Third Day....... at Sawai

Day three of the 54th Sawai Gandharva festival saw the audiences hear in rapt attention as first timers presented their classic acts.

The day began with vocalist Hema Upasni presenting a bandish in Raag Madhuwanti followed by a composition in Raag Hansdhawani. The audience, clearly impressed by the performance, then requested for a gazal. They were definitely not dissappointed as Upasni presented Poet Himanshu Kulkarni’s composition that was aapplauded by many of the Punekars ...............

Next, to perform was sitarist Manju Mehta, disciple of Pandit Ravishankar and younger sister of Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhat the lineage of the Bhats of Gwalior Ghanrana ..... she enthralled the gathering with Raag Purvi. Mehta was brilliantly accompanied on the tabla by Ramdas Palsule.

Then came the performance for which every one was egarly waiting for .... and that of Rahul Deshapnde grandson of the legendary Dr.Vasantrao Deshpande.
I myself had listened to Vasantrao Deshpande very less since you cannot listen to everthing and everyone all around and that too with a person like me of very less knowledge with classicla music it was difficult.

Legacy continued .................

He began with Raag Marwah followed by a bandish in Raag Maru Bihag. Even as the crowd applauded, it was his rendition of the famous Surat Piya ke chinn bisarayi from Sangeet Katyar Kaljat Ghusli that left them wanting for more. To listen to him was Rahul's grandmother wife of Dr.Vasantrao Deshapande and Rahul sang all his grandmothers choice list of favourites.His performance was too good and the crowd was at times thinking that as if it was Dr.Deshpande taking the stage again after almost 25 years he last performed at the Sawai Gandharva Festival.

It was then Pandit Debu Chaudhary who enticed the audience with his sitar recital in Raag Bageshree. The finale of the evening was Malini Rajurkar who performed Raag Jogkauns, Puriya Dhanashree followed by semi-classical renditions.