AARAMBH (APRIL 20TH, 2019)

Our inaugural event (‘Aarambh’) in April 2019 was an auspicious start – featuring ‘Padma Shri’ Vid. Shubha Mudgal with Pandit Aneesh Pradhan, and Vid. Anupama Bhagwat accompanied by Shri Rahul Pophali.

The acclaimed artistes of Aarambh:

Vid. Shubha Mudgal is a disciple of Pandit Vinay Chandra Maudgalya, and also learnt from stalwarts like Pandit Vasant Thakar in Delhi, Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Vid. Naina Devi and Pt. Kumar Gandharva.

Renowned for her mastery of Khayal, Thumri and Dadra styles, she received the 1998 Gold Plaque Award for Special Achievement in Music, at the 34th Chicago International Film Festival, and the Padma Shri from the Government of India in 2000.

Pandit Dr. Aneesh Pradhan is a disciple of the illustrious tabla maestro Nikhil Ghosh from whom he inherited a rich repertoire across gharanas. Dr. Aneesh Pradhan received the Aditya Birla Kala Kiran Award (2000), Vasantotsav Award (2012) and Saath Sangat Kalakar Award (2013). He has also been a member of the Japan-based Asian Fantasy Orchestra since 1998, the Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, since 2003.

Dnyaneshwar Sonawane provided fine harmonium accompaniment to enhance the musical experience of connoisseurs.

A welcome drizzle heralded the sitar recital by Vid. Anupama Bhagwat, accompanied by Shri Rahul Pophali on tabla, and Smt. Latha Bhushan on tanpura. Vid. Anupama began with Rag Jhinjhoti, and followed this with Dadra and Misra Pilu. Befitting the occasion, Vid Anupama paid homage to her Guruji, the legendary Acharya Bimalendu Mukherjee, through her meditative alaap and scintillating taans of the Imdadkhani gharana.

Rahul Pophali started learning tabla at age seven under Pt. Raghunath Agashe, before progressing to advanced training in the Punjab gharana under Pt. Nishikant Barodekar. A percussionist across genres, Rahul provided the flourish of vilambit and drut teen taal, and ended with dadra.

The second half of ‘Aarambh’ featured a melodious vocal concert by Vid. Shubha Mudgal who commenced her recital with Raga Kedar, followed by Megh and Gaud Malhar befitting the ambience of the evening. Shubhaji concluded her splendid performance with her trademark Thumri and Dadra. She was accompanied on the tabla by the graceful precision and subtle nuanced style of noted maestro Pandit Dr. Aneesh Pradhan, and the melodious harmonium refrains of Dnyaneshwar Sonawane.

‘Aarambh’ was the first concert in an annual series which begins every year with a flagship event ‘Eulogium’ in honor of Acharya, Late Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee, a Renaissance man and multi-faceted maestro who made great contributions in music and several other fields.

‘Aarambh’ also aimed to raise funds in aid of pediatric heart surgeries, in partnership with Rotary Whitefield Chapter and FORUM Shantiniketan.