Vocalist spells magic at ICCR concert

SD Sharma

Chandigarh, October 30

Bureaucrat and classical vocalist Kashish Mittal virtually weaved magic in a music concert organised by the Chandigarh chapter of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with Cultural Society of the Postgraduate Government College for Girls, Sector 11, under Horizon Series at the college auditorium here today.

Kashish Mittal, a foremost of disciple of Agra Gharana stalwart guru Pandit Yashpaul opened the concert by baring the melodic character of morning raga ‘guzri todi’ through ‘non tom alaap’ and ‘bada khyal bandish’ ‘mein jaanu re…’ in ‘teen tal’, which melted into fast paced ‘chhota khyal’ composition ‘theeth langarva…’.

Meanwhile, as noon approached Mittal switched on ‘dupehar ka raag’ ‘shudh sarang’ with ‘chhota khyal’ ‘jaane doh saajan’ before concluding with a crisp ‘tararna’.

An imaginative vocalist Mittal sang with fervour. His mesmerising spell was marked with seek, tidy, fluent ‘sargams’ and ‘taans’ replete with rich melodic appeal.

Matching accompaniment by Jaidev on tabla and Manish Kumar on harmonium augmented the concert level.

Prof Anita Kaushal, Principal, honoured artistes in the presence of Nalini Singhal, regional director, ICCR, and Knawar Iqbal Singh, Dean and convener, GCG Cultural society. Prof Anita Kaushal observed that inquisitive students must have learnt a lot from the memorable concert.