It has been almost a decade since Thane-based classical and Baul musician Uttara Chousalkar final carried out in Hyderabad. Understandably, she is elated to return for 2 live shows within the metropolis. Organised by Tatvaa Arts, the programmes — Swar Sandhya and a morning live performance as a part of the Gayan Seva Series on September 20 and 21 — may even function Rahul Deshpande (harmonium) and Thakur Harjeet Singh (tabla). Her go to is made extra particular as she marks her fifty fifth birthday amongst Hyderabad’s classical music connoisseurs.
Venue’s function
Uttara throughout a Baul efficiency
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Special Arrangement
The 90-minute recitals stay rooted within the classical custom. On September 20, she’s going to current a mix of classical and gentle classical compositions resembling bhajans, thumrisand dadras. The following morning, at Samsthan Shri Bhatji Bapu Maharaj, her efficiency will spotlight the devotional aspect of classical music. “The venue often guides what an artiste performs,” she explains. “We are here to make the audience happy, not to display our scholarship. Ranjayate iti raga — a Sanskrit phrase meaning ‘that which colours the mind at the deepest level is a raga’. If I don’t move the listener, what’s the point?”
Interest in classical music
classical treat
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The viewers at her live shows in India and overseas has modified notably. “There is a growing interest among the younger generation. Twenty years ago, most of my audience comprised middle-aged or senior listeners. Now, people from varied age groups attend. I even get responses to my posts on Instagram. The young ask if my music is available online. When they discover a concert, they listen, and if they find the artiste interesting, they come in person.”
In her almost four-decade profession in classical music, Uttara has by no means compromised by singing movie songs to join with youthful audiences. Instead, she makes use of examples that hyperlink cinema and classical music throughout her lecture-demonstrations. These mix sensible insights with listening workout routines — tracing how outdated Hindi movie songs from the black-and-white period have been based mostly on particular ragas, and providing contemporary methods to perceive them.
As a trainer, she brings the identical accessibility to her college students. “Classical compositions are traditional and often explore themes such as Hari Bhakti, which a child may not grasp. But if we speak of sparrows, birds or animals, the child engages instantly.” Along with writing kids’s verse, she additionally composes music for Hindi poems. . For occasion, she set the poem Chidiya kehti kut kut kut, dedo mujhko do biskut, bhookhi hoon mein khaongi, kha pi kar ud jaongi in Raag Bhairav. “When I sing this poem alongside a classical composition in the same raga, the child relates to the words and sounds. Later, when they hear another piece in Raag Bhairav, they say, ‘It sounded like Chidiya kehti…’.”
Tryst with Baul
During a Baul efficiency
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Special Arrangement
Uttara has additionally carved a distinct segment as the primary particular person from Maharashtra to be taught baul music. She started coaching within the custom at 40 and has been performing for 15 years now. “It’s a complete performance where I am the musician, singer and storyteller—using multiple instruments while singing and dancing at the same time,” she explains.
Initially, it took her a while to transition between two very totally different genres — classical and baul. But now, she says with a smile, all it takes is strapping on the devices and anklets, and she will be able to step into the brand new function in a jiffy.
Uttara Chousalkar’s live shows – Swar Sanghya and Morning Raga – Gayan Seva Series at Badruka College of Music and Dance and Samsthan Shri Bhatji Bapu Maharaj on September 21 and 22 at 6 30 pm and 7 am; Entry free
