Sitar-shehnai jugalbandhi enthralls Palakkad crowds

The Rapadi open-air auditorium here came alive on Monday evening as two leading maestros of Hindustani music delivered a mesmerizing jugalbandhi that marked the ninth day of performances at the ongoing Swaralaya Samanwayam dance and music festival.

Shehnai master Pandit Shailesh Bhagwat and sitar performer Ustad Rafeeque Khan joined forces on the Swaralaya platform and enthralled the audience with the lyrical interplay of their instruments.

Although the artists drew on different sonic traditions (wind and string instruments), they achieved effortless harmony.

“It’s not difficult at all. It’s always a pleasure to perform together, supporting and complementing each other,” they said during an interaction with the media before the show.

They opened with an alaap in Raga Yaman and moved on to a selection of night ragas. A notable disciple of legendary Master Bismillah Khan, Mr. Bhagwat produced controlled, mellow tones from his shehnai, beautifully complemented by Ustad Rafeeque Khan’s agile sitar playing.

“Shehnai can be a noisy instrument. We need to exercise restraint during Jugalbandhi,” Mr. Bhagwat said.

Jugalbandhi by Master Ashraf Hydros, Dr. Sumit Datta and his team’s rendition of Sufi Qawwali followed.

Earlier, playback singer Satheesh Babu Kozhikode was conferred with Swaralaya Vijaya Jayaraj Award.

The award was given by Karivallur Murali. Palakkad Mayor P. Smithesh presented the Swaralaya mudra.