Kathak Workshop

Ragamalika organised a 15-day Kathak workshop from 8-21 April, 2010.

It was a new initiative taken to let the classical genre reach out to one and all irrespective of their background or previous knowledge about the rich domain. The workshop got an overwhelming response of students from all years with a special mention to the higher degree students. About 30 participants enrolled for the workshop. It was a pleasurable and a learning exercise for both the sides, the learner and the teacher (Namrata Jain). Imparting the intricacies of the dance style with a responsibility to teach the right way was both a challenging and an enriching experience.

The workshop ended with benefiting all the involved who went out of the rag room with smiles on their faces and a contentment in their heart. Hoping to carry on this trend of innovation and new endeavors we wish all the success to our very own Ragamalika.

Strings Attached

“Strings Attached” - Ragamalika’s instrumental concert was held on 17^th April at the LTC QT at BITS, Pilani. The concert featured three instruments which represent the soul of instrumental Carnatic music. 

S Preethi was on the Veena, C Ajay Aditya on the Violin and Deepak Krishnamurthy on the Mridangam. Six beautiful and varied compositions were promised to the audience who had settled down comfortably on the lawns to enjoy a blissful evening of music. Kicking off with a traditional starting piece of a concert – A varnam in ragam Valaji, this soothing yet fast paced song set the mood for the evening. After a brisk interlude featuring on the spot improvisations by the artistes the concert switched gear and moved on to its’ main piece. A wonderful composition in ragam Shanmughapriya on Lord Rama, the audience was first treated to an Alaap in the same ragam which was finely balanced between violin and veena. The composition followed by ‘kalpanaswaras’ or on the spot swaras with percussion support from the mridangam kept the audiences riveted. After a fast paced composition on Lord Karthikeya, the concert reached its’ crescendo with a captivating rendering of a Thillana in ragam Sindhubhairavi. The intricate swara and beat patterns followed closely by the mridangam drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The concert was graced by Dr G Raghurama, Director BITS-Pilani Pilani campus and Dr B V Babu, Dean SWD and Professor-in-Charge Ragamalika who along with the rest of the audience made the evening a success.

The songs can be downloaded and listened through THIS link.

SHAAM-E-GHAZAL 2010

Here comes a post which most of you would relate to as you have passed through that phase of psenti sem and your psenti concert.
SHAAM-E-GHAZAL was started 2 years back in 2008 to bring light classical music to light and it instantly attracted BITSians and profs alike. Ghazals have always been choice of many and tapping this interest of common junta Ragamalika gave it a shot and its good to see that the interest still remains intact in its 3.0 version.

SHAAM-E-GHAZAL 2010 was also the psenti concert for Pratik (and almost for Shravan :D) and it was organized on 20th April 2010 in LTC QT. We have changed the venue for our concerts and made them open theatre (I remember that we organized a freshers concert in Amphi @SAC). We also had an instrumental concert organized on 17th April 2010, details about which would be put up soon.

Ghazals and open theatre with calm weather made a perfect combo and we hope to keep this tradition as far as possible.
Proceedings started between 8-8:15PM and went on till about 9:45PM. Audience came in pouring and touched around 60-70 in number which was quite encouraging. Profs included NVM, AK Sarkar, Anil Rai, Srijata Dey, Sangeeta Sharma and others.
This time we also had a female singer included to extend the performers group to 4. I'll list all the songs in the order performed and also highlight the songs most appreciated by junta.

A good and bad point during the concert was power-cut during the concert and that too twice. Good thing after power-cut was that enthusiastic audience came forward and the atmosphere for both the performers and the audience was enhanced and it felt good to see audience's love for ghazals and darkness with moon and starlit sky was an awesome feeling. Bad thing that 2 songs couldn't be recorded properly and I'm afraid that they therefore can't be uploaded for you to listen.
Else wise concert had the audience glued till the end and thus ended this semester's psenti concert on a very high note with wishes coming from all the people in audience.

The list of songs in order of performance is:
1.) Tera Chehra Kitna Suhana Lagta Hai (Jagjit Singh)
2.) Teri Aankhon Ko (Mehdi Hassan)
3.) Deewaron Se Milkar Rona (Pankaj Udhas)
4.) Ye Dil Ye Pagal - Awaargi (Ghulam Ali)
5.) Ranjish Hi Sahi (Mehdi Hassan)
6.) Aur Aahista Kijiye Baatein (Pankaj Udhas)
7.) Zara Aahista Chal (Pankaj Udhas)
8.) Chupke Chupke Raat Din (Ghulam Ali)
9.) Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi (Jagjit Singh)
10.) Chitthi Na Koi Sandes (Jagjit Singh)
11.)* Dayar-e-Dil Ki Raat Mein (Asha Bhonsle, Ghulam Ali)
12.)** Tumko Dekha To Ye Khayal Aaya (Chitra, Jagjit Singh)
13.) Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa (Ghulam Ali)
14.)* Hosh Waalon Ko Khabar Kya (Jagjit Singh)
15.) Hothon Se Chhoo Lo Tum (Jagjit Singh)
16.) Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho (Jagjit Singh)
17.) Rafta Rafta Wo Mere (Mehdi Hassan)

* = Duet
** = Female solo
No * = Male Solo

Performers:
Male Vocal & Harmonium = Pratik Maheshwari
Female Vocal = Uthra B
Violinist = Shravan S
Percussionist (Tabla) = Riddhidev Banerjee

Thats it from our side for a while. Will update with other happenings of Ragamalika this sem soon. Till then Adios !

p.s. - To listen to the songs, click on them.

Upcoming Concerts & Events - April 2010

1.) Strings Attached (Instrumental) - 17th April 2010
2.) Shaam-e-Ghazal (Psenti Concert) - 20th April 2010
3.) Kathak Workshop - 9th-21st April 2010
4.) Performance for Conference - 22nd April 2010