Curtains come down for the 56th Savai Gandharva festival

Curtain rang down on the four-day of Savai Gandharva classical music fiesta here on Monday.

Pune, Dec 15: Curtain rang down on the four-day of Savai Gandharva classical music fiesta here today which presented a memorable spectacle of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi lending his ear to the melodious renderings sitting in his car.With the age dictated restricted movements, the 86 year old maestro of Hindustani `Khyal gayki` who started the event 56 years ago as a tribute to his Guru, assumed a passive role of a connoisseur seated in the car, positioned facing the podium at the open venue of Raman Baug.

The hour long presence of Pandit Bhimsen at the proceedings which showcases versatility in the world of classical music with the performances of established and upcoming artistes from all over the country, buoyed the spirit of the audience who had converged in thousands, braving the chilly weather and a lurking security concern. Last year, despite his failing health, the octogenarian vocalist of `Kirana gharana` had performed for half-an-hour coming on the stage on a wheel chair to the delight of his fans as he kept his rendezvous with the Savai, a highlight of the cultural calendar over a five decades. In a grand finale to the 56th edition of the festival, Dr Prabha Atre, Aruna Sairam, Pandit Vinayak Torvi, and flutist Ronu Majumdar enthralled the audience in the concluding session, marked by the rendering of Adi Shankaracharya`s composition `Prabho Prannaath` by Pandit Jasraj. Bureau Report