In a heartwarming celebration of classical music, ‘Riwayat’—a musical tribute dedicated to the memory of the esteemed Sitarist, Ustad Hameed Khan—recently captivated audiences at the Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium, Ghole Road. Presented by the Suhana Basant Foundation and Triguna School of Performing Arts, the event brought together music aficionados to revel in soulful Sitar and Vocal presentations.
Dignitaries such as Ustad Usman Khan, Pt. Sudhakar Chavhan, Ustad Arshad Ali Khan, and Ajit Bhave graced the occasion, alongside Mohsin Hamid Khan, Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Cumulus Systems.
The opening session featured 18 students from the Triguna School of Performing Arts showcasing their prowess on the Sitar. Playing the Carnatic Raag ‘Malaya Marutam,’ the ensemble, accompanied by Anurag Joshi on Flute and Shymal Banerjee on Sitar-Numa-Guitar, set a harmonious tone for the evening. The students then transitioned to a vocal performance of Raag Durga.
The highlight of the event was the concluding session, where Ustad Arshad Ali Khan mesmerized the audience with his Hindustani Vocals. Presenting Raagdaris and Traditional Bandishes in Raag Shuddh Kalyan, Khan concluded his performance with a Tarana in Raag Hameer and the beloved Bhajan ‘Baje Re Muraliya Baje.’ Accompanying Khan were Amol Mali on Tabla, Gangadhar Shinde on Harmonium, and Shashwati and Shravani on Tanpura.
Ustad Rais Bale Khan, a renowned Sitarist and President of the Suhana Basant Foundation, shared, “The Sitar ensemble was originally composed by Late Ustad Hameed Khan of Dharwad Gharana. We have organized ‘Riwayat’ to pay our humble tribute to him.” The event was expertly hosted by Sumit Rekhi.
