Ragas & rhythms: Classical maestros weave magic on stage in the capital

On March 21, the festival commenced featuring a performance by the acclaimed Santoor virtuoso Rahul Sharma. Renowned for his unique fusion of classical, world, and contemporary genres, Rahul Sharma expressed his sentiments: “Nothing is more fulfilling than sharing the timeless sound of the santoor with an audience that appreciates the depth of Indian classical music. The Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival has always been a cherished platform for artists like myself, and I am honoured to be part of it once again.”

After his performance, the Padma Shri awardee and renowned Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, captivated the audience with her soulful Khayal, Thumri and devotional renditions. Ahead of her performance, she had expressed as, “The Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival holds a special place in my heart. It is a celebration of the richness of Indian classical music and a platform that honours tradition while encouraging innovation.

Day 2 featured the talented sibling duos Debopriya and Suchismita Chatterjee on flute, students of Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, and Prabhakar and Diwakar Kashyap on vocals, trained in the Banaras Gharana under Pt. Rajan-Sajan Mishra, as they presented their eagerly awaited festival performance debut.