Music aficionados in Pune are in for a treat as a two-day music festival titled ‘Shraddha Suman’ is set to take place in honor of the Birth Centenary Celebrations of the renowned Tabla virtuoso, Padma Vibhushan Pandit Kishen Maharaj. Organized by the Talayan Music Circle, the festival is scheduled to be held on September 1st and 2nd at the MES Auditorium in Kothrud. The event, which is ticketed, will kick off at 5 pm each day.
The festival aims to pay homage to the legacy of Tabla Maestro Padma Vibhushan Pandit Kishen Maharaj, with the support of Pandit Arvind Kumar Azad, his disciple and accomplished Tabla artist. Pandit Arvind Kumar Azad has been consistently organizing an annual concert for the past 28 years to honor his Guru, and in celebration of Pandit Kishen Maharaj’s Birth Centenary, a series of concerts has been planned since September 2022. This year-long celebration holds immense significance as it marks the commemoration of a legend’s centenary with performances by esteemed artists spanning twelve consecutive months in the history of Indian Classical Music.
The first day of ‘Shraddha Suman’ will commence with a performance by Pandit Arvind Kumar Azad himself, known for his mastery in playing ‘Teentaal’ on the Tabla with a single finger. This will be followed by a performance by the renowned duo Kashyap Bandhu – Prabhakar and Diwakar Kashyap (Classical Vocals), both of whom are students of Padma Bhushan Pandit Rajan Mishra and Pandit Sajan Mishra from the Banaras Gharana.
The second day of the festival will begin with a Kathak performance by Rudrashankar Mishra, a dancer from the Banaras Gharana who trained under Mataprasad Mishra and Ravi Shankar Mishra. Following this, Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, a disciple of the legendary Padma Vibhushan Vidushi Girija Devi of Banaras Gharana, will present Thumris. The festival will culminate with a performance by the acclaimed violinist, Padma Bhushan Dr. N Rajam.
The artists will be accompanied by Pt. Dharmnath Mishra (Harmonium), Pt. Arvind Kumar Azad (Tabla), Neeraj Kumar Mishar (Sitar), and Sandeep Mishra (Sarangi). The event will be hosted by Anand Deshmukh.
Music enthusiasts eager to be a part of this musical extravaganza can avail season tickets priced at Rs 700/- and Rs 500/-. To secure tickets, interested individuals can contact 9823112412 / 9890138896 for bookings. This celebration of Pandit Kishen Maharaj’s legacy promises to be a captivating experience for all attendees, showcasing the rich heritage of Indian Classical Music.
