Attended concert by Saylee Talwalkar. She was accompanied by Bhushan Rao on Tabla and Amit Oak on Harmonium. Abhay Samant on Taal (टाळ). This private concert was organized by Anubhooti in Abu Dhabi on 8th Oct 2023. I attended with friends and family.
This concert was slightly different than usual pure classical Anubhooti concerts. This one was a bouquet of variety of genres to satiate all the tastes of audience because of lack of concert in last three years.
Concert started with Raag Ahir Bhairav (अहिर भैरव). Ahir Bhairav is a Mishra raag with Raag Bhairav in Purvang and Raag Kaafi (काफी) in Uttarang. It belongs to Bhairav thaat (भैरव थाट). It’s known as Chakravakam in Carnatic music. First bandish was Kishiriji’s Nainava Barse sajni (नैनवा बरसे सजनी). Audience applauded twice in this first peshakash. Second one was Albela sajan ayo re (अलबेला सजन आयो रे). Sayali sung the Sargam beautifully.
After the pure classical performance she moved to semi classical with Thumri (ठुमरी) / Dadar (दादरा). Today’s choice was the immortal Rangi sari gulabi (रंगी सारी गुलाबी). Needless to say that audience liked it very much.
After semi classical, it was Bhajan. She presented bhajan penned by Pt. Narendra Sharma, composed by Shrinivas Khale in raag Patdeep (प्रदीप). Sung by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and Lata Mangeshkar. You guessed it right. Of course it was Baje muraliya baje (बाजे मुरलियाँ बाजे).
She then presented Abhang Bolawa Vitthal (बोलावा विठ्ठल) composed by Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki and sung by Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, Prabhakar Karlekar and Kishori Amonkar; separately. At the end of the Abhang when she started the gajar (गजर). Oh! the goose bumps! Some of the audience had tears in their eyes. It was pure bliss!
After the bliss, she presented speciality of Marathi sangeet, Bhavgeet. Written by Nitin Akhwe. Sung by Arati Anklikar-Tikekar. Composed by Shridhar Phadke. Album Tejomay Nadbrahma. Mi Radhika (मी राधिका). Very enjoyable.
She then wanted to present Bhairavi, but audience demanded Natyageet (नाट्यगीत). So she presented a natya geet on public demand.
Concert concluded with a Bhiravi. It was Bhairavi Dadra (भैरवी दादरा) “Sun Yashoda mai dungi duhai, tere Kanhane dhoom machayi (सुन यशोदा मैं दूंगी दुहाई, तेरे कान्हाने धूम मचाई)”.
Audience was starving for good music. Sayali is an accomplished singer. Bhushan and Amit are well known names in UAE music circle. Anubhooti is known for organizing quality concerts without charging any ticket from the audience. The ingredients were all there, the recipe was perfect.
This was an Anubhooti concert after a gap of three years. It was also the first at someone’s home, all previous concerts were in auditoriums.
All in all, a very satisfactory experience.
Disclosure: I am founder member of Anubhooti.
