Other States - Orissa   

`Twin' treat in every way

Sib Kumar Das

BERHAMPUR: Twins of the city - Ram Behera and Lakshman Behera - are continuing with their efforts to blend the two ancient forms of Indian classical music - Carnatic and Hindustani.

In their 50s, they are names to reckon with in the world of classical vocal music in Orissa. Great Carnatic vocalist Sangeet Saraswati Narayan Behera is their father and guru. Yet, they delved into Hindustani and Odissi classical music to sublimate their sadhana beyond the boundaries.

Music and appearance has made these twins inseparable. They share a single address and are always seen in similar attires whether at home or on stage.

Unique style

Fusion of two major forms of classical music is being accepted by listeners. As music composers and singers they have 80 volumes of audio cassettes and 20 volumes of CDs in the market.

"Uniqueness of our compositions is the use of both Carnatic and Hindustani form of same raga in a single composition," they say.

Most of their compositions are bhajans as they started composing them from the age of 15 when they were still students of classical music under their father. "To make bhajans acceptable to all while adhering to the tenets of Indian classical music we have decided to synthesise Carnatic and Hindustani forms in our compositions," they say.

Recent album

As classical vocalists they perform throughout the country. As they are adept at both forms of classical music, they switch over from one form to the other according to the audience. But they never forget to enthral the audience with a blending composition to make north and south meet.

"But when we are performing at functions like Thyagaraja Mahotsav we adhere to pure Carnatic compositions to maintain sanctity of the musical programme," they say.

Their recent album `Gajabadan' is more Hindustani in nature as it is to be marketed in Orissa. But they are not satisfied with taste of music lovers in Orissa.

According to them, pure Odissi classical music has more followers among general public in Assam than in Orissa. According to them, they have received accolades in South India where people understand the intricacies of classical music.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Police top brass shuffled
Steps afoot to tap tourism potential
Temperature continues to rise at Kendriya Vidyalaya
`Jatra' arrangements nearing completion
Cricket tourney for visually challenged
Bar council seminar from April 14
BJD-BJP tussle intensifies
Tension at hospital
Info panel's directive
Corruption charge against six State officials
Bail for four tribals
`Twin' treat in every way

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu