It was a cloudy July evening when the audience got together at the GD Birla Sabhagar for the Malhar Festival, 2024, organised by the ITC Sangeet Research Academy. The festival marked the celebration of monsoon by a group of promising artists.
Laahorii Bandhopadhaya, a Scholar of the Academy under Shri Omkar Dadarkar, began the soiree with a vilambit khayal in Raga Gaud Malhar. This was followed by a drut bandish and a tarana in the Raga set in drut Tintaal. She concluded her performance with a kajri. Laahorii was accompanied by Shri Gourab Chatterjee on the Harmonium and Shri Bivash Sanghai on the Tabla.
The next performer was Swarnendu Mandal, a Scholar under Shri Abir Hossain. Swarnendu began his performance with an alaap in Raga Desh. This was followed by a gat in vilambit Tintaal and a gat in drut Tintaal composed by Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta. Next, he played an alaap and a gat in Raga Sur Malhar set in drut Tintaal, composed by Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta. Swarnendu was accompanied by Shri Ashis Paul on the Tabla.
Sagar Morankar, a Musician Scholar of the Academy under Pandit Uday Bhawalkar took over the stage after Swarnendu. He presented a dhrupad in Raga Miyan ki Malhar. Sagar was accompanied by Shri Pratap Awad on the Pakhawaj and Shri Sarwar Hussain on the Sarangi.
Shri Samanwaya Sarkar concluded the Malhar Festival, 2024, with alaap, jor and gats in vilambit and drut Tintaal and a jhala in Raga Dhulia Malhar. He concluded with a composition in Raga Mishra Desh in Thumri Ang, taught to him by his Guru, Vidushi Girija Devi. Samanwaya was accompanied by Shri Debjit Patitundi on the Tabla.
Photos: Sayan Deb Chaudhury