Mangalureans’ interest in Hindustani music continues to rise

Twenty-two-year-old vocalist Siddharth Pulleri, a native of Kannur in Kerala, did his high school education in a school in Mangaluru. It was at this time that he developed an interest in Hindustani Music. He has since then been regularly attending concerts organised by Mangaluru’s Sangeet Bharati Foundation and other organisations in Mangaluru by taking off from his advanced music training in Kolkata under Kaushiki Chokroborty, Aritra Chokroborthy and Parthasarathy Desikal.

When a chance came for him to perform in the National Music Competition of the Sangeet Bharati Foundation recently (February 8 and 9), Pulleri grabbed the chance to present his skill before jurists comprising of vocalists Jayatheerth Mevundi, Poornima Bhat Kulkarni and Shashank Maktedar, sitarist Ustad Rafique Khan, Bansuri player Pandit Ronu Majumdar, and Tabla player Yashwant Vaishnav.

Master class and more

Ignoring the pain due to injury he sustained to his left leg, Pulleri gave a heart warming performance in the competition. After the competition, Pulleri was among the group of young music enthusiasts who attended master class conducted by Kulkarni, Maktedar and Khan. In this interactive session, the senior musicians gave a glimpse of their journey in music and gave music enthusiasts insight into the way to maintain aesthetic of a raga while presenting it in short duration.

Sarod player Madhav Kalra of New Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
H S MANJUNATH

Similarly, young musician Madhava Kalra had come to the event all the way from New Delhi. “I was sceptical hearing about the event at first. After going through list of senior musicians taking part in the event, I flew down to take part in this unique programme, which will definitely help in building new listeners for my music.”

Vocalist Ishan Ghosh of Kolkata was declared winner in the vocalist category of the National Level Hindustani Classical Music Competition, which was held as part of Yuva Mahotsav by Sangeet Bharati Foundation in Mangaluru on February 9.
| Photo Credit:
H S MANJUNATH

Kalra was adjudged winner in instrumental section of competition. Vocalist Ishan Ghosh of Kolkata, who has done his masters in music from Banaras Hindu University, was declared winner in the vocal section. As many as 24 musicians from across the country took part in the competition.

Vidushi Poornima Bhat Kulkarni during a Master class session on the occasion of Yuva Mahotsav -2025 organised by Sangeet Bharati Foundation at Don Bosco Hall.
| Photo Credit:
H S MANJUNATH

Harmonium player and educationalist Narendra Nayak, an active member of the Foundation, said they went through short videos of over 100 participants to select 12 musicians each in the vocal and instrumental category, who took part in final round of the competition held as part of two day Yuva Mahotsav at renovated Don Bosco hall in Mangaluru on February 8 and 9. “While choosing the finalists we made sure to present the diverse classical music talent from Kolkata to Kerala,” Nayak said.

The Sangeet Bharati Foundation has been in the forefront in bringing artists from across the country to perform in Mangaluru since 1996.

Rudra Veena concert by Ustad Bahauddin Dagar was held as part of the ‘Baithak ‘ music programme series of Swaraanand Pratishthan in BEM High School auditorium in Mangaluru on February 19
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SPECIAL ARRAGEMENT

Early promoters

Foundation president and sitar player Rafique Khan, the younger brother of well-known sitar player Bale Khan, said the first concert by the foundation was that of Ashwini Bhidi Deshpande, which was inaugurated by well known ophthalmologist late C.R. Kamath, who was among the early promoters of Hindustani music in the region. With involvement of Harmonium player and educationalist Narendra Nayak in the foundation, the institution has been holding variety of classical music programmes regularly in the city.

The region has a fairly big following for Carnatic music. Exposure to Hindustani music has been built through regular bhajan programmes held at Venkataramana temple and a few other religious places. Hindustani classical singers have also been coming to the city as musicians, including the late Kadri Gopalnath, Rafique Khan, vocalist Ravikiran Manipa, and vocalist Mithun Chakravarty stay in this region.

Another cultural organisation that is actively involved conducting Hindustani Classical concerts is Chirantana Charitable Trust. Annually, the Trust has been conducting Panchamada Inchara Viveka Smriti concerts since 2012 at Swami Vivekananda auditorium of Ramakrishna Mutt. To cultivate a listening culture, the organisers stress upon performers talk about the compositions and other intricacies of their performance before presenting each piece.

“There was a drop in audience during the two COVID lockdowns. Listeners are now increasing every passing year. The listeners for this year’s programme on January 12, 2025, was astounding,” said Tabla player and Managing Trustee Bharavi Deraje.

Participants at the Master class session by Pt. Ronu Majumdar, a well-known Hindustani flautist, on the occasion of Yuva Mahotsav -2025 organised by Sangeet Bharati Foundation at Don Bosco Hall.
| Photo Credit:
H S MANJUNATH

Documentation work

The Trust is working closely with vocalist Ravikiran Manipal in archiving 200-odd rare compositions in 100 ragas of the Late Pandit Narayan Pandit. They will be rendered by the voice of Pt. Manipal, as part of the project “Abhinava Khayal – a musical journey.” The videos are available on the YouTube.

Since 2023, Swaraanand Pratishthan has also been conducting Baithak series of music programme for its members. The Pratishthan refurbished the tile roof auditorium of the BEM School in Mangaluru for the programme that brings the musicians close to listeners.

The inaugural Baithak programme was an overnight event in which as many as six musicians performed. In the programme held in subsequent years, there has been performance by two Hindustani musicians. In the ninth Baithak programme held on February 19 this year, there was vocal recital by Mallikarjun Mansur’s disciple Mithun Chakravarty, followed by Rudra Veena recital by Bahauddin Dagar.

Colleges that promote

Art promoter and educationist Mohan Alva has also been regularly inviting Hindustani classical musicians and musicians from other genres to perform during the annual Alva Virast and Alvas Nudisiri events in Alvas College campus in Moodbidri.

Expert Group of Institutions is another institution holding annual music programme every year on its campus in Valachil to expose their pre university students and their parents to the richness of classical music. A local Kannada newspaper has been bringing musicians from different parts of country to perform in their annual Bolava Vitthal programme too.