The cultural Life in Pune is very rich. Long back, before I decided to settle in Pune post my retirement, I had heard and known that the environment and the interest of Punaites is very conducive to all the cultural activities. Probably these factors must also be working as stimulants for the artists from all performing arts. I have been a Mumbaite and thought that Mumbai & Kolkata are the second homes for all performing arts, but Pune does not lag far behind and probably is ahead, more so because distances is not a big issue in Pune.
The art galleries, the Natya Gruhs, the centers for musical programs, are all within the reach of anyone interested in such activities. Besides, the transport is not very bad to ply to and fro from your residences.
I heard Kaushiki Chakravarti at Pimpri Chinchwad in a Diwali Sakal, around 7 kms from my residence at Aundh, and then I could attend her program again twice in as many weeks at Kothrud, again about 10 kms from my house. Similarly I attended the Savai Gandharva the third time at Raman Bag School, since my settlement here three years back , again about 7 kms from my house and this time I could attend another musical program there itself .
The three days musical nights were a treat to the connoisseurs. Pandit Atul Upadhye and Pandit Majumdar, Pandit Ajay Chakravarti, Pandit Rahul Sharma, Begum Parvin Sultana, Sushri Malini Rajurkar and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia simply enthralled the audience.
A few things in such gatherings which do not appeal me are:
That, that the organizers do not allow private video recordings. I fail to understand this. Do they all think that it would affect their business of sales of video cassettes? Even if its’ so, by what percentage? In fact if at all, such things will only promote the classical base of music, which is decaying very fast.
That, No channel promotes it, except perhaps for DD Bharati. This music gets very few sponsors and the music lovers are also less compared to the lovers of POP or any such jazzy music.
I am sure that if Shans, Sonus and the Shreyas can attract large gatherings, these artists can too. I also hope that some day a program will have artists from both the genres of music to enable the public to understand and realize that the Classical form is NO LESS enthralling. its' all about marketing, like we see in cricket and other sports.
That a little basic understanding of Ragas rendered is not given before commencement of the performance. If that is done, may be more and more people would get attracted towards this form of music.
I hope, the organizers come to know about it, realize it and make amends at the earliest.
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