PUNE: Chennai-based violinist Padma Shankar has never performed at Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav before apart from the time when she accompanied singer-music director Shankar Mahadevan.
"It is an honour to be on the Sawai stage that has been graced by the greatest," she said.
Padma is a debutants at Sawai Mahotsav, this year. Of the 28 artists, nine will be on this stage for the first time.
The Carnatic instrumentalist added, "The audience in Pune has listened to so much of music that "ek, sau ke barabar hota hai" (one person is equal to a hundred). I'm planning to sing the lines to the audience and explain the meaning."
Gayatri Joshi, a city-based vocalist has been a part of the audience for the past 15 years.
"In 2003, I accompanied my guru Aarti Ankalikar-Tikekar on a tanpura during the Mahotsav. Back then, I felt this was the biggest moment of my life but I did not know I would be there one day," Joshi said.
Debashish Bhattacharya, known for creating and patenting musical instruments, will perform on the first day.
He will play the Chaturangi, a 24-string lap slide guitar he created at the age of 15.
"My students have played the instrument all over the world. I am bringing it to Sawai this year, accompanied by the pakhawaj and the tabla. I will play dhrupad and temple music," Bhattacharya added.
At 27, sarod player Sarang Kulkarni is one of the youngest performers of this season. He is the son and disciple of Pandit Rajan Kulkarni.
"I have been attending the festival from the time I was three or four years old. I will share the stage with my father which makes it more memorable," he said.
Sitar player Kushal Das said,"The audience appreciates Indian classical music. It will be an honour to perform here," Das said. Tushar Datta, Abhay Rustum Sopori, Prachee Shah and Vijay Rajput will also perform for the first time.
"It is an honour to be on the Sawai stage that has been graced by the greatest," she said.
Padma is a debutants at Sawai Mahotsav, this year. Of the 28 artists, nine will be on this stage for the first time.
The Carnatic instrumentalist added, "The audience in Pune has listened to so much of music that "ek, sau ke barabar hota hai" (one person is equal to a hundred). I'm planning to sing the lines to the audience and explain the meaning."
Gayatri Joshi, a city-based vocalist has been a part of the audience for the past 15 years.
"In 2003, I accompanied my guru Aarti Ankalikar-Tikekar on a tanpura during the Mahotsav. Back then, I felt this was the biggest moment of my life but I did not know I would be there one day," Joshi said.
Debashish Bhattacharya, known for creating and patenting musical instruments, will perform on the first day.
He will play the Chaturangi, a 24-string lap slide guitar he created at the age of 15.
"My students have played the instrument all over the world. I am bringing it to Sawai this year, accompanied by the pakhawaj and the tabla. I will play dhrupad and temple music," Bhattacharya added.
At 27, sarod player Sarang Kulkarni is one of the youngest performers of this season. He is the son and disciple of Pandit Rajan Kulkarni.
"I have been attending the festival from the time I was three or four years old. I will share the stage with my father which makes it more memorable," he said.
Sitar player Kushal Das said,"The audience appreciates Indian classical music. It will be an honour to perform here," Das said. Tushar Datta, Abhay Rustum Sopori, Prachee Shah and Vijay Rajput will also perform for the first time.
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