Rare gems of Indian classical music, by Manoj Govindraj

This episode talks about Vidushi Shobha Gortu, who with her inemitable style, took semi-classical singing to the next level. She inspired so many contemporary singers to take up semi-classical singing very seriously.

This episode describes the contribution of Pandit Chhannulal Mishra in enriching Hindustani classical music with touches of folk and devotional music. Panditji has a very typical folkish voice which is able to present all the intricacies of classical music and maintain its essense and purity.

The cloud of despair floats and covers the sky of my mind. The melody of separation comes and sings the song of pain. Yet my mind loves and just wants you. So many memories are here but you are not with me today. To find you on an unknown path, my mind alone sails the boat in search of you. There will be soon dawn due to birds singing, (in hope) the forest keeps his ears open. Tear the chest of darkness, comes back the day to get the smell of morning dew. I think you put the light on and coming on my way. In the black night of fatigue, my mind gets the light of hope.

This episode brings to light the journey of a relatively unknown legend, the sarod maestro Vidushi Zarine Sharmaji. She was not only a renowned classical artist but the only female sarod player to have played extensively in the popular genre of Bollywood music for 50 years.

This episode recognizes the contribution of Vidushi Saavni Shende, one of the most sort after contemporary artists in the field of Hindustani classical music. She is well known for her versatility across various genres of Indian music.

This episode discusses the contribution of one of the legends of Hindustani classical music, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khansahab. His contribution was not just restricted to classical music, but it can also be seen in popular music, in which he not only sang some of the popular songs himself, but also taught some of the very well known contemporary singers of popular music.

This episode explores the unique contribution of Pandit Ulhas Bapat, who introduced a whole lot of innovations in the musical instrument Santur. Inspite of having a very strong classical background, Ulhasji also excelled in playing the lighter genres of Indian music.

This episode Talks about the legendary female vocalist Vidushi Hirabai Badodekar, who represented the Kirana Gharana and trained many of the contemporary stolvarts of Indian classical music.

This episode brings to light, the music of 2 brothers Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan and Ustad Salamat Ali Khan. They came into limelight in the early 1950s and enchanted audiances with their duet performances which was a rarity at that time.

This episode talks about harmonium maestro and a great guru Pandit Tulsidas Borkar, who inspired several well known contemporary harmonium players to take up harmonium playing as a full time profession.

This episode discusses the contribution of a female Dhrupad vocalist which is a rarity, Vidushi Pelva Naik. She is one of the youngest contemporary torch bearers of the Daagar style of Dhrupad which she believes is very much alive and thriving.

Epar-Opar (worldly mind vs spiritual mind) – Where Should I Reside

Sthai

Epar (worldly mind) is telling to stay here few more days with me.

Opar (spiritual mind) is telling as of today why you leave me alone.

 Antara

Although Epar is my temporary residence, 

it is full filling many of my desires.

How can I tell my mind? 

to abandon everything what you have and dream to go to Opar.

Sanchari 

 My mind is not ready to forget everything of this temporary residence.

However, when I think about both sides, I contradict myself about where to stay.

Aabhog (Last Antara)

If I go to Opar I will have sweet life with abundance of happiness right away. 

When this thought comes to my mind, there is no clear answer and it then tells me to call the Almighty for settlement.

This episode talks about a very popular contemporary vocalist Pandit Raghunandan Panshikar who symbolizes ultimate devotion and surrender to his guru Vidushi Kishori Amonkar. Raghudada as he is fondly called, served his guru till the very end and now propogates her teachings by way of performances and workshops.

This episode describes the pioneering work of the Sarangi maestro Ustad Sultan Khansahab. The Sarangi is considered closest instrument to the human voice and Khansahab created a unique style of playing, in which he could potray various moods and emotions and not just the one emotion of somberness with which it was associated before.

This episode talks about probably the most sort after vocalist in the 1940s and 1950s, Pandit D. V. Paluskar, without whose performance, no musical event held during those times was considered complete. Sadly, he passed away at a very young age of 34 in 1955. But his music is still very much alive in the form of numerous recordings available on the internet which continues to inspire singers of present generation.

This episode discusses about the huge contribution of the legendary violinist Vidushi Dr. N Rajam. She was the first female violinist performing Hindustani music which proved to be a source of inspiration for other female violinists.

This episode talks about a very popular vocalist from a musically rich region of Bengal, Vidushi Malabika Kanan, who set new standards in Hindustani vocal music. She was probably one of the first female vocalists who sang in a much higher pitch than her contemporary female vocalists, a trend that is very commonly followed in today’s times.

This episode talks about the immense contribution of Pandit Uday Bhawalkar in not just preserving the slightly less popular North Indian classical music style of Drupad-Dhamar, but also spreading its knowledge far and wide by way of teaching and performance.

This episode talks about the great contribution of the legendary flute maestro Pandit Pannalal Ghosh in introducing flute as a concert level instrument in North Indian classical music.

This episode talks about the great contribution of the legendary flute maestro Pandit Pannalal Ghosh in introducing flute as a concert level instrument in North Indian classical music.

This episode talks about the sheer grit and determination of a young boy from the southern part of India who is now one of the most sort after artists in Indian classical music field, Pandit Venkatesh Kumar.

Raag Patdeep and its usage in light music

Raag Madmadh Sarang and its usage in light music