It was a musical treat in the virtual world as the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Delhi University, took the bold step of organising the two-day “Annual Malhar Utsav-2020”, undeterred by the current Covid pandemic.
It was the first-ever virtual live music festiva, streaming online on Youtube , with Indian classical music concerts by the country’s renowned artistes like the Sargam Choir presentation in Raga Amritavarshini by the students of Delhi University Faculty of Fine Arts and Music conducted by Dr Prashant G Pai and two soulful performances by Pandit Shashank Maktedar from Goa who rendered Raga Gaud Malhar and Veena by Tirupati Srivani Yalla from Andhra Pradesh.
The concluding saw another captivating performance by the famous Bengaluru duo, the Kanchana sisters who enthralled with rare compositions in ragas Amritavahini, Varunpriya and Raag Megh Malhar. The Malhar Utsav concluded with a scintillating sitar recital by Ustad Saeed Zafar Khan in Raga Miyan Ki Malhar, and a Tabla Solo by Pandit Vinod Lele from Delhi who performed Teental with remarkable precision and command. He was accompanied on Harmonium by Dr Vinay Kumar Mishra.
Speaking on the occasion, the Dean and Head Prof Deepti Omchery Bhalla said “while the veteran musicians get an opportunity to explore rare ragas and compositions associated with the monsoon season, students get a rare opportunity to listen and understand the aesthetics of these ragas treated in various traditions (Gharanas) and sampradyas.”
The festival was inaugurated by Prof PC Joshi, Pro vice Chancellor, University of Delhi. The Utsav concluded with the Vote of Thanks given by a senior Professor of the Department Prof. Ojesh Pratap Singh.
