MALHAR BY THE SEA FESTIVAL IN GOA
- Guru Vijay Shankar
- 13 hours ago
- 6 min read
Show House presented the three days unique music festival with the title “One India Many Voices” in order to propagate the message of unity in diversity, through classical, semi classical and light music, featuring eminent performers like Ustad Shujaat Khan for Sitar recital, Dhrupad by Ustad Wasfuddin Dagar, Bhajans by Bhajan Samrat – Pt Anup Jalota, Carnatic vocal by Raga Sisters –Ranjani and Gayatri, Gazal and Geet by Priyanka Barve. Khayal and Thumri by Ronkini Gupta, Sufi Qawwali by Tasawwar ensemble led by Shivam Bhardwaj, “Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon”- musical theatre by Danish Hussain, A Tribute to the Beatles by Wanted Yesterday led by Subash kamath and Fado Unplugged by Nadia Rebello. The third edition of this exciting three days music festival was held at Taj Exotica Resort in Goa from July 24 to 26 th July, 2026.
Ustad Shujaat Khan is one of the greatest classical musician of his generation, he literally makes the Sitar sing, hence closest to the human voice. He is the disciple and son of the veteran Ustad Vilayat Khan, who was the pioneer of the ‘gayaki ang’. His dexterity and his commend over the stringed instrument is impeccable. Ustad recounted that he had played several concerts with the legendary singer Asha Bhonsle in India and overseas. While at the pinnacle of his performance, Ustad was disturbed when he noticed a spectator sitting in the front row talking on the mobile, immediately he remarked “Hamara yaha pasina choot raha hai aur aap phone me lage ho”(We are perspiring on the stage and you are talking on the phone), after the musical interlude was over, he said this is the best time to make a call, ‘Karo Na’, the audience was amused. After creating a mesmerising impact on the audience, almost at the end of his recital, the Raga Sisters arrived, again Ustad ji remarked “Aap Log abhi aa rahe ho”(You are coming now?). Ustad was accompanied on the mridangam by Vijay Natesan and Tabla by Suhel. I was surprised to see the usage of mridangam for a Hindustani music concert but it added to the percussion melody of the performance.
Dhrupad is the oldest form of Hindustani music, that dates back to the days of Swami Haridas in the 16th century, whose disciple was the famous Tansen. Padmashri Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar has enthralled audiences with his unique and unusual style of Dhrupad gayaki. He has performed for UNESCO in Paris and United Nations in New York He demonstrated that as to how each line of the lyrics can be interpreted differently with varied tonal modifications, creating a varied impact on the listener. He commenced with ‘Ayi Hay Gata’, also sang “Jane Na De, Jane De Mohe” creating a lasting impression on the rapt audience. The musical range of Ustad is amazing, from simple notes to travelling through various octaves of music with effortless ease and mastery.. Mohan Shyam Sharma accompanied him on the Pakhawaj.
The Raga Sisters are sought after Carnatic music vocalists of the country, the duo Ranjani and Gayatri has performed for several prestigious concerts, including at the famous Royal Albert Hall in London too. Besides the traditional and intense Ananda Amruta Varshani raag, they regaled the audience with Marathi abhangs like Tukaram’s “Bhoot Mate Mote, Pandaricha Bhoot Mote” signifying that the Lord is like a ghost, once you visit the temple, you will be dissolved completely, hence you may not return home. Pertaining to romantic monsoon, they duo sang with amazing dexterity “Barse Badariya Sawan Ki, Man Bhaavan Ki”. They were accompanied by Sai Giridhar on Mridangam and Krishna on Ghatam.
