Sureela Saptak Sunday: From morning to midnight

There was something special about January 8, 2012, and no one who was present at Amrut Mody School of Management could have denied that. Besides being a Sunday, it was the eighth day of the music festival, Saptak. Music lovers took home unforgettable memories of the day. The eventful day commenced with an upcoming young musician, Sougata Roy Chowdhury who presented raag bilaskhan-ni-todi through sarod.

Chowdhury recited, to the accompaniment of sarod, aalaap jod jhala and two gats namely, vilambit taal and dhrut teen taal. As a young artist, Chowdhury enthralled the audience, who were left wanting for more when his performance ended. His father Prof Sarbari Roy Chowdhury is an eminent sculptor and mother Ajanta Roy Chowdhury studied classical Hindusthani vocal music in the great Agra Gharana. Under the guidance of his guru, late Dhyanesh Khan who inherited the tradition 'Seni Gharana' Sougata received his rigorous initial talim. 

Choudhury's performance was followed by Padmashri and Padma Bhushan awardee Girija Devi's spellbinding vocal rendition of raag miyan-ki-todi. The performance of this 83-year-old vocalist from Benaras gharana did not end here. This raag comprised two khyals, one in ek taal and other in teen taal.

Her rendition ended with kafi ka tappa, raag Thumri for Holi and raag Bhairavi ki Thumri. She also presented a composition and mixture of how devotees, gopiyan and vatsalya expressed their love for Lord Krishna. Girija Devi said, "It is after many years that I return on Saptak stage and I am saddened by Nandan's (Pt Nandan Mehta) absence. However, I am happy with the way the sapling of classical music, Saptak, he planted years ago has grown and and the way Manju (Mehta) has taken it forward."

The chill notwithstanding, the venue was packed with music lovers in the evening. The evening had first Parthasarathi Desikan who presented a vocal rendition of raag jog followed by a bhajan dedicated to Lord Ram. Accompanying Desikan was Arvind Azad on tabla. This was followed by a sitar rendition by Vijay Kumar Sant from Gujarat. Later, vocalist Pt Ulhas Kashalkar presented raag Kedar.

Ustad Zakir Hussain’s performance brought the evening to an end. “This is a shraddhanjali for Ustad Sultan Khan Saab,” said the tabla maestro. Sarangi player Dilshad Khan accompanied him. The mood of the evening reached feverish heights when the nimble fingers hit the tabla. The crowd had waited anxiously for him to get on to the stage. And, the tabla maestro did not disappoint his fans!