BIRTH CENTENARY OF NALIN MAJUMDAR Sitar, sarod exponents mesmerise audience during music fest

Athree-day musical fest marking the birth centenary celebrations of noted guitarist the late Nalin Mazumdar kicked-off in Prayagraj on Wednesday. Noted sitar player from London, Sanjay Guha, regaled the audience with his performance at the Rabindralay auditorium of Jagat Taran Golden Jubilee campus on the opening day of the event.

He was accompanied by Anoop Banerjee of Prayagraj on tabla.Guha is one of the most established sitar artistes of the Indian classical music. He belongs to the Maihar-Senia ‘gharana’ (any of the various specialist schools or methods of classical music or dance).

Through his soulful performance, he mesmerised connoisseurs and novices alike. Anoop Banerjee through his intense and energetic performances also added a new dimension to the traditional concert experience.

This was followed by Pt Narendra Nath Dhar from Kolkata playing sarod. He had Pt Arup Chattopadhyay from Kolkata accompanying him on tabla.

One of the finest exponents of the Shahjahapur/Gwalior Seniya ‘gharana’, Dhar demonstrated why he is not only known for his purist but also for his own emerging style, through which one could easily distinguish his way of playing from those of others.

Dhar began his training in sarod under his father the late Nemai Chand Dhar. The early demise of his father was no deterrent in his pursuit of learning. He started training under Pt Samarendra Nath Sikdar, the then disciple of Pt Radhika Mohan Maitra.

In 1969, Pt Maitra brought Dhar under his tutelage and played a crucial role in shaping him into one of the most exciting talents of his generation. His musical prowess received a further honing under Ustad Amjad Ali

Khan.

Day two of the fest celebrating the life, music and legacy of Prayagraj-born and bred Nalin Mazumdar, regarded a guru of the Hawaiian guitar, also known as the slide guitar the world over on Thursday will have Malyaban Chattedee from Kolkata entertaining the audience with his vocals with Hindole Majumdar of Kolkata on tabla and Shamshad Ahmad Khan on harmonium.

This will be followed by sitar performance of Gaurav Mazumdar of Delhi with Pandit Swapan Chadhuri from the USA accompanying him on tabla.

HT PHOTO Noted sitar player from London Sanjay Guha performing Rabindralay auditorium in Prayagraj