Bangalore Concert Report

 Bangalore Mirror - Monday September 03, 2007

Taking the classical Path

A Bangalore based NGO called  YUVA foundations & Lend a Hand India Organization have started the vocational training course in a school in Karnataka. It started this July. For this cause a fund raising event was conducted as there were shortage of funds to sustain the project.

Pandit Chandrakant Sardeshmukh was in Bangalore performing in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on Saturday evening to a packed auditorium. Pandit Ravi Shankar's most coveted student needed no introduction and well-known for his philanthropic deeds he exemplified it again by performing at the concert for YUVA. The concert began with captivating Rag Yaman in traditional sequence of aalap, Jod, and pieces in both vilambit and durit teen taal. The largely young audience stayed in rapt attention and admiration for the performance applauding every time Panditji returned to the stayee.

A small break and  a ragamallika of dhun only helped in elating the audience further. Speaking of how he manages to captivate the audience, Panditji said " When on stage I forget about everything around me and when I am able to enjoy it I am sure those hearing it will also enjoy it."

Excepts from an inteview with Sanak Kumar Ahtreya.

How did you decide on what to perform on a particular concert and what would enthral audience?

I don't decide, I simply perform. And it comes through me; God and my father's blessings seem to flow through me. I take complete command over myself. It is true and will also be my advice that take control of yourself and you have already taken control of everybody else. This statement has a lot of philosophy to it, it is easily said but requires great practice.

You performed many Carnatic ragas in the dhun. Was that not calculated?

     I have heard many great Carnatic musicians. I have heard many of them perform with Guru Ravi Shankar also. So when I am in that mood again, those feelings flow out in the form of Carnatic ragas like Harikhamboji, Hmasadhwani etc.

Do you see a difference in the way the audience in Bangalore and Japan appreciate music? 

   The listeners out here are quite knowledgeable. Therfore, I need to stick to tradition and follow the great path shown. While Japanese audiences are difficult to impress but once impressed they are very loyal.

"We really enjoyed the show and more than all, we would consider ourselves lucky to organize a show with our beloved Panditji and we are looking forward to organizing more such events in future."- Yuva