Three-Day 47th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan from September 19

Three-Day 47th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan from September 19

A three-day music conference where renowned classical vocalists will enthrall music lovers with their melodious renditions

Chandigarh 15 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : The Indian National Theatre, in collaboration with the Durga Das Foundation, will organise the three-day 47th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan from September 19 to 21 at the Strawberry Fields High School Auditorium, Sector 26, Chandigarh. This much awaited Sangeet Sammelan will bring together renowned classical vocalists and instrumentalists, with a promise to mesmerize music lovers with melodious renditions. Audiences will also experience for the first time a Carnatic music concert, and a unique blend of the northern and southern rhythms through diverse percussion and instrumental performances. Sharing details, Indian National Theatre President Anil Nehru and Honorary Secretary Vinita Gupta said that on the first day, September 19 at 6:30 PM, Ramana Balachandran will present a Veena recital in the Carnatic tradition. Ramana Balachandran is a distinguished Veena artist, acclaimed in India and abroad. He showed deep interest in classical music since his childhood and developed an exceptional ability to grasp the intricacies of ragas at an early age. His presentations focus on raga-based music, seamlessly combining spontaneity and depth. His concerts are especially known for the complex *Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi*. Proficient in both vocal and instrumental music, he offers the rare “Voco-Veena” experience, bringing out deeper emotions in compositions. Today, he is regarded as the youngest prominent Veena artist, performing worldwide and hailed as a true ambassador of the Saraswati Veena recital in the Karnatak tradition. At the tender age of 16, he cleared the highly competitive All India Radio audition and was directly graded as an “A” artist—a rare honor in AIR’s 75-year history. He will be accompanied by Kuchibhotla Sai Giridhar on the Mridangam, Chandrasekhara Sharma on the Ghatam, and G. Guru Prasanna on the Khanjira. After the Veena recital, Pt. Ram Kumar Mishra,a  renowned tabla maestro of North Indian, will present a percussion ensemble on the Tabla , alongside the Carnatic percussionists. Vinay Mishra will accompany them on the Harmonium. This percussion ensemble will offer audiences a remarkable experience of the diversity and depth of Indian classical music. All the artists are of high repute, with performances in India and abroad, and have been honored on many prestigious platforms. Vinita Gupta further shared that on the second day, classical vocalists Ruchira Kedar and Pt. Iman Das will enthrall the audience with their presentations. Vidushi Ruchira Kedar is considered one of India’s leading young Hindustani classical vocalists. She has carved a distinct identity as a talented guide of the Gwalior-Jaipur tradition. Her emotive and masterful renditions of Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Hori, and Kajri have left a deep impression on audiences. She initially trained under her father Shri Dilip Kale, followed by advanced training from Jaipur gharana’s renowned vocalist Dr. Alka Deo Marulkar. Later, she studied  the finer nuances of Hindustani classical and semi-classical music under Ulhas Kashalkar of the Gwalior gharana, with whom she continues her learning. She has also had the good fortune of receiving guidance in Thumri and semi-classical forms from Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi of the Banaras gharana. For the past two decades, she has been regularly performing at prestigious festivals in India and abroad. Following her performance, Pt. Iman Das will take the stage. One of the prominent contemporary representatives of Indian classical music from the Patiala gharana. He has refined his art under maestros Pt. Ajay Chakravarty and Pt. Shantanu Bhattacharya. His captivating performances have charmed audiences not only in India but across the globe. Pt. Das is a multifaceted personality—singer, playwright, actor, and composer—with contributions to jazz, fusion, and film music as well. Through his “Omkar Music Academy,” more than 150 students are being trained in the Gurukul tradition. On the final day, September 21 at 11:30 AM, Pt. Dr. Ram Deshpande will present a Hindustani vocal recital. Pt. Dr. Ram Deshpande is a leading vocalist representing India’s rich classical tradition. He began his training under Shri Chepe, Shri Panake, and Pt. Prabhakar Deshkar. Later, he imbibed the traditions of the Gwalior and Jaipur gharanas under Pt. Yashwantbua Joshi and Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, while also learning the Agra gharana from Pt. Babanrao Haldankar and the Bhatkhande tradition from Pt. Yashwant Mahale. His singing is marked by a mature, melodious voice, mastery over ornamentations like gamak, meend, and behelava, and a wide variety of rhythmic and melodic patterns. His repertoire combines both popular and rare ragas. During his recital, he will be accompanied by  Vinod Lele on the Tabla, and Vinay Mishra on the Harmonium. Vinita Gupta added that the Sangeet Sammelan is being organised for all music lovers. Entry will be free.