The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Hariprasad Chaurasia reinvents the `alaap'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 09, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Hariprasad Chaurasia reinvents the `alaap'

Staff Reporter

RIGHT NOTES: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia performing at `Swar Nritya Utsav' in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: Hariprasad Chaurasia was in his elements at `Swar Nritya Utsav' to mark the 81st birth anniversary of the late C.R. Vyas, a Hindustani vocalist, on Saturday.

Pancham Nishad had organised event, co-sponsored by The Hindu MetroPlus.

Pandit Chaurasia was constantly interacting with the audience and even cut a few jokes during his nearly two-hour long concert.

He also reinvented the `alaap.' The audience listened in rapt attention to his over 30-minute long `alaap' of a raga, the name of which he did not reveal. He said he would initially promised ave the raga identified by the audience but he did not do so.

The way he produced the tabla-like sound on flute during the `alaap' was impressive. To complement the rainy day, the `bansuri' maestro played `Miya malhar raga.' But he did not forget to remind the audience that these days it hardly rained when musicians performed. He played `vaatapi... ' in Hamsadhwani and `pahadi' as suggested by the audience.

Vijay Ghate, who accompanied Pandit Chaurasia on the tabla, too received appreciation many a time. The way he and Pandit Chaurasia arrived on `sam' stole the day. But the flute maestro did not fail to chide the tabla player, who occasionally attempted to pull the concert to his side.

Mandira Manish, a danseuse, gave her first Bharatanatya recital in the city.

Her dance to the `Krishna Ni Begane Baaro... ' was a hit. So was the case with `Bho Shambho, Shiva Shambho... ' The way, she told the story of entire Ramayana in `Shabdam,' also won her admiration.

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