjee’s tabla, could do better by avoiding chromatic use of both Gandhars.

Renowned Carnatic vocalist Sudha Raghunathan captivated with her amazingly agile renditions of several items including the central piece in raga Shanmukhapriya, ably accompanied by Pakkala Ramadas (violin), PR Ravi (mridangam) and R Raman (morsing). The brilliant vocalists Trichur Brothers enthralled with their Khamas-varnam, Adana, Narayanagaula and Vrindavani Sarang as the main piece. They were supported by their Mridangam Vidwan father Trichur R Mohan, L Ramakrishnan’s sweet-toned violin and DV Venkatasubramaniam’s inspired ghatam.