NCPA’s Saz-e-Bahar festival of Indian instrumental music on April 6 and 7 showcases four instrumentalists wielding instruments from different categories
National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, presents Saz-e-Bahar: Festival of Indian Instrumental Music today and tomorrow (April 6 and 7, 2018). The eighth edition of this much anticipated music festival will highlight the string-plucked (vichitra veena) an ancient instrument, the string-bowed (esraj and sarangi) and drums-percussion (tabla) and showcase the beauty of these instruments to the audience.
Dr. Suvarnalata Rao—Programming Head - Indian Music said, “The NCPA has been a firm advocate of Indian classical music and beyond. The upcoming ‘Saz-e-Bahar’ pays homage to our roots that indulge in diverse and mellifluous instruments. The artists lined-up in this year’s edition of the festival are distinguished. They represent and bring to the forefront an extraordinary talent. Each of the artists comes from a very distinguished musical pedigree and their craft is therefore much richer and nuanced. ‘Saz-e-Bahar’ this year, looks forward to enthrall the audience.’’
Dr. Radhika Veena Sadhika, who is the first lady vichitra veena player in the world, will be the focal point of the programme on the first day. Grand-daughter of the renowned vocalist, the late Pandit Balabhau Umdekar from the court of Gwalior Gharana, Dr. Radhika has also mastered her skills under the proficient guidance of renowned Mohan Veena player Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt.
The same day, the distinguished Shubhayu Sen Majumdar, will accompany Dr. Radhika Veena Sadhika on the esraj. Trained under the guidance of Professor Buddhadev Das, Shubhayu Sen Majumdar has performed the world over at a number of music festivals.
The closing day of the festival will feature Kamal Sabri, the seventh generation prodigy of a distinguished family of traditional musicians of Sabri Khan. He has demonstrated profound versatility in playing the sarangi, the instrument known to resemble human vocals and has participated in various prestigious festivals all over the world.
Performing with Kamal Sabri will be Nayan Ghosh who will have the audience delighted with his tabla expertise along with his son Ishan Ghosh, who has an impressive command over the instrument himself. Nayan Ghosh has garnered acclaim by collaborating with various bigwigs like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and many others.
One of the key highlights of the festival will be Dr. Suvarnalata Rao - NCPA, Programming Head – Indian Music presenting a pre-event talk based on the specific instruments on both days.
When March 6, 2018
Radhika Veena Sadhika (Vichitra veena)
Shubhayu Sen Majumdar (Esraj)
March 7, 2018
Kamal Sabri (Sarangi)
Nayan Ghosh and Ishan Ghosh (Tabla)
Where Godrej Dance Academy Theatre
Tickets Rs 150 (Public)
Rs 135 (Members)