BHOPAL : A four-day concert based on Banaras Gharana opened with mesmerising Shehnai recital and duet performances here on Friday at Antarang Hall of Bharat Bhawan.
It is noteworthy here that concert, based on gharanas is being organised for the first time by Bharat Bhawan from this year. Earlier a concert based Agra gharana.
The concert began with the melodious performance of eminent Shehnai player Ghulam Mohammed with his troupe. Mohammed, who is nephew of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, started his performance with Raag “Gorakh Kalyan”. It was in 10 maatra and teen taal. He wrapped up his performance with a mesmerising tune of Kajari which won the heart of music lovers.
He was accompanied by Zafar Ahmed on tabla, Sarvar Hussain on Dukkar, Aalim Raza on Surpeti, Ismile Hussain and Kausar on Sehnai.
“I took intital training from my uncle Ustad Bismillah Khan and later from Mohommed Ismail and Mahboob Ali,” said Mohammed. The second half of programme began with the duet of Ritesh duet of leading singer Ritesh- Rajneesh Mishra, son of renowned vocalists of Banaras Gharana Pt Rajan-Sajan Mishra. They presented some fine raags which delighted the music lovers. Pt. Kamta Prasad Mishra accompanied them on harmonium and Subh Maharaj of Banaras gharana on tabla.
“We have a huge collection of audio recording after 1912 of many legendaries artists out of which the recording of our fathers of 4,600 hours. We think that we should always learn from old people,” said Mishra brothers.
They also elaborated that “As per us, there should make only one gharana i.e. Hindustatni Gharana after removing all gahrans.”
The programme concluded with scintillating kathak duet of leading dancers of Saurav-Gaurav Mishra. They presented the disappearing bandishes of Banaras gharana. They began with Vishnu Vandna ‘Shantaram Bhujang Saynam Padmanabham Sureshnam…”. It was followed by ‘Natwari Nritya’, which was dedicated to lord Shiva. They concluded with ‘Anand Tandav’ which left the audience spellbound. Pt. Kamta Prasad Mishra accompanied them on harmonium and Subh Maharaj of Banaras gharana on tabla, Ravishanker on Padhant, Santosh Mishra on vocal, Anish Mishra on Sarangi.
“Kathak dates back to Mughal period. Before this, it was used to be staged in temples. There are three gharanas of Kathak including Lucknow for Ada Kathak, Banaras for devotional kathak and Jaipur,”, said Mishra brothers.