Sahitya Kala Parishad, Government of Delhi organised Thumri Festival at Kamani Auditorium from 1-3 September.
According to Sindhu Mishra, Deputy Secretary Sahitya Kala Parishad, “Light classical form is a blend of different styles like dadra, chaiti, thumri, kajari which used used to be the pop music of the classical form during the ancient times, have now people consider it as a light classical form and not pop. Thumri can be sung with changing sur, lay and taal. For youngsters, pop holds some different definition and not this form”
The event saw the reminiscing and melodious performance of Arati Ankalikar performed the famous songs of the Maharashtra culture and indulged the audience in sweet prose of Kajli, originally composed by Girja Devi. She sang the thumri in a completely eloquent spirit reciting piya bin bairan ho gaye rain, sajanwa aau kaise main tore paas in dadra style. According to her, “Performing thumri in the capital during the festival is very great opportunity and pleasure. I have sung a lot of songs but there is something special about thumri as it reflects your inner self in the recitals.”
Moving over to Indrani Mukherjee who sang thumri in a very sweet style mesmerizing the audience with her musical recital blending sur, lay and taal in perfect equation. She, with her performance gave thumri a new edge in Indian music genre.
The audience rejoiced over the powerful performance of the legendary maestro Pt. Channulal Mishra who amalgamated the essence of Chhand, Loch and Khayal style in his singing and presented thumri in a complete new level. On the occasion, he said “Youngsters need to learn the tradition and music lessons”. Thumri has been recited over the ages since the evolution of Lord Shiva’s era. One needs to add his soul and make it more spiritual and life like.
Kalpana Zokarkar, a profound vocalist from Indore holds command over the light classical styles of music. She sang thumri which goes like Dhyan lago mohe tora, next performance Tujh bin chain kahan se pau and concluded her performance with a kajri Nazariya laage nahi kahin aur, tum to balma ho chitchor which made the evening mesmerizing.
Next was Ramakant Gaikwad who belongs to the Patiala Gharana hails from Pune. His thumri lyrics were Yaad piya ki aae, ye dukh saha na jae and Naina Milawe.
Honored with Padam shri, Malini Awasthi from Bundelkhand and Awadhi Gharana mesmerized with her composition like Aae savan gheri aae badarwa, secondly dohe ki kajri, and concluding with Aae nahi Chhail bihari re sawariyan.
Applauded with the praising performance, Pooja Goswami, student of Prof. Ajit Singh Paintal is a Minneapolis, MN based performer and composer, infused the audience with her melodious performance Fir kaahe feri re nazar and balamwa bairi ho gaye hamar in Raag Mishra gaara.
Meeta Pandit from Gwalior Gharana enchanted the audience with thumri telang Sajan bin tum kaahe ko naine lagae, moving over to Chandi Taal Chhai Ghata Ghanghor, Gaye re madhu saiyaan videsh gaye in Mishra piyu and lastly created an enchanting aura with hamari atariya.
The most awaited performance that made people flow into the musical world was of legendary maestro Girja Devi of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas. She made the audience dive into her music chords in Raag Khambawati’s Thumri, Mishra Pilu’s Dadra Laagi Bairiya main so gayi re nindiya and concluded her performance for the evening with Lord Shiva’s prose Tum bin Shankar Koi nahi mera. The artist emphasized on carrying forward the legacy of thumri singing by the young artists to liven up the tradition to an infinite era.