Sawai Gandharva sangeet festival 2011 was a unique experience. For 5 days classical music enthusiasts were immersed in a feast of performances by some of the best in the field, some young budding talents who gave mesmerizing performances. Day 1 : belonged to Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande with her rendering of Marva and Bihag ably accompanied by Tanmay DeochakkeDay 2 : was unique in the jugalbandi by Ronu Majumdar on flute and Kadri Gopalnath on Saxophone playing both carnatic and hindustani style
Day 3 : versatile performance by Shankar Mahadevan by his shear talent captivated audience young and old
Day 4 : Pure laykaari and Taans of Malini Rajurkar with her simplicity and humbleness captured the essence of classical form. Flamboyant Amjad Ali Khan simply did not get time to perform due to over stretched performances of dancers.
Day 5 : the final day was a truly icing on the cake with the feast of vocalists. The three generations of Rajams, with their "vocal" violins stole the heart of audience. Sawai Gandharva Festival with its tradition for last 59 years has preserved the traditional feel of classical musical "jalsa". It has to be experienced in its fullest with the ambiance, the food that is served at the venue, the enthusiastic crowd and even the dust that is in air ! During the 5 days of the festival, this complex array of surrounding, the listeners around you and the performers coalesce into one... a family. This bond, that is built during these days is the one that needs only to be experienced. I felt myself maturing as a listener of classical music, appreciating the subtle nuances of "swar" and timings of the lay. Such cultural experiences makes the tradition of classical music sustain the test of time. In most unbiased way will I claim that the strength and success of Sawai lies in the fastidious but true connoisseurs of music- the true Punekars! The festival of "खाणे आणि गाणे " concludes for the year 2011 and music lovers are left what could be best described in the words of sant Tukaram in marathi " धाग गेला शीण गेला , अवघा झाला आनंद "
Day 3 : versatile performance by Shankar Mahadevan by his shear talent captivated audience young and old
Day 4 : Pure laykaari and Taans of Malini Rajurkar with her simplicity and humbleness captured the essence of classical form. Flamboyant Amjad Ali Khan simply did not get time to perform due to over stretched performances of dancers.
Day 5 : the final day was a truly icing on the cake with the feast of vocalists. The three generations of Rajams, with their "vocal" violins stole the heart of audience. Sawai Gandharva Festival with its tradition for last 59 years has preserved the traditional feel of classical musical "jalsa". It has to be experienced in its fullest with the ambiance, the food that is served at the venue, the enthusiastic crowd and even the dust that is in air ! During the 5 days of the festival, this complex array of surrounding, the listeners around you and the performers coalesce into one... a family. This bond, that is built during these days is the one that needs only to be experienced. I felt myself maturing as a listener of classical music, appreciating the subtle nuances of "swar" and timings of the lay. Such cultural experiences makes the tradition of classical music sustain the test of time. In most unbiased way will I claim that the strength and success of Sawai lies in the fastidious but true connoisseurs of music- the true Punekars! The festival of "खाणे आणि गाणे " concludes for the year 2011 and music lovers are left what could be best described in the words of sant Tukaram in marathi " धाग गेला शीण गेला , अवघा झाला आनंद "
