Artistes’ popular choice
MANJARI SINHA
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An engaging evening is organised to commemorate Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan’s recent achievement.
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Photo: V. V. Krishnan
Versatile veteran Kapila Vatsayan who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Photo: V. V. Krishnan
The Gandharva Mahavidyalaya (GMV) organised an informal function to felicitate Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan for her nomination to the Rajya Sabha, at the Patwardhan Naad Mandir this past week. Kapila ji has been associated with the Vidyalaya since its incept
ion, and is currently its Vice President.
Madhup Mudgal, Principal, GMV, reiterated that this was a momentous occasion for the GMV family that called for a celebration, while O.P. Jain said that by honouring Kapila Vatsyaayan, the nomination itself was being honoured.
Speaking on the occasion, S.K. Saxena made a significant point, when, after mentioning the veteran’s scholarly contribution to the field of Indian arts and culture, he opined that we can learn three important lessons from her life and works.
Firstly, all scholarly writing in arts must base itself continually on actual art experience, on a repeated and personal contemplation of works of art; otherwise it remains vacuous and unauthentic.
Secondly, however intense be our personal suffering, it should be sublimated with self discipline, into a blazing passion for better work, be it scholarly writing or artistic creativity. And thirdly, our personal trials and tribulations should not make us insensitive to the problems of those who are still struggling to prove themselves as performers.
Reminiscing about her warm association with the Vidyalaya, Kapilaji maintained that music is the only place where one can find inner solace. The felicitation was followed by a vocal recital by Ravi Joshi, a young and talented disciple of Madhup Mudgal, who has admirably imbibed the challenging gayaki of his guru’s guru, Pandit Kumar Gandharva.
Opening his recital with raga Bihag, he presented the bara khayal “E mora…” immortalised by Kumar Gandharva , with deep sensitivity. The descent from Pancham, caressing both the Teevra and the Shuddha Madhyams, was melodious. This, and the sustained tuneful perch on the taar Shadja on the sam – which coincided with the word “Roop” of the antara line, “Ye jo Roop….” – showed the gravity of both his training and practice .
The drut Ek tala composition “Aali ri albeli…” was followed by a tarana in Teen tala. He concluded his recital with a bandish ki thumri in raga Kafi, set to addha theka. Ravi was ably accompanied on the harmonium by Parvesh Malick and on the tabla by Jitendra.
Ravi created a melodious evening, especially his concluding thumri, which inspired Kapilaji to present the traditional “bhaav bataanaa” aspect of the “nirat bhaav ki thumri”.
It was a rare and precious moment when the veteran, herself a disciple of Pandit Achhan Maharaj, took Rita Ganguli – a disciple of Shambhu Maharaj – and Madhavi Mudgal for an impromptu abhinay session. While Ravi sang the thumri “Main Kaise Bharoon Paani”, with delicate bhaav, she asked, “Tell me how do I go to fetch water?” No doubt, she was in her element, that memorable evening.
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