Pravin Godkhindi (Bansuri)

Attended a concert of Pravin Godkhindi (Bansuri) accompanied by Ojas Adhiya (Tabla) and Mohsin Mirajkar (Tanpura) on 12th Dec 2015 at Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, Pune with Makarand, Shilpa, Alhad kaka, Dilip kaka and Vinita kaku.

Engineer by education, Pravin is1st Indian Flautist to perform on the 8 Feet contrabass flute. Pandit Venkatesh Godkhindi (Flute - Kirana gharana) & Vidwan Anoor Ananth Krishna Sharma (Mridangam) are his Gurus. He plays in gayaki (गायकी) and gatkari or tantrakari (तंत्रकारी) style.

Pravin started the concert with Raag Maru Bihag (मारु बिहाग). First in vilambit Ek taal (विलंबित एक ताल) and then in drut teen taal (द्रुत तीन ताल). His rendition of raag was soulful and delicate. He played this raag in gayki style. This raag was a strong contender for the best performance of the day.

In second section he played Raag Rageshree (रागेश्री). First he played Aalap and then in Matt taal (मत्त ताल) followed by Teen taal (तिन ताल). He played this raag in tantrakari style and informed that he will bring in what he learned from his Mridangam Guru into Hindustani music. This section drew multiple applauses from audience. Audience especially liked their jugalbandi

Concluding the concert, they got up. Needless to say he got a standing ovation with shouts of 'once more'. Acceding to public demand he played Bhimsenji's famous bhajan 'Maze Maher Pandhari (माझे माहेर पंढरी) for another five minutes.

Pravin played extremely well. He displayed his command in both gayaki ang and tantrakari. He also played to the audience. It was my first time to hear Pravin live and I look forward to next opportunity. He had excellent understanding with Ojas which enhanced the performance manifold.

Ojas is a future star. His effortless Tabla playing was on display. He displayed amazing dagga play and was reportedly applauded. Ojas demonstrated why he has a great future.

Trivia - Organizers announced that the pendal for this Sawai Gandharv festival is being constructed by three generations of Gokhle family since inception i.e. 63 years. Wow.

A memorable concert.

Entertainment rating 9.5/10.

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Musical trilogy - Girish Pande (Vocal), Parag Dhadphale (Tabla) & Dharitree Joshi (Vocal)

Attended a concert of Girish Pande (Vocal), Parag Dhadphale (Tabla) & Dharitree Joshi (Vocal) titled 'Musical trilogy'; accompanied by Meghan Shrikhande (Harmonium) & Somdatta Basu (Harmonium) on 6th Nov 2015 at Nando's restaurant hall, Dubai with Nandu, Jayant, Vivek and Satya. The concert was organized by Sur Hindol.

Concert started with Girish Pande's vocal accompanied by Parag Dhadphale and Meghan Shrikhande. He presented 'Akhiyan taras rahi' in Raag Maru Bihag (मारू बिहाग). During Aalap, the instrument volume was masking the vocal. Then he presented bada khyal 'Mora man mane na'. He concluded his section with 'Re balamwa mora' in Raag Kalawati (कलावती) followed by Marathi song 'Pratham tuj pahata'. Public demanded another song and he complied by presenting bhajan 'Ram ka gungan kariye'.

Girish sung technically correct. His Aalaps were especially good. However to me he appeared a little bit subdued. Was it because he was extra cautious or was it because of performance jitters? He appeared more at home in last two compositions. I know that he can sing even better.

Parag Dhadphale presented solo Tabla in second section. Somdatta Basu was on harmonium. He displayed humility by attributing all that would be good to his Guru and all that would be wrong to himself. His first presentation was 'Teen taal (तीन ताल)'. While audience anticipated every time, he took his own sweet time to come on sum (सम) initially. Then he played a traditional Kayda (कायदा) of Delhi gharana (दिल्ली घराना) bestowed by his Guru Pt Suresh Samant and another Kayda of Delhi guarana composed by his Guru Sudheer Mainkar. Then he presented a very old, sweet and complicated Kayda, a Rachana of Panditji followed by three compositions non stop and mesmerized the audience. Then he presented a composition that could be a fight between school kids followed by a composition of Samta Prasadji. Next he presented a Rachana (रचना) from Punjab, a few tukdas and farmaish chakradar, a novelty. He concluded with a seven matra composition from Banaras.

Parag is a well known name in Dubai and he played to his reputation of being one of the best Tabalji in Dubai. He played excellent tabla and was applauded many times. It was a joy.

Dharitree Joshi-Bapat was the performer of final session. She started the concert, expressing her respect to Guru, with Raag Bageshree (बागेश्री) in Jhumra taal. She presented Khyal (ख्याल) 'Dhoondh rahe naina' followed by drut 'Sumaran karat rahat nisadin' and tarana. Then she presented 'Kaise kaise bolat' in Raag Nat Bihag (नट बिहाग), a speciality of Agra gharana, followed by 'Jhanjhan jhanjhan payal baje'. Her next item was 'Hori hori hori khelat Nandlal', a Chatrang (चतरंग) in Adana.

Due to public demand program concluded with a natyageet 'Guntata hriday he' by Meghan Shrikhande. Although he sung well, it was out of sync with the theme of the concert. He was reluctant for this very reason but eventually complied.

Parag, Somdatta and Meghan were very good as accompanists. They did not try to outdo the main artists but demonstrated their skills and were appreciated by the singers and audience.

It was a small audience, sound system behaved, temperature was a bit high. With three performers, it was essential to have proper time management. This was not controlled and the concert became too long. Spectators started to leave in the third session. I too had to leave before formal closure.

Entertainment rating 6.5/10 but considering that the artists were local it should be upgraded to 7.5/10.

Pt. Shubhendra Rao (Sitar)

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.