Sarangi Legacy 2023 was recently organized at Indian Habitat Centre which showcased mesmerising performances of several artists. Every year Sarangi Cultural Academy organizes this event for promoting Indian Art and Culture. This year’s event was attended by many dignitaries like Prof. Minu Bakshi (Prof. of JNU, Writer, and Singer), Pranaame Bhagawati (Director, Kathak Kendra), Ambassador of Spain, Jose Maria Ridao, Ambassador of Peru, Javier Manuel Paulinich, Prof. Anil Dhingra, he is a former professor and chairperson, Centre of Spain in JNU,) Vanessa Espinosa is Head of Education and Cultural Affairs at Embassy of Mexico many more other eminent guests grace the event.
The evening started with Nabeel Khan with an introduction of Sarangi in which he told about sarangi making and history along with the fact that nobody knows about the instrument that ‘Sarangi’ is a female instrument and it’s the Queen of Indian Classical instruments. It’s sound like a female voice that why it was so difficult to tune this instrument.
“If we don’t play this instrument one day if will very difficult to play next day,” he said. He also talked about the sarangi structure closest to human shape and about ragas. After that he played Raag Gaud Malhar, which is a very soulful and romantic raga. In which he played Alaap, an introduction of raga followed by Vilambit ektal, Teen Taal and Ek taal.
Khan finished his recital of his original composition ‘The Arrival of Sultan’ where the audience got goosebumps and he got a standing ovation. He was accompanied by Zuheb Ahmed on Tabla.
The second performance was Tabla jugalbandi by Ustad Rashid Mustafa Thirakwa and Shariq Mustafa. In which they played all the traditional qaida, chalan, Bal etc on Teen Taal accompanied by Ahsan Ali on Sarangi.
Last performance was Kathak by Abhimanyu Lal.
He performed kathak in the end and made the audience spellbound by his moves and received standing ovation again. He performed the Mahabharat Abhimanyu story through his dance moves. He was accompanied by Ustad Nasir Khan on Sarangi, Yogesh Gangani on Tabla, Samiullah Khan on Vocal, Ashish Gangani on Pakhawaj, Salim Kumar on Sitar.