Sahitya Kala Parishad presents a three-day Thumri festival

Sahitya Kala Parishad presents a three-day Thumri Festival, dedicated to love, nature and the divine, at Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi from August 26-28, 2011, at 6.30 pm daily. Entry is free. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) August 21, 2011 - The performing artists are Suranjana and Shubra Guha (Day 1), Anjana Nath and Purnima Chaudhuri (Day 2), Kakali Mukherjee and Girija Devi (Day 3).

One cannot speak of Thumri without talking about Vidushi Girija Devi. The reigning queen of thumri, Girija Devi (born 1929) is an Indian classical singer of the Benaras gharana. She performs classical and light classical music and has helped elevate the profile of thumri. Girija Devi was born in Varanasi, India in 1929. Her father played the harmonium and taught music, and had her take lessons in singing khayal and tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra starting at the age of five.

Girija Devi sings in the Benaras gharana and performs the purabi ang thumri style typical of the tradition, whose status she helped elevate. Her repertoire includes the semi-classical genres kajri, chaiti and holi and she sings khayal, Indian folk music and tappa. She combines her classical training with the regional characteristics of the songs of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 1989, received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2010.

Another name to watch out for is Suranjana Bose who despite her brilliant academic background,has chosen to devote herself to classical music with an equally remarkable musical career. An 'A' grade artist of All India Radio and TV, she has had the privilege of being disciple of Pandit Prasun Banerjee and Meera Banerjee of Patiala Gharana and the doyen of thumri, Dr. Girija Devi of Benaras Gharana. Suranjana nurtures young talent through her school Sur-o-Rekha.

Subhra Guha is an exponent of the Agra Gharana. Though belonging to the Agra Gharana, which is synonymous with the prowess and masculinity of Aftab-e Mousiqui Ustad Faiyaz Khan, what makes Guha's rendition style uniquely different is her mature juxtaposition of her feminine charm with masculine grandeur that's inherent in the Gharana. Guha's voice effortlessly soars from one octave to the next mesmerizing her aficionados across the globe.

The musical heritage initiated by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahib has meandered through the ages and is still survived by a quite a few young promising talents. The direct disciple of Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty - Anjana Nath, is unambiguously identified as one of them. Born in 1968, Anjana started singing from her early childhood and her first formal teacher was Smt. Meera Banerjee, who is regarded as one of the frontlines among the disciples of Ustad bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

A top grade artiste of Akashvani and Doordarshan, Purnima Chaudhuri is a Sangeet Pravin from Prayag Sangeet Samity, Allahabad. She has participated in many prestigious music conferences & concerts of major cities in India. She has rendered her voice in the film 'Meeting a Mile Stone' on Ustad Bismilla Khan, produced by N.F.D.C. & Bengali films like 'Chokher Bali' and 'Harbert'. Chaudhuri is also the founder of 'Swarganga' music circle.

Kakali Mukherjee is an emerging star in the world of Thumri with a passion for
innovation in music. A regular artist on AIR and Doordarshan, she also teaches music at the Prerona School in Siliguri. Having studied music extensively in Chandigarh, Lucknow and Allahabad, she is also recipient of several awards given by the Dover Lane Music Conference, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Youth Service, AIR (Nazrul Geeti) and Government of India (National Scholarship),

Programme Schedule:

26 August 2011, 6.30 p.m.

Suranjana Bose

Shubra Guha

27 August 2011, 6.30 p.m.

Anjana Nath

Purnima Chaudhuri

28 August 2011, 6.30 p.m.

Kakali Mukherjee

Girija Devi

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