Sapan Anjaria (Tabla)

Attended a concert of Sapan Anjaria (Tabla) accompanied by Siddhesh Bicholkar (Lehra-Harmonium, disciple of Pt. Tulsidas Borkar) at 39th Sangeet Samrat Alladiyakhan music festival on 9th April 2016 with Ravi.

Sapan Anjaria (Benaras Gharana) hails from Ahmadabad and is disciple of Pt. Nandan Mehta, Pt. Puran Maharaj, Rajal Shah & Hetal Mehta Joshi.

Chosen Taal of the concert was Teen taal (तीन ताल). Concert started with a beautiful piece of harmonium by Siddhesh.

Sapan presented tihai's (तिहाई), Anaghat (अनाघात) and Atit (अतित). Next was a peshkar (पेशकार) starting from a different bol on Tabla (तबला / दायाँं) while keeping same weight (वजन) of dagga (डग्गा / बायाँं). It sounded good.

He then presented an interesting Gat (गत) and followed it up with a Farmaishi Chakradhar (फर्माईशी चक्रधर) where same gat was converted into Farmaishi Chakradhar by his Guru Pt. Nandan Mehta.

Then he presented a Tipalli (तिपल्ली) followed by a Tukda (तुकडा). It was followed by rachana of Pt. Kishan Maharaj, a Farmaishi Chakradhar Tukda (फर्माईशी चक्रधर तुकडा).

Concert ended with two more Rachana one of which was Chakradhar (चक्रधर).

Sapan has a forceful Tabla playing style. He is confident and knows what he is going to play and achieve. His presentation of Kayda (कायदा), tukda (तुकडा) and rela (रेला) was good. He is young (may be in his mid twenties) and promising.

Siddhesh is master of harmonium. His lehra was impeccable. I think he played lehra in Raag Todi.

Attendance was @ 70 and concert lasted for little less than one hour.

Trivia: Banaras Gharana Tablaji's play Tabla in Veerasan (वीरासन) and so did Sapan, who is a mechanical engineer.

Entertainment rating 8.25/10.

Ojas Adhiya (Tabla)

Attended a concert of Ojas Adhiya (Tabla) accompanied by Siddhesh Bicholkar (Harmonium) at NCPA, Mumbai as part of "Saz-e-Bahar" festival on 2nd April 2016 with Ravi, Alhad Kaka & Rekha Kaku.

Ojas Adhiya (Ajrada Gharana) hails from Mumbai. He holds Limca Book record of being the youngest Tabla player. He is disciple of Mridangraj ji.

Concert started with Teen taal (तीन ताल). Siddhesh started with a beautiful piece and was instantly appreciated by audience as well as Ojas. First Ojas played vilambit (विलंबित) demonstrating controlled Tabla. Then he shifted to madhyalay (मध्यलय). Ojas presented Kayda from Delhi Gharana. Finally he changed gear to drut (16X). He also displayed excellent dagga play.

He then presented Ajrada Gharana Kayda. Ojas showed his skill with lightning fast fingers. At times it was difficult to see fingers in the blur of motion. Audience was mesmerized with his Tabla and applauded the artist multiple times. His ghi-da-na-ga (घि ड न ग) was too good. He presented a beautiful Tripalli Gat(त्रिपल्ली गत) followed by Chakradhar (चक्रधर).

Concert concluded with 'nau dha ki gat (नौ धा की गत)', a Gat with 9 dha (धा) that resembles bells in a mandir (मंदिर) during Arati (आरती).

His kayda's (कायदा), tukda's (तुकडा), rela's(रेला), palta's (पलटा), tihai's (तिहाई) and chakradar's (चक्रधर) were awesome. He played pure Tabla without resorting to modern gimmicks most of the time.

Ojas is a fantastic artist. He is already rated amongst top Tabla players in India. More accolades are to follow.

Siddhesh played a very sweet sounding lehra. He knew exactly when to increase and decrease the volume of harmonium. He played his lehra in Raag Maduwanti (मधुवंती).

When I had met Ojas more than a year ago in Abu Dhabi and asked him what is the correct duration for a solo Tabla concert, he had replied that it should not be more than 1 hr to 1 hr 15 min. He walked the talk today. The duration of concert was 50 min.

Can't post any photograph of concerts as organizers did not allow photography. Just photo with the artist.

Wow, what a concert!

Entertainment rating 9.5/10.

Vrushali Kulkarni (Kathak)

Attended a concert of Vrushali Kulkarni (Kathak) organized by Anubhooti at Embassy of India auditorium, Abu Dhabi, on 29th Jan 2016. Attendance was more than 130.

Vrushali Kulkarni (Kathak) is a Nrityavisharad and is trained in Lucknow and Jaipur Gharana. This was her first international performance.

She started with Shiv vandana (शिव वंदना) composed by Pt. Bindadin maharaj and choreographed by Pt. Rohini Bhate.

Then she presented Uthan (उठान) and Amad (आमद) in vilambit Teen taal (विलंबित तीन ताल) followed by two types of Paran (परन) in madhya lay Teen taal (मध्यलय तीन ताल) followed by Toda (तोडा), Tukde (तुकडे), Kavitt (कवित्त) and Ginati (गिनती) in drut Teen taal (दृत तीन ताल).

She then presented an Anwat Rachana choreographed by Rohini Bhate (रोहिणी भाटे) that included a Tarana (तराणा) followed by Samadhun Geet 'Lagan lagi (लगन लगी)'.

Concert concluded with Abhinay paksha (अभिनय पक्ष) a Geet on Radha Krishna (राधा कृष्ण) 'Zulat Radhe Navalkishor (झूलत राधे नवलकिशोर)' written by Pt. Bindadin maharaj, composed by Pt. Birju maharaj (बिरजू महाराज) and choreographed by Pt. Rohini Bhate. It was the best item of the concert.

Vrushali displayed good expressions and fluid movements. She made full and effective use of stage. Her acting in the last item was fantastic. She created the visuals of Krishna growing up through her acting and dance.

Vrushali used recorded music for the program thus making it a really solo performance. Organizers distributed a leaflet explaining her presentations thus making it easy to understand. Vrushali narrated between the presentations and despite dancing she was not breathless.

She is a dancer with potential.

Entertainment rating 9/10.

Disclosure: I am a founder member of Anubhooti.

Rajendra Gangani (Kathak)

Attended a concert of Pt. Rajendra Gangani (Kathak) accompanied by ensemble of musicians on 12th Dec 2015 at Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, Pune with Alhad kaka, Dilip kaka and Vinita kaku.

Rajendraji is trained in the Jaipur Gharana by his father. He also has a rare mastery over the tabla, harmonium & pakhawaj.

Rajendraji made a swirling entry to the applause of audience. His energy is amazing. He danced almost for 1.15 hrs and also managed to say bols and make announcements. By having a dialogue with audience he took the audience with him on joy ride. He drew many applauses.

He displayed amazing foot work and graceful movements. He performed on Uthans (उठान), Parans (परन), Bandishes(बंदिश), Mukhdas (मुखडा) and tihais (तिहाई).

He even created sound of rain through sound of his ghungroos while dancing. He displayed various moods with his facial expressions, body language and dancing.

His jugalbandi and sawal-jawab with tabalji Azad were especially mention worthy.

Concert ended with a dance on bhajan of Surdas. This bhajan was commemorating Guru, a gurubhajan.

The live music with Lehra, Tabla and Vocals was good. Rajendraji frequently advised them about the speed he needed from them.

Trivia - Organizers had to stop the sale of tickets for the day due to huge audience response.

A very different, good, amazing and entertaining performance.

Entertainment rating 9/10.