47th Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan

47th Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan

On the second day, Ruchira Kedar and Pandit Iman Das mesmerised the audience with their Hindustani classical vocal music

On the third day, Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Dr. Ram Deshpande will perform

Chandigarh 20 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : On the second day of the three-day 47th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan, organised by the Indian National Theatre in collaboration with the Durga Das Foundation at the auditorium of Strawberry Fields High School, Sector 26, Hindustani classical vocalist Vidushi Ruchira Kedar and Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Iman Das enthralled the audience with their melodious and captivating renditions, receiving high appreciation. Before the program, Indian National Theatre President Anil Nehru and Honorary Secretary Vinita Gupta welcomed all the music listeners. The second evening of the Sammelan unfolded with the soulful performance of Hindustani classical vocalist Vidushi Ruchira Kedar. She opened her recital with the serene Raag Shyam Kalyan in vilambit Ektaal through the composition “Jio Mero Laal”, followed by a medium tempo composition in madhya lay teen taal 'Sawan ki Sanjh', and concluded this raag with the fast tempo composition set to drut Ek taal 'Bela Sanjh ki'. After which she sang a Bandish Thumri in Raag Desh, “Sakhi Ghan Garjan Ati Ghor”, followed by a tarana in Teen Taal. Emotive renditions in Dadra and Mishra Kirwani with the piece “Tum Saathi Kaho.” She then offered a heartfelt Kajri – “Sawan Jhar Lagi Dheere Dheere” – evoking the essence of the monsoon. To conclude her recital, Ruchira brought the audience closer to the traditions of the Banaras gharana, presenting a bouquet of authentic semi-classical compositions that highlighted both her command over form and her expressive artistry. Thereafter, Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Iman Das began his recital with a very rare raga, Shanunkhapriya. In this raga, he presented three of his own exquisite compositions. He first rendered “Madhur Dhwani Suni” in the deep cadence of vilambit Jhoomra, followed by “Gajamukhi Mangalkari” in the lively rhythm of Rupak taal, and finally “Pawan Putra Hanuman” in the energetic flow of Teentaal, enveloping the entire hall in a mesmerizing atmosphere. He then went on to present a Punjabi bandish and a tarana in raga Sohini, sung in the authentic Patiala gharana style. Finally, he concluded his performance with a rare Dadra in raga Bhairavi, leaving the audience with an unforgettable experience. Along with the artists, Vinod Lele on the tabla and Vinay Mishra on the harmonium, while Tarun Garg and Neeshu Sharma on the tanpura, provided excellent accompaniment. This Sammelan is being organized for all music lovers, and entry is free of charge. Ruchira Kedar is one of the most popular young Hindustani vocalists in India today and is well known for her exceptionally skillful & emotive renditions of a variety of Hindustani musical forms like Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan etc. Recipient of awards like the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Sangeet Natak Akademi Govt. of India," Saraswati Sadhan Samman" in memory of Vidushi Kishori Amonkar, "Sur Mani"etc, she is an "Established" category artist of Indian Council of Cultural Relations. Ruchira is a senior disciple of legendary artists & Gurus like Dr. Alaka Deo Marulkar, Pt.Ulhas Kashalkar and Vidushi Girija Devi. Ruchira is a "Top" grade artist of All India Radio and has a Master's degree in English Literature & Music as well as a Ph.D degree in Music to her credit. She has received many fellowships & awards at the National level and she regularly performs at prestigious music festivals like Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav, Tansen Samaroh, ITC SRA Sangeet Sammelans, Bengal Classical Music Festival and venues like National Centre for Performing Arts Mumbai, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, Rajasthan International Centre etc all over India and abroad. Her highly melodious & powerful voice and graceful style of performance have earned her the admiration of music lovers everywhere. Pandit Iman Das is one of the prominent contemporary representatives of Hindustani classical music. This precious gem of the Patiala gharana refined his art under the guidance of maestros like Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharya. His captivating performances have not only mesmerized audiences in India but also across the world. Pandit Das is not only a vocalist but also a multifaceted personality, having contributed to playwriting, acting, jazz, fusion, and film music. At his Omkar Music Academy, more than 150 students are currently receiving training in the traditional gurukul system. The program was skillfully conducted by Atul Dubey. He informed that on the final day of the Sammelan, Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Dr. Ram Deshpande will present his performance at 11:30 a.m.