Morning acts get added to this musical gala in the Capital
The lawns of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) have been resonating with the musical genius of legendary maestros. Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival 2018, an event that’s almost as old as Independent India. It is the 71st edition of the fest, this year.
Festival director and vice chairperson of SBKK, Shobha Deepak Singh, says, “The Kendra’s musical journey began in 1947 on the day India got independence; to celebrate freedom from bonded music. Rarely does it happen in the ethos of a nation that an occasion arises where the people attain for themselves freedom without violence.”
Singh, the curator of the Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival, adds, “Although I was no more than four years young at that time, the seeds of music were sown in the subconscious. It was the artistic ambience of our home that sharpened my artistic sensibilities, and helped shape my destiny, to be able to cope with the challenges thrown up by the Kendra. Over seven decades, the music has maintained higher standard of musical reverence of the audience of Delhi.”
The three-day event, which began on March 8, had performances by artists such as Shounak Abhisheki, Debashish Bhattacharya, Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar, Uday Bhawalkar, Ulhas N Kashalkar and Irshad Khan lined up for the first two days.
For the first time in its long journey, the festival will include morning acts on the final day — performances by two renowned names of
Carnatic Music, who are also performing for the first time at the festival. Jayanthi Kumaresh (Carnatic Veena) will begin the day at 11am, followed by Bombay Jayashri (carnatic vocalist).