Megh Malhar 2011

But for my busy schedules, with the likes of Smt Asha Khadilkar and Jayteerth Mevundi performing at this years Megh Malhar, I would have more than just loved to attend all the three days of the festival. Smt. Yashaswi Sathe- Sirpotdar, a protégé if Smt Padma Talwalkar, opened the second day of the festival with her melifious rendition of 'Mia Malhar' in 'Vilambit taal' dotted with crystal clear taans reflecting her sincerity and more importantly her solid homework. The rendition can easily be rated by me as one of the finest ones with me having been audience to the 'out of the world divine' rendition of Mia Malhar by none other than the grand and the last of the original diva's Smt Kishori Ammonkar. That year was 2008 and thereafter no other vocalist’s rendition of the monsoon raaga has been able to leave as much as a mark on my mind. Smt. Yashaswi Sathe-Sirpotdar's rendition of Mia Malhar cannot be compared with that of the 'Gaana Saraswati's' rendition but yes it certainly is in that league of the few memorable renditions that I have ever heard! Smt Yashaswi Sathe-Sirpotdar winded up her performance with Goud Malhar amidst loud applause of the mesmerised audiences who held nothing back while conveying their appreciation for the young vocalist and paved way for the veteran vocalist Smt Asha Khadilkar.

As the curtains rolled up for post break session for the second and the concluding part of the second day of the festival, I was moved to see a greying Asha Khadilkar looking tired. Draped in an emrald green silk saree with a broad turmeric yellow border, Smt Khadilkar presented Shudh Malhar bringing back to my mind the memories when she performed in sangeet nataks. If I am not wrong I can faintly recall her playing the lead role along with vocalist Ajit Kadkade in 'Sangeet Sharada Swayamvar', a musical. I was in primary then. Having seen her rendering the energetic Natya Sangeet I was deeply moved to see her looking tired. Artists I felt were like Lord Krishna who unknowingly steal their ways into their audience’s hearts so much so that they start identifying themselves with them more than with their own kith and kin! Artists like Smt Asha Khadilkar who have devoted their entire lives to serve music are inarguably a class apart - I guess that’s why they are loved and respected so much by the people. With a ' Bhoopkali' bandish being rendered next by the veteren artist to capture the essence of monsoons, the evening was winded up with what she does best – rendition of a Meera Bhajan that too capturing the esssence of rains which kept reverberating in my mind for the next two days! Needless to say that her being a veteran who has honed her skills under the tutelageof the likes of Pt. Vasantrao Deshpande, Pt. Jeetendra Abhisheki, Smt. Manik Verma and Yashwantbua Joshi to name a few, was reflected in the ease with which Smt Asha Khadilkar delivered soulful renditions. I was left deeply touched and was full of reverence for the the selflessly devoted noble souls called 'artists' as the curtains went down a coughing veteran vocalist Smt.Asha Khadilkar!!

- JAI