Premo Sudha Rase

Last evening I attended an epic concert preformed by two highly acclaimed exponents of Classical Music, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and Ustad Rashid Khan. The concert was in aid of a young ailing theatre artist who was suffering from Cancer. When I reached the venue, Kalamndir on Theatre Road at 5 pm in the evening, a sizeable crowd had already gathered. By 5.30 pm a serpentine line had formed going out onto the road and the Auditorium doors were opened to the anxious multitude of music lovers who had come to witness this concert. From Kolkata’s who’s who to music loving community of ages varying from 12 – way over 60 years old trotted in and took their seats.

On the dot at 6 pm an announcement was made and the show was kicked off by Ustad Rashid Khan. The concept was unique in its form that the singer would take off from a popular Rabindra Sangeet into a classical recital based on it.

After the Ustad had performed for about an hour, a break was announced and following which bot he and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty came on stage to present a cheque to the sister of the artist whose aid in which this presentation was being made.

Thereafter Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty took stage and captivated the packed auditorium for the next hour or a bit more.

I’m not much of a classical music fan, more because I don’t understand the art form, but am intrigued by the commitment of these artists and the rigorous training they undergo to capture notes that are beyond my imagination. I just love the way they modulate their voices and the sound of all the instruments. It’s so different to the western music which I’m more accustomed to listening.