This year's Sawai was one of the best in last 5-6 years .. almost all concerts were truly classic .. Sunday day long marathon Finale was an icing on the cake !
26 concerts , 38 hours , 5 days in a Chandeliers decorated grand shamiana ! Blissful experience of Classical art and Music reminding of the glorious days of "Musical jalsas" ! Thoroughly Enjoyed !
Here are the Highlights :
The young brigade proved that they are ready for the big stage. In fact , some of the veterans were a bit disappointing to put it bluntly.
My favorite concerts and artists were : ( Listed day wise, not in order of liking ! )
Day 1 : Debashish Bhattacharya with his Chaturangi guitar ( a modified slide guitar with sounds of Sitar , Sarod , guitar and Sarangi (also violins)
Madhuvanti in Dhrupad Style
As a tribute to Pt Bhimsen concluded with बाजे रे मुरलिया बाजे
Day 2 : Kala Ramnath
Shyam Kalyan in Mewati Style
Kajri in Banaras Style and jugalbandi with Yogesh Shamsi
Day 2 : Kaushiki Chakraborty ,the darling of crowd and Queen of Patiala gharana, with her shear brilliance and all the x, y , z factors as a "performing artist", ruled over the over houseful.
Marubihag
- रतिया म्हारी बैरन भई
- रतिया किन्ही ओर बतिया बनाए
Bageshree Tarana and bandish - याद करो ध्यान धरो माता सरस्वती
Thumri - दिल की चोटों ने कभी , याद पिया की आए
Day 3 : Samrat Pandit : true Patiala gayaki , ease of performance and confidence .. a star to look forward to in future !
Gorakh Kalyan
- तू रब साहेब ,मोद बसंत
- बिनती नहीं मने सैय्याँ
Thumri- कंकर मार जगा गयो रे यमुना का छोरा
Day 3 : Kushal Das - Classic Maihar gharana tradition , Dhrupad style composed and soft Sitar that touches heart.
Marwa , Yaman gat , Mishra Shivaranjani dhun
Day 4 : Abhay Sopori - The brightest of the young brigade of classical musicians of Sawai 2017. Truly a hope for future. Confident and knowledgeable poised performance that won over connoisseurs.
Raag Bhim , Dhrupad style Alaap Jod jhala with suberb accompaniment by Ut Akram Khan on Tabla and Rishi Shankar Upadhyay on Pakhwaj
Bandish - हे नाद बेधन तुम्ही को , गुनी और गंधर्व सब गाऐ
Jugalbandi and concluding with a Kashmiri Dhun based on a Tarana of his grand father.
Day 4 : Prachee Shah-Paandya - Kathak performance that was unique and had all the x,y,z factors to keep audience engrossed. Graceful , poised and brilliant at same time. A bright star for the Jaipur Kathak Gharana. Excellent , graceful presentation that started with Ganesh Vandana and moved to various Jaipur gharana "नजाकत" and Thumri in conclusion "शाम नहीं आये "
Day 4 : Aarti Anklikar - Took her time to warm up the throat with Rageshree , but later "Bolaavaa Vitthal" made many eyes teary ! Showed all the signs of shouldering the responsibility of Jaipur gayaki in future !
Rageshree
- सुमिरन करत राम नाम , बिसरत बिधा , जित लियो क्रोध काम
- Thillana of Lalgudi Jayraman
Tappa in Kafi in Pashto taal (7 matra) composed by Dinkar Kaikini
- माधो मुकुंद मुरारी , कुञ्ज बिहारी , अखिल जगत के तुम इतरार
Thumri - आज कैसी ब्रिज में धूम मचाई
Bhajan - बोलावा विठ्ठल was poignant , passionate and pearcing that made many eyes teary !
Day 5 : Mahesh Kale - Mesmerized the overfull crowd. Presented pure classical to the National Award winning film song , self made bandishes. Won over everyone , young-old , men-women-girls-veteran connoisseurs.. even his haters were silenced. He has proved himself to be a true "Classical-Rock Star"
Shuddha Sarang
- तपन लागी रे
Soulful , passionate Self composed bandish on his mother - एरी मोरी माई कित गई
Self composed bandish on this guru Abhishekibuwa - आनंद मना हो मंगल गाओ
Tarana
Bhajan - अवघे गरजे पंढरपुर
National Award winning song- अरुणी करूणी , सूर निरागस हो
Day 5 : Padma Shankar - Carnatic Violins , the grace , poise and passion was felt by connoisseurs !
Hansdhwani - वातापि गणपति भजेऽहं
Thyagaraja rachan in Charukeshi about request to Rama
Abhang - माझे माहेर पंढरी
Thillana in Madhuvanti
Concluded with Bhajan - सौभाग्यदा लक्ष्मी बाराम्मा
Day 5 : Anand Bhate - a true torch bearer for the legacy of Pt Bhimsen Joshi and Pune .. a hope for Pune and Kirana Gharana !
Yaman Kalyan
- अवगुनन कीजिये गुणीजन
- सखी ये री आली पिया बिन
Bhajan - सौभाग्यदा लक्ष्मी बाराम्मा
Day 5 : Ut Shujaat Khan - As usual he was brilliant , I must have attended over 10 of his concerts in last 2 years. He never brings the level of his performance below a threshold , that is very high for many of the even "veterans" to match ! His concert was one of the best of the festival and he truly is a "Classical Artist" .. Jhinjhoti and gazals and Shers.
जो मिल गया उसे याद रख , जो नहीं मिला उसे भूल जा ..
तेरे नैनों से लागे कटार ...
मै तो पिया से नैना लगा के आई रे ..
कहाँ आके रुकने थे रास्ते ..
Here are the links : Memories of Sawai 2017 , The Sawai Fan Award Polls on the Sawai Fan Event page of Facebook
Here is the link to Fan Page of Sawai Gandharva-Bhimsen Mahotsav with all the posts and memories
Here is the complete list of detailed performances by each artist in a table form.
