Shankarlal music fest at Kamani.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Classical music was formally introduced to the capital nearly eight decades ago through the Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival. Before its inception, attending a concert required a personal invitation from the host. The festival changed this by being open to all, held in a shamiana, making classical music accessible to the public. Initially, ₹2 tickets were sold, but a few decades ago, it was decided to make the festival free for all.

Delhi’s oldest and most prestigious classical music festival returns this weekend as a three-day event from March 21 to 23. Over the years, it has hosted every major figure in North Indian classical music, barring rare exceptions — Pandit Kumar Gandharva was never invited in the early years, and when he finally was, he declined. The violin was also rarely featured, with Dr. L. Subramaniam performing only once and Dr. N. Rajam and her daughter being the first North Indian violinists to take the stage, only a few years ago.

The show must go on

Shobha Deepak Singh, Chairperson of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, who has been the driving force behind the festival for the past 50 years, shares, “This will be my first festival without my husband, Deepak, who was a strong support. But as he always said, ‘The show must go on.’”

The festival opens with Rahul Sharma on santoor, followed by Ashwini Bhide Deshpande’s vocal recital. The next day begins with flute sisters Debopriya and Suchismita Chatterjee, disciples of Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. Debopriya, reflecting on the occasion, says, “This will be my first performance on this stage without guruji. There’s a sense of responsibility in carrying his legacy forward. We’re nervous but excited to perform on such a prestigious platform.”

The second concert of the evening features first-time performers Prabhakar and Diwakar Kashyap of the Banaras gharana, disciples of Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra, followed by a sitar recital by Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee.

Grand finale

This year, the festival will not feature a morning session. The concluding evening will showcase veteran vocalist Pandit Vinayak Torvi of the Kirana Gharana, followed by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

Reflecting on his long association with the festival, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan shares, “As a child, I lived where Kamani Auditorium stands today, and now, I perform where the festival is currently held. I’ve been playing at Shankarlal since the early 1960s and always try to make time for it. It was originally held at the Modern School grounds and has always featured the finest musicians.”

When asked about his performance this year, he says, “Our music is always fresh — no two renditions of the same raga are ever identical. The Yaman or Darbari I played yesterday will be different from what I play today. I believe each raga has an atma (soul). Western music is written down, and while I respect that tradition, I can’t read and play — I believe music is a gift from God. Notes connect hearts, no matter where you live. Music transcends religion; it is a means to connect with the divine.”

At Open Air Theatre, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Copernicus Marg; March 21 to 23; 6pm onward