The two-day music festival featured top-ranking musicians from across the country.
Music has always drawn inspiration from nature; within the classical tradition, there are even specific ragas tailored for different seasons. Among the more common are the spring season ragas of Basant Bahar Hindol, and the monsoon ragas of the various Malhars. A recent, one-of-a-kind two-day music retreat took place by the flowing waters of the River Kosi, on the outskirts of North India’s largest wildlife sanctuary, Jim Corbett National Park, from March 15-16.
Titled “Ragas by the River,” the event showcased top-ranking musicians including Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Shujaat Khan, Hariharan, Rakesh Chaurasia, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Amaan Ali and Ayaan Ali Bangash, and Arunaja and Band. What made the festival unique was not merely the grand lineup, but also the venue. Vir Srivastava, the festival organizer who conceived the event, shared that the inspirational surroundings had been experienced by every musician who had ever stayed there.
Being an amateur singer himself he said that Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, while relaxing on holiday there and quietly singing to himself, had remarked, ‘yahaan ki jo hawa hai, awaaz hee alag lagti hai’ (he is a frequent visitor to Jim Corbett due to his twin grandsons’ interest in wildlife).
The beauty and tranquility of the place made even listening to music there a special experience; small baithaks (musical gatherings) in the past were hugely popular. However, no full length music event had ever been held at Corbett before.
Melodic marvels
There were four different venues. The first evening featured Kaushiki Chakraborty accompanied vocally by her talented son Rishith. She sang Raga Aiman, incorporating the appropriate ‘kinare kinare dariya.’ She also included a composition in a seven-beat cycle (rupak taal) by her vocalist husband Parthasarathy Desikan. In fact, most of the artists had come with their families, recognizing that the music was only one part of the whole experience. As Holi was around the corner, Kaushiki concluded with a Holi ‘rang daarungi.’
Ustad Shujaat Khan performed next, touchingly starting his concert by asking Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, seated in the audience, “chacha, bajaaoon?” Of course, the tradition of formally seeking ‘ijaazat’ (permission) before starting a concert is an old one, but the relaxed informality of Shujaat’s query highlighted how this festival stood apart. After an expansive rendition of Raga Jhinjhoti, Shujaat introduced a mellowness by singing two ghazals composed by female ‘shayyars’ and other favourites. The night ended with an energizing concert by Arunaja and her band.
Ragas resonate
The following morning commenced with a beautiful recital by Grammy Award winner and renowned flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, playing the morning Raga of Gurjari Todi, followed by the post-noon Raga Shudha Sarang. As expected, he concluded with Raga Pahari, a fitting choice given the festival’s location in the foothills.
The afternoon was enlivened by a traditional Kumaoni folk dance group, bringing the flavor of the Uttarakhand region.
The concluding evening began with Amaan Ali and Ayaan Ali Bangash presenting a Ragamala, followed by their main piece, Raga Des. Their father, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, followed suit; his main piece was Raga Darbari, concluding with Raga Zila Kafi. In a reflective mood, sharing memories, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan expressed his happiness at performing in front of other artists in such a distinctive setting.
The evening concluded with Hariharan singing a plethora of favorite songs, including film hits and ghazals. Naturally, the audience danced along. The evening ended informally, with the anchor, noted actress Suchitra Pillai, singing a song upon request. This relaxed informality was evident throughout the festival and added a charming aspect to the event.
The festival boasted very aesthetic stage backdrops, each one distinct. From utilizing wheatsheafs and grass for one elegant backdrop, to a stage adorned with white flowers and the festival logo highlighted with yellow flowers, and finally, a stage adorned with different shades of pink and candles on the third day. The entire ambiance was conducive to a unique experience. The presence of the artists listening to each other also brought forth great performances; sadly, this is becoming increasingly rare at music concerts. Kaushiki Chakraborty encapsulated the sentiments of both performers and listeners when she remarked, ‘what a beautiful setting!'”
