Rare gems of Indian classical music, by Manoj Govindraj

This is the first episode in a new series in which we will delve deep into songs associated with elements of nature, mother earth and also our motherland and there connection with classical Raags.

This is an episode which talks about one of a kind artist. He is Pandit Nayan Ghosh, a double maestro, whose sitar playing is simply mesmorizing and his tabla playing is absolutely exhilarating.

This episode brings to light a very melifluous and a versatile vocalist Ankita Joshi, who was blessed to learn music from the legendary Pandit Jasrajji and is now carrying on his legacy with great devotion and determination.

In this episode, we talk about a young and a very popular classical vocalist Shri Kumar Mardur, who is proving to be a very worthy torch barrer of the traditional Kirana Gharana.

This episode introduces us to a very dynamic and a contemporary flute maestro Pandit Praveen Ghodkhindi, who has contributed in a big way to the art of flute playing through his unique innovations to the instrument and at the same time, adhering to the traditional style.

This episode is dedicated to paying tribute to the legend vocal maestro Vidushi Dr. Prabha Atre, who devoted her entire life for the enrichment of Hindustani classical music through music performances and her teachings.

This episode is a humble tribute to the legendary vocal maestro Ustad Rashid Khan, whose untimely passing away is a real shock to the music world. His tonal quality and the emotional appeal in his music will continue to inspire music students and music lovers till eternity.

This episode delves deep into the contribution of maestro Pandit Vishwamohan Bhat, who modified the slide guitar by incorporating several enhancements and created a new instrument, the Mohan Veena.

This episode discusses the contribution of Vidushi Shubhra Guha, both as a performer who belonged to the male dominated Agra Gharana but still managed to establish herself as a singer of repute. She also taught many students both in India and abroad.

This episode brings to light the lively yet meditative nature of the vocal style of Pandit Mukul Shivputraji. Despite being the son of the legendary vocal maestro Pandit Kumar Gandharvaji, Mukulji has carved his own nich in Hindustani classical music and he is now in search of the true source of all the Raags.

In this episode, we take a look at Sitar maestro Ustad Rais Khan, who was a master not just in pure classical music, but his sitar tunes are part of many of the most popular songs in Indian Bollywood music.

This episode describes the work of Vidushi Lakshmi Shankar,who with her powerful yet melodeous voice, popularized multiple  genres of Indian music, ranging from pure classical to devotional and popular music.

This episode goes into the details about the life of Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, who made a huge impact on the semi-classical genre of Indian music with his soothing and mellifluous voice.

This episode talks about the violin maestro Pandit D. K. Datar, who popularized a very unique style of violin playing, inspired by the vocal style of the legendary vocalist Pandit D. V. Paluskar.

This episode gives an insight into the music of Vidushi Roshan Ara Begum, one of the doins of Kirana Gharana of Hindustani music. With her mellifluous voice and the ability to sing fast and clear Taans, Roshan Araji inspired many of the contemporary legends of Hindustani music.

This episode describes the journey of vocal maestro Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, who attained fame much later in his life, but became one of the most respected and saintly musicians among the music fraternity.

This episode presents the work of guitar maestro Pandit Brijbhushan Kabra, who at one point in his life, did not even know what he wanted to do, and from there became a legend who pioneered the use of guitar in Indian classical music.

This episode introduces to us Anuradha Kuber, a very versatile and a thriving  contemporary vocalist whose resonating and soothing voice is very relaxing at the same time very inspiring for aspiring singers to follow the path of music.

This episode introduces us to Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, one of the most respected contemporary Hindustani classical vocalists. He is known for his amazingly resonating voice and also how skillfully he blends the teachings of 3 different schools of music into 1 unique style of his own.

This episode deals with a very versatile flute maestro, Pandit Ronu Muzumdar, who not only established himself as a classical music  Artist but also excelled in the field of lighter genres of music, especially popular music. A channel about Indian/Hindustani classical music featuring ragas and compositions based on them rendered by well-known though not often remembered musicians of their times. Presented by Manoj Govindraj accompanied by his expert commentary and analyses. http://www.swar-ras.com

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.