To instill a keen interest and love for India’s cultural heritage among the young, Suman Sarawgi, Shubhika Singh, Arti Nayar Dudhoria and Sangeeta Dudhoria came together to form Taal Connect, a platform for accomplished and upcoming artistes of the country. While promoting an awareness and understanding of the deeper and subtler values of India’s rich cultural tapestry, including its invaluable classical arts, the mission of Taal Connect is to excite the young generation to become custodians of these arts.
Held on November 18 at Azimganj House rooftop on Camac Street, the sixth edition of Taal Connect’s annual classical concert featured an evening of vocal classical music by Padma Shri Aruna Sairam. Representing one of South India’s richest lineages of Carnatic classical music, she is acclaimed as one of its finest contemporary voices, besides being acknowledged as a composer, collaborator, mentor, humanitarian and speaker.
A recipient of the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award, her performance bore testimony to her expertise and dexterity over multilingual poetic traditions. Embracing multi-disciplinary elements like folk and Western operatic style in her renditions, her voice demonstrated a rare blend of power and resonance, combined with an unusual timbre that rendered it emotive, stirring and poignant. Snapshots from the concert hosted by Suman Sarawgi and Sangeeta Dudhoria.
Aruna Sairam not only enthralled the audience with her soulful melodies, but frequently communicated with them, explaining the inspiration for a particular composition or translating for them the meaning of the lyrics. “It is very inspiring to see Sangeetaji and Sumanji so passionate about organising such concerts for the Calcutta audience. Calcutta is known for its cultural vibrancy and the very thought of performing here charged me up. I am really honoured to have performed here today amongst such a wonderful audience, who have so much experience and knowledge in melody and music. It was an exhilarating experience for me and I thank the organisers for hosting me here today,” the vocal classical exponent said after her performance.
Organisers Suman Sarawgi and Sangeeta Dudhoria. “Arunajiis a very easygoing person. One call to her and she agreed to grace the stage at Taal Connect Chapter VI. The evening was magical. She enthralled the audience with her wide repertoire of musical skills. The Gregorian chant in Italian and Jaago tumi jaago invoking Maa Durga gave me goosebumps. Ending the evening’s performance with a Tillana was just superb,” said Dudhoria.