Pune: Renowned flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma have been friends for decades. Both, born in 1938, have remained so for 61 long years.
Celebrating this friendship, Sateesh Paknikar, a city-based photographer, has created a calendar that was unveiled by Chaurasia on the first day of the 65th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav on Wednesday.
"We have been friends for so long that it now feels like we were in the womb together and saw the world change together. It is something that was meant to be. Such friendship cannot happen without the grace of God and destiny," Chaurasia said, as he got ready to take stage at the prestigious festival.
The flautist said, " We add value to each other's existence. Shivji and I are inseparable like the land and the sky or the body and soul."
Laughing out loud, at the mention of a photograph in the calendar where Chaurasia and Sharma have turned up wearing identical kurtas for an event, Chaurasia said, "It was purely a coincidence and strangely these coincidences have been repetitive. May be his (Paknikar) camera captured it only once but this has happened several times."
The similarity of thought gave birth to the acclaimed Shiv-Hari duo who brought classical music to films.
"Classical music and film music are different, but that does not mean they cannot be brought together. Millions listen to film music but only a few thousands listen to classical music. We were of the opinion that why not take the beauty of classical music to these people through films. Fortunately, we were successful and were able to carve out a niche in the hearts of film music lovers. People still enjoy music that we created a decade ago," he said.
On his experience at Sawai Mahotsav, Chaurasia said, "It is a blend of new and old generations and the institution is responsible for keeping them together. People from all over the world come for the event which is like a festival for the artists and the audience."
Chaurasia said the soil of Maharashtra possesses swar and lai. It is not just Pune but places like Ichalkaranji have a fine taste in music. "All listeners may not understand technicalities but the hunger they possess for good music is unmatched. They shower love and acceptance on all artists. If God blesses me with another life, it should be in Maharashtra," he said.
Celebrating this friendship, Sateesh Paknikar, a city-based photographer, has created a calendar that was unveiled by Chaurasia on the first day of the 65th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav on Wednesday.
"We have been friends for so long that it now feels like we were in the womb together and saw the world change together. It is something that was meant to be. Such friendship cannot happen without the grace of God and destiny," Chaurasia said, as he got ready to take stage at the prestigious festival.
The flautist said, " We add value to each other's existence. Shivji and I are inseparable like the land and the sky or the body and soul."
Laughing out loud, at the mention of a photograph in the calendar where Chaurasia and Sharma have turned up wearing identical kurtas for an event, Chaurasia said, "It was purely a coincidence and strangely these coincidences have been repetitive. May be his (Paknikar) camera captured it only once but this has happened several times."
The similarity of thought gave birth to the acclaimed Shiv-Hari duo who brought classical music to films.
"Classical music and film music are different, but that does not mean they cannot be brought together. Millions listen to film music but only a few thousands listen to classical music. We were of the opinion that why not take the beauty of classical music to these people through films. Fortunately, we were successful and were able to carve out a niche in the hearts of film music lovers. People still enjoy music that we created a decade ago," he said.
On his experience at Sawai Mahotsav, Chaurasia said, "It is a blend of new and old generations and the institution is responsible for keeping them together. People from all over the world come for the event which is like a festival for the artists and the audience."
Chaurasia said the soil of Maharashtra possesses swar and lai. It is not just Pune but places like Ichalkaranji have a fine taste in music. "All listeners may not understand technicalities but the hunger they possess for good music is unmatched. They shower love and acceptance on all artists. If God blesses me with another life, it should be in Maharashtra," he said.
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