At a time when interest in Indian classical music is thought to be at an all time low, a just concluded three-day three-city concert reaffirmed the commitment of leading artistes in restoring this ages-old practise.In what was more of a surprise, one of India's finest Sitar players Purbayan Chatterjee, who performed at the just concluded HCL Concerts, said that more than 60 to 70 per cent of those attending his biggest shows -- all centred around classical music -- belong to the younger generation. "They are much more interested and involved in the Indian classical music and HCL is doing an amazing job by organising musical festivals like these so that we can connect with people even more," Chatterjee told IANS. On the final day of the HCL Concerts, which headlined by the name of "True To Our Roots," a plethora of breathtaking music was on offer as leading musicians shared the stage to create a memorable experience for the visitors. The musicians, apart from Purbayan Chatterjee (sitar), included Kaushiki Chakraborty (vocals), Rakesh Chaurasia (flute), Taufiq Qureshi (percussion), Satyajit Talwalkar (tabla) and Sudhanshu Gharpure (harmonium/keyboards).
The evening kicked-off with a tribute to late singer Kishori Amonkar, who passed away on April 3, with Kaushiki Chakraborty performing "Maharo Pranaam". This enchanting performance mesmerised the visitors and set the stage for the performances that followed. The audience couldn't stop themselves from tapping their feet to the fusion compositions of "Pace of Mind" and "Children in the Rain". The concert followed the basic sequence of one classical work being followed by a fusion, which in the words of flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, signified the "ups and downs of life". On the sidelines of the concert, which was attended by about three hundred visitors, an HCL employee expressed his joy at being a part of a meaningful gathering, saying such musical nights help in breaking the monotony of our life. What made the evening truly memorable was the fact that musicians themselves seemed to be enjoying as much as the audience. Launched in 1998 to reinvigorate the classical music and rare art forms, HCL Concerts concluded on Sunday.