JOIN USThe grandeur of a haveli was replicated in the right sense at the Haveli concert held at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall recently. Renowned artistes from all over the country mesmerised the audience with their music and dance performances.
A 14-member team presented a rich variety of music and dances from every nook and corner of the country. The team consisted of Pandit Arvind Kumar Azad on tabla, Rafiq Khan and Shafiq Khan on sitar, Michel M’Bo on bass guitar, Raman on saxophone, Santosh Mulekar on grand piano and Jeoraj Stanly George on drums.
Pandit Rajendra Gangani presented a kathak recital while Arushi Mudgal did an Odissi recital, Ustad Faiyaz Khan was on the vocals and Sarangi. The mangniars — Deu Khan on the Khartal, Ghenwar Khan and Dare Khan on kamiacha added folk influence in the show. The music was designed by Deepak Pandit.
The audience couldn’t have asked for more.The performance was divided into various sections where the artistes collaborated with each other to bring out the best. Sitarists Rafiq and Shafiq Khan played beautifully along with supporting vocals from Ustad Faiyaz Khan and Pandit Azad on tabla.
One of the highlights of the show was perhaps the fusion of rhythm and styles that was showcased throughout the show. The jazz ensemble made the audience shake a leg with them along with the beats of the khartal. Rajendra Ganagani’s spontaneity took the audience by surprise and it seemed as if the applause and the appreciation for him would not end.
“I will perform a unique piece choreographed and taught to me by my father, it is called chhut ki taan,” he informed the audience before performing the beautiful piece. What followed was an astounding piece by the entire team where all of them showed perfect co-ordination and executed this difficult piece with ease and grace.
Sunil, who attended the show, was awestruck and said that he has seldom seen such co-ordination.
“I was amazed by the kind of co-ordination that they had. They are all maestros but when they were performing together, they helped in improving the show and
making it a memorable one,” he notes.
Bansi, a music lover, felt that the concept of Haveli was unique. “The set had been done beautifully. The feel was that of an ancestral set-up where art and culture was patronised. The show was one of the best that I have attended,” he says.