Mangalureans’ interest in Hindustani music continues to rise Premium

When a chance came for him to perform in the National Music Competition of the Sangeet Bharati Foundation recently (February 8 and 9), Pulleri grabbed the chance to present his skill before jurists comprising of vocalists Jayatheerth Mevundi, Poornima Bhat Kulkarni and Shashank Maktedar, sitarist Ustad Rafique Khan, Bansuri player Pandit Ronu Majumdar, and Tabla player Yashwant Vaishnav.

Twenty-two-year-old vocalist Siddharth Pulleri, a native of Kannur in Kerala, did his high school education in a school in Mangaluru. It was at this time that he developed an interest in Hindustani Music. He has since then been regularly attending concerts organised by Mangaluru’s Sangeet Bharati Foundation and other organisations in Mangaluru by taking off from his advanced music training in Kolkata under Kaushiki Chokroborty, Aritra Chokroborthy and Parthasarathy Desikal.

When a chance came for him to perform in the National Music Competition of the Sangeet Bharati Foundation recently (February 8 and 9), Pulleri grabbed the chance to present his skill before jurists comprising of vocalists Jayatheerth Mevundi, Poornima Bhat Kulkarni and Shashank Maktedar, sitarist Ustad Rafique Khan, Bansuri player Pandit Ronu Majumdar, and Tabla player Yashwant Vaishnav.

Ignoring the pain due to injury he sustained to his left leg, Pulleri gave a heart warming performance in the competition. After the competition, Pulleri was among the group of young music enthusiasts who attended master class conducted by Kulkarni, Maktedar and Khan. In this interactive session, the senior musicians gave a glimpse of their journey in music and gave music enthusiasts insight into the way to maintain aesthetic of a raga while presenting it in short duration.

Similarly, young musician Madhava Kalra had come to the event all the way from New Delhi. “I was sceptical hearing about the event at first. After going through list of senior musicians taking part in the event, I flew down to take part in this unique programme, which will definitely help in building new listeners for my music.”

Kalra was adjudged winner in instrumental section of competition. Vocalist Ishan Ghosh of Kolkata, who has done his masters in music from Banaras Hindu University, was declared winner in the vocal section. As many as 24 musicians from across the country took part in the competition.

Harmonium player and educationalist Narendra Nayak, an active member of the Foundation, said they went through short videos of over 100 participants to select 12 musicians each in the vocal and instrumental category, who took part in final round of the competition held as part of two day Yuva Mahotsav at renovated Don Bosco hall in Mangaluru on February 8 and 9. “While choosing the finalists we made sure to present the diverse classical music talent from Kolkata to Kerala,” Nayak said.

The Sangeet Bharati Foundation has been in the forefront in bringing artists from across the country to perform in Mangaluru since 1996.