Attended concert of Pt. Shubhendra Rao (Sitar), a disciple of Pt. Ravishankar accompanied by Pandita Anuradha Pal (Tabla) on 2nd April 2015 in Chembur, Mumbai. I attended with Madhav & Ravi. This concert was part of 'Sangeet Samrat Alladiya Khan music festival 2015'.
Concert started with Raag Maru Bihag (मरू बिहाग). Shubhendraji played solo Aalap-Jod-Jhala as per the tradition of 'Maihar gharana'. He played extremely well. Audience was spell bound, especially in Jhala. Even Anuradhaji could not help applauding.
Then he played Raag Mishra Khamaj (मिश्र खमाज), with Anuradhaji, first in Vilambit Teen taal and then in Drut Teen taal. Wow!
The concert lasted one hour and ten minutes. It was not a Sitar concert accompanied by Tabla but a Sitar-Tabla jugalbandi. Audience and organizers did not want the concert to end so soon, so the artists were urged to play more. They played Dhun (धुन) influenced by Bhatiyali dhun for another 8 minutes.
Shubhendraji is a perfectionist, he fussed over the microphone until he was satisfied. He played with complete concentration and was unaware of his surroundings. Anuradhaji demonstrated why she is called 'Lady Zakir'. She played competitive Tabla in her 45 minutes. The section she played only with dagga (डग्गा) was simply amazing. I had the best seat in the auditorium, only 10ft from the artists.
It was a knowledgeable and appreciative (दर्दी) audience. They did not miss any deserving opportunity to applaud.
It was a functional auditorium with bare minimum facilities. The auditorium had fans but despite the charged music it was not hot. Sound system needs improvement. Program started half an hour late. Organizers kept giving glasses of water to Anuradhaji and she was visibly perplexed because she never asked for them.
We left the auditorium with a feeling of 'Ye dil mange more (ये दिल माँगे मोर).
A very good evening. Entertainment rating 9/10.
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