MUMBAI: The NCPA in collaboration with Prasar Bharati has organised a tribute to sarod maestro and founder of Maihar Gharana ‘Baba’ Allauddin Khan on his sesquicentennial birth anniversary. The tribute concert will be held on 26 October in Mumbai.
Prasar Bharati Chairperson Mrinal Pande is the chief guest, while Pandit Ram Narayan is the guest of honour.
The NCPA and Prasar Bharati will commemorate Baba’s outstanding contribution to the sphere of Hindustani music with a musical concert, comprising performances by two disciples of the eminent sitar and surbahar player Annapurna Devi, who is also Baba’s daughter—namely Basant Kabra (sarod) from Jodhpur and the bansuri virtuoso Hariprasad Chaurasia. Admission to the event is free, and on a first-come-first-served basis. Prasar Bharati will also bring out rare recordings of Baba on this momentous occasion.
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Another contribution by Baba is the creation of the first and only Indian orchestral group called the ‘Maihar Band’. The NCPA concert will see the Maihar Band staging a short presentation, featuring various instruments and compositions.
The tribute concert will be broadcasted on all Doordarshan channels.
Speaking about the concert, NCPA Head – Programming (Indian Music) and Musicologist Dr Suvarnalata Rao said, “Baba’s noteworthy contribution to the Indian classical music needs an equally remarkable tribute. The evening will see a beautiful celebration of the Maihar Gharana and its artistes in a resplendent sonic landscape of sounds, ragas and classical revelry.”
Born in 1862, Baba was one of the most versatile and innovative musicians of his time and was instrumental in reshaping the famous Maihar gharana from Madhya Pradesh. He has infused elements of been and dhrupad into the performance techniques of instruments such as surbahar, sitar and sarod. He has composed many new bandishes and ragas, the most popular of which are Hemant and Manj Khamaj. Baba has received training from several great exponents including Gopal Chandra Bhattacharya, Munne Khan and the legendary vina maestro Wazir Khan of Rampur. He has also been a tutor to renowned stalwarts like Ali Akbar Khan, Pannalal Ghosh, Annapurna Devi, Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Sharan Rani and many more.
