Sitarist Adnan Khan spells magic on stage

SD Sharma

Chandigarh, October 15

Versatile young Sitar maestro Adnan Khan and acclaimed vocalist Meeta Pandit, a doyenne of Gwalior Gharana, enraptured the city music lovers during the three-day Vocal and Sitar Festival-2016, organised by the Pracheen Kala Kendra under their ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ series, at Randhawa Auditorium here today.

After a delayed start, son of renowned Sitar player Ustad Saeed Khan of Kirana gharana, Adnan commenced the programme with exposition of raga “Shudh Kalyan” set to slow paced (vilambit gat), which melted into faster drut gat. He mesmerised the audience with his sheer skill, deft handling of the raga and lightening speed of taans. His Afgani dhun “Anar Anar” won applause.

After Adnan’s immaculate performance, versatile and vivacious Meeta Pandit took the centre stage to spell magic. She opened up with Rag “Malagunji”. After a reposeful aalap, Meeta presented “Bada Khyal bandish”, “Aare man samjhat nahi” and another traditional bandish “Na janu kaisi preet” and a tarana before she presented tappa “Chal pehchani miyan”. She concluded her recital with tempting thumri in raga Pahari “Kahe Gaye Pardes” to win a standing ovation.

Mithilesh Jha and Avirbhav Verma on tabla and Paromita Mukherjee on harmonium augmented the performance levelof artistes.