Music is just a pure
magic. A magical gift bestowed on humanity – a gift that nourishes, soothes,
moves the giver and the receiver, extremely subtle and lovingly dulcet. Don’t
you dare – conceptualizing a world without music! Music is good enough to educe
the emotions of a human mind and in that case music is far beyond the
communication aspect. Every point on the geographical location has got its own
style of music… And every genre of Music has its own uncrowned kings and queens
for it, who have touched the souls of many people.
The Indian Classical
music – the eastern pride is generally classified into two – the Hindusthani
Sangeeth and the Carnatic Sangeetham!
The Hindusthani
Sangeeth covers an area that extends roughly from Bangladesh through northern
and central India into Pakistan and as far as Afghanistan. This kind of music
has got lot of instruments in it.
Associated commonly with sitar and tabala, Hindustani Music has also conjured
up very well with SHEHNAI, Sarod, flute, Sarangi and all those lovely
instruments on board.
If it is Ustad Zahir
Hussain Sahebh for tabala, it is Bharath Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahebh for
shehnai! The Banaresi King of Shehnai would be 99, if he were alive and it so
happened that, for the first time, in South India, at the capital of Tamil
Nadu, you are to witness, Hindustani performances live – with the
stalwarts of Music - ! Awestruck . . .? Read on / / /
Barath Matha ki Ratna
- Ustad – Yuva Puraskar – Tansen Award winner - Talar Mausiquee – Sahebh
Bismillah Khan ji – The Badhshah of Shehnai – is very fondly remembered by his
disciples from Tansen Academy of Music school, on his centenary year!
A tribute to the king
by his disciples – the very instance sounded too good and a perfect sheva to guru on 11 th of April, 2015 at
Chinmaya Heritage Hall, Chennai in the name of RAS BARSE. During these
wonderful moments, I was indeed blessed enough to have a short conversation
with the team – Ras Barse Event organizers under the eminent guidance of Pandit
S.Ballesh, Pandit Krishna Ballesh and few more Students of the Tansen Academy
of Music School.
“Shehnai Chakravarthy“
Pandit S.Ballesh, a veteran performer and specialist in Patiala gharana, also
an internationally celebrated “A grade” Shehnai artist from South India . He is
one of the disciple Of world renowned Shehnai Nawaz Bharat Ratna Ustad
Bismillah Khan Sahab.
Being a Disciple of
Ustad Sahab, it is his strong classical training that has brought him to this
level. No doubt he is the strong pillar of Tansen academy of music. With his
down to earth, humble and child like nature, he definitely has a major share of
spreading Hindustani classical down south.
Shri.Krishna Ballesh,
an Indian Classical musician, a Shehnai artist and a Hindustani classical
vocalist with specialization in Patiala, Kirana and Gwalior gharanas. He is
also a remarkable ghazal singer. He performs at all major music festivals in
India and abroad. Proudly he is also a software engineer.
When asked Shri
Krishna Ballesh, how this idea of organizing a centenary celebration to pay a
tribute to the Badshah emerged to him, his nostalgic reply was, “It was about
09.00 am on a fine weekday class and we were all discussing on the eminency of
Ustad – My Babajan – Khan ji, as how he would take his listeners to a different
world, opening up a hotline with the Divinity as such. It was during one such
blissful moment when Swathi came up saying that Ustad Sahebh’s birthday falls on 21 of
March which marks his centenary year.” The blissful musician had a pause to
significantly express his feel of awe and continued, “We have a wonderful team
of student friends who readily came forward to give soul and life for a mere
idea. Slowly, we started to plan for the event in a grand manner and thought,
Dr.Balamurali Krishna would be the apt person to join and bless us all by
gracing this occasion as the chief Guest. Thanks to the social media, we are
slowly popularizing the event Rasbarse – 2015!”
Mrs. Swathi
Venkatraman, another member of the organizing team is just an embodiment of
bubbling enthusiasm. She considers herself to be a blessed person to involve
herself in music and her associateship with Mr.Ballesh , is what she claims, has
got a very positive impact on her very life! While talking about the event
Ms.Swathi, She shared“It is indeed an honor to be a part of such a great event.
I am equally excited as every one is, for this is the first time, to have a
Live concert in Chennai, for Hindustani music and for Ustad Khan Ji ! All of us
have put in our best to make this event a grand success.”
Ms Vidhya, a student
organizer of the event, proudly says, “Chennaivasis do not get to hear as much
Hindustani as we like . This event , we hope will create that
platform for such music lovers to engage with Hindustani music on a sustained
basis . And also will deepen the understanding and appreciation of the
diff gaayakis of the gharanas, each unique in their presentation styles.” She
also adds a few more about Shehnai, “Most of us don't know how versatile it is.
IIlayaraja sir has used it in almost every mood in his composition breaking the
stereotype of soulful melancholy associated with Shehnai. How else can
you explain a range like
‘Kasturi Maane’ and ‘Vaadi Vaadi’. .”
Mr. Vijay, an IT
Mastero by profession, has the guts to follow his passion for hindusthani
Music, at the Tansen Music shares his thoughts, “Though Southern India was
highly dominated by Carnatic Classical, slowly and steadily the influence of
Hindustani is being felt. Film music, also has contributed much, to its
spreading wings down south. Film industry also has its share of influence by
using various North Indian instruments like Shehnai, Sarangi, Santoor Tabla and
lot more in the songs. More specifically Shehnai has found an important
position. No one would think, the composers would squeeze their brain to get
the most of the Shehnai in their songs.” While speaking of his Guru Pandit
Ballesh Ji, his pride gleams to a greater extent and he continues, “For around
30 years in film industry, the pride solely goes to Pandit Balesh ji, for being
so versatile in breathing his life to songs of various genre s using Shehnai.
Be it classical, western, folk, melody, name it, and he had played.”
Ms. Anusha, a nascent
Student of the Academy, is a lady with a highly contagious enthusiasm and an
ardent lover of music. She has been constantly supporting along with Mr Maha.
She says her search for guru was quenched only after meeting Shri.Krishna
Sir and his father Pandit Ballesh Sir. For, to her, they are the gurus to
impart knowledge of Hindustani music and she also adds, every one of her
classmates, or in other words, their disciples would have felt the same!
Mr.Vishwaram Shankar,
yet another novel entry to the Hindustani classes, also voiced out his feel of
gratitude. In his words, he says it to be a great honor to us all to witness
the event as such! Appreciating Ustad Ji’s services to music, this event is the
first of its kind, happening at Chennai for Ustad Ji.
When so much of music
lovers have put in their constant efforts to bring up this event a grand one, I
believe, this event IS going to be a greatly appreciated "Music
Feast", as this is definitely blessed and witnessed by the Unsung hero of
the event, Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahebh!
See you all in the
next article with details of how the event preparations are going on . . .
Lots of love,
Riya.
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