Top classical artists to perform in Hyderabad from tomorrow

Hyderabad: In what comes as music to the ears of classical music lovers, world-renowned artists will perform in the four-day ‘Jai ho Jasraj’s 49 Pandit Motiram, Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samoroha’, slated to commence at CCRT in Madhapur here on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, organisers of the event, which has been hosted exclusively in Hyderabad since inception, claimed that a unique feature of the ensuing fest is that a new ‘raag’ would be introduced. Titled ‘Jasrangi Jugalbandi’ this will come as a welcome surprise to Hyderabadis, they said.

The doyen of Hindustani classical music, Pandit Jasraj, grew up in Hyderabad and took pride in stating “I am a Hyderabadi.” It was he who had started Pandit Motiram, Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samoroha in the city.

According to his daughter, Durga Jasraj, “in its 49-year journey, Hyderabadis were treated to the best of classical performances. When my father was alive, he did not take any sponsorship as he felt that the fest was his personal tribute to his city.”  

Pandit Rattan Mohan Sharma, widely considered as a successor to Jasraj, said “We are always excited to perform here.”

Swar Sharma, a disciple of Jasraj, who will also be performing during the festival, recalled “I attended this festival, when it was being held in Nizam College and I was a toddler. Performing on this stage is like a blessing for me.”

The luminaries who will be performing during the festival include Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Anwar Khan Mangniyar, Ustad Munnawar Masoom, Pt. Rattan Mohan Sharma, Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar, Pt. Niraj Parikh, Pt. Uday Bhawalkar, Pt. Yogesh Samsi, Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande and Ramakant Gaekwad.