Stalwart flautist leaves city music lovers spellbound

Charmed by Chaurasia

It was a hall filled with people. Not a chair was vacant. Yet, many enthusiasts bargained with the volunteers to let them squeeze into the hall, on finding some place to stand. Such was the crowd that had gathered to attend a concert by acclaimed flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Organised by the Sanjog Bansuri Mahavidyalaya, the concert, ‘Krishnadhwani,’ in memory of Pandit Venkatesh Godkhindi was held at Chowdiah Memorial Hall in the city on Saturday.

Noted Kannada poet K S Nissar Ahmed, who felicitated Chaurasia, recalled that it was when he was working at a college in Shivamogga that he heard the flautist first. “I bought a few casettes after the shopkeeper there insisted. I bought several more on listening to the first one,” he added.

As a prelude to Chaurasia’s performance, Pravin Godkhindi and Sanjog Godkhindi played the instrument, having the audience applaud in appreciation. Their tunes in the Ramakalyan raag prompted the audience to tap their feet.

Just as the stage was opened for the performance of Chaurasia to begin, artistes and enthusiasts broke into a thunderous applause. The notes that the musical legend played as a teaser had the audience cheer for him, as he began with the Bhopali raag.

It was then an exciting jugalbandi between the tabla artist Vijay Ghate and Chaurasia that left the audience in awe. The performance concluded with a standing ovation for the artistes. The maestro was accompanied by K S Rajesh and Vivek Sonar, both of whom are his students. 

All-night music, dance today
An all-night Indian classical music and dance concert with performances by Padma Vibhushan Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt M Venkatesh Kumar, Vidwan T M Krishna, Vidwan Chitravina Ravikiran and Vidwan Kottakkal Chandrashekharan is being conducted at the Electronics City. Organised by Symbiosis School of Media and Communication in collaboration with SPIC MACAY (Society for the promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth), the event titled ‘Yamini’ is set to begin at
7 pm on Sunday and will go on till 7 am on Monday. The entry to the concert is free.