IN TODAY'S fast track music world there is certain section of the audience who still likes the traditional Indian classical music and always remains in search for such a programme fulfilled with contemporary traditional music. In the world of Indian classical music, one of the most talked about programmes is SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan, which has been a modern presentation fulfilled with glory, glamour and with jam packed auditorium, it creates buzz amongst the audience.
Within the last four years SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan has become one of the topmost and prestigious festivals of the country and a prestigious platform for the young talented musicians to present themselves along with the stalwarts of Indian classical music. The annual festival by SaMaPa was organised recently at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi.
The two day music festival started with a Sufi vocal recital by Ragini Rainu. She presented composition of Baba Bulle Shah 'Ki Bedarda Sang Yaari...' in Raga Mishra Kafi and 'Utth Chale Gawando Yaar...' in Raga Bairagi. Ragini was accompanied by Akhtar Hasan (tabla) and Ahsan Ali (sarangi). After that renowned santoor player and music composer Abhay Rustum Sopori's santoor recital enthralled the audience. He commenced his programme with Raag Gawati, followed by Aalaap-Joda, 15 beats taal, Bandish in teen taal 'Aangan Aao Balma...' and concluded with fast Jhala in teen taal. He was accompanied on tabla by Sarit Das and Rafiuddin Sabri.
After Abhay, son of renowned violinist Dr L Subramaniam- Ambi Subramaniam presented various compositions in chaar taal and represented the dimensions of mridangam, tabla and morsing. His performance was soulful which showcased the talent of an upcoming artist's passion for music. Though he was scheduled to perform with his father but due to bad health Dr L Subramaniam was not able to perform.
The second morning belonged to santoor ensemble by 11 santoor players led by Roshan Ali (disciple of santoor legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori) followed by the Swar-Laya-Taal (sangeet mein sahitya) by Shantanu Bhattacharya and Devashish Dey, where they presented Raga Todi ke Prakar; Miya Ki Todi, Gujri Todi, Desi Todi, Vilas Khani Todi and Salag Varali Todi and showed the importance of literature in music (sangeet me sahitya), it was coordinated by Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra.
The morning ended with a santoor recital by Pandit Bhajan Sopori, who along with Pandit Kumar Bose mesmerised the audience with their rare performances. Pandit Bhajan Sopori commenced his programme with a rare Raga Bheem which was followed by Alaap, Jod, Jhala, Vilambit Teen Taal and concluded with Madhya and Drut Laya in Teen Taal. It was a historic moment as two of the senior artists performed at the same time. Their Chandkari and Layakari was quite strong which was worth a listen.
The second evening started with a sarod recital by Amaan Ali Khan (son of renowned sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan), he presented Raga Yaman Kalyan, Alaap, Jod, Jap Taal, Ek Taal, Teen Taal and concluded with Raga Des. After Amaan, Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan presented Raga Bihad and Bandishi Thumri. The two day programme ended on the splendid note with a performance by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, who along with Pandit Ram Kumar Mishra mesmerised the audience, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt presented Raga Hem-Khem of Mahiyar Gharana which is rarely performed during the concert.
During the two day programme, for the outstanding achievements and contribution to Indian classical music renowned violinist Dr L Subramaniam and ‘Mahant’ (prof) Veer Bhadra Mishra (Varanasi) were honoured with SaMaPa Vitasta Award and Raj Begum was awarded ‘SaMaPa Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohd Abdullah Award’ for her lifetime dedication and contribution in the field of Kashmiri folk and light music- vocal (Kashmir). Apart from these two awards, this year SaMaPa has introduced a special award named ‘SaMaPa Acharya Abhinavgupt Samman’ which was given to music critics, scholars and journalists in appreciation of their extraordinary work in the field of art, culture and languages. This year the award was conferred to three eminent music critics- Ravinder Mishra, Pandit Vijay Shankar Mishra and Manjari Sinha from Delhi.
The annual function saw the presence of who's who of various fields like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Dr Jaffer Manhas (Secretary J&K Akademi), Virendra Gupta (DG, ICCR), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Rajan-Sajan Misra, Ghulam Sadiq Khan, Rajnish Misra, Kamal Sabri, Prathibha Prahlad, Shamim Azad, Shanno Khurana, Aparna Sopori, Sanjay Sharma, S C Sehgal, Subbalaxmi Khan, Dr Dinesh Rai, Veer Munshi and many others. Munish Jolley was the compere.
SaMaPa is more than an academy and is a cultural movement aimed at propagating and popularising Indian classical and traditional music and other performing arts for which it is recognised on a global level. SaMaPa serves as a cultural bridge of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country representing the heartbeat of J&K people and its culture.