Padmashri Anup Jalota, known as Bhajan Samrat, acknowledged for his soothing divine voice that transcends all barriers and regions, creating a serene holistic atmosphere wherever he performed. He arrived by the early morning flight to regale the spectators on Saturday morning, that created a lasting impression on the listeners. He was accompanied by playback singer Shweta Pandit. The first he rendered was the popular number of saint poetess Meera “Yeasi Lagi Lagan Meera Ho Gayi Magan”, making a fine start, followed with “Achudam Kesavam, Krishna Damodaram, Rama Narayanam, Janaki Vallabham”. Panditji has a great sense of humour and cracks jokes quite often,making the atmosphere lighter with entertainment. Another iconic number rendered was “Itni Shakti Hame De Na Data, Man Ka Vishwas Kamjoor Ho Na”(O Lord please do not give us so much strength that we might become fickle minded or weak) Shweta Pandit rendered the popular solo number “Yashomati Maiya Bole Nandlala” pertaining to the complaints of child Krishna. The iconic number of V Shantaram’s movie “Do Ankhen, Barah Haat” – “Ye Maalik Tere Bande Hum, Aisse Ho Hamare Karam”, the popular Gazal of Jagjit Singh “Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho, Kya Gum Hay Jo Chupa Rahe Ho”(What is the sadness that u are hiding with your smile), “Hoto Se ChuLo Tum, Mera Geet Amar Kar Do”(Make my song immortal with your kiss) and the finale number was “Damadam Mast Kalandar”. He was supported with fine set of musicians, Mahesh Rao on the violin, Himanshu on Guitar, Devendra on Tabla and the talented keyboard musician.
Hindustani music vocalist Ronkini Gupta from Kolkata impressed the spectators with her commendable renderings. She commenced with raag megh – ‘Koyaliya Gaye”followed with the exciting number “Bunde Bunde Barse”(Little drops of rain) taking the audience to higher level of musical melody , reverberating the entire atmosphere with her musical intensity. Ronkini was ably assisted on the Tabla by Asish Ragwani and Harmonium by Deepak Marathe. Ronkini has also sung for the renowned A.R.Rahman in varied projects
Another powerful singer of the festival was Priyanka Barve, she consistently regaled the listeners with various Gazals and Geets from Indian cinema which are acclaimed iconic numbers of Lata Mangeshkar and Mehdi Hasan. “Mohabbat Karne wale Kam Na Honge, Teri Mehfil May Lekin Hum Na Honge”(There may be many who may fall in love with you but I may not be there). The famous Lata number with music by the veteran Madan Mohan “Agar Mujse Mohhabatt Hay Toh Apna Gum De Do”(If you are in love with me then give me your sadness) another immensely popular number of Lata ‘Lag Ja Gale Se, Phir Yeh Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho”(Do embrace me as I do not know whether we can meet again for another beautiful night). The Pahadi film sangeet “Hamari Atariya Sawariya”, ‘Yeh Dil Tum Bin Kahi Lagta Nahi Hum Kya kare (What can I do without you) The number from Mughal-e- azam ‘Mohe Panghat Pe nandlal Ched Gayo”picturised on Madhubala and another hit number of Ashaji ‘Salona Sa Sajan Hay”. Incidentally Priyanka plays the role of Anarkali in the theatre extravaganza of Feroz Khan- “Mughal-e-azam”. Priyanka created a lasting impression with her melodious renderings.
One of the most unusual and engrossing presentations of the festival was the theatre production ‘Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon’ by Danish Hussain and his talented team of actors and singers, projecting the life of veteran lyricist Shahir Ludhiyanavi, through the medium of narration,story telling, songs and musical renderings, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, as it was “nostalgia down memory lane” portraying as to how Shahir Ludhiyanavi struggled to establish himself as one of the best lyricists of Indian cinema. When Shahir started off the name of the lyricist was not known to anyone as their names were not enlisted anywhere but Shahir fought for his rights to the extent that along with the mention of the singer, the name of the lyricist started being mentioned everywhere, furthermore it is interesting to note here that Shahir wrote the lyrics first, the music was composed later and not the other way around.’Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon”, “Thandi Sawaye,Lehraye”,”Tasveer se Bigdi”, the iconic number picturised on Johny Walkar “Jab Sar Chakra Jaye”, “Allah Tero Naam”,”The hit number from Gurudutt’s “Pyaasa”- “Ye Duniya Bhi Mill Jaya Toh Kya Hai?” and several others that formed an integral part of Hindi cinema. The talented team of artists were Geetika Srender, Kumar Singh, Srijonee Bhattacharya,Shantanu Nandan,Herlekar,Siddharth,Nirtyanada padiyar,Kaustabh Shukla,Sohel Shaikh, Shantanu Surendra, Salvi,Devendra Singh,Kishwah,Devendra Singh,Prashat Sharma, Varun Gupta, Ramesh Laxman Dalvi and producer Amita Talwar.
Besides the realistic Rain Dogs exhibition by Rohit Chawla, the proceeds of the festival will be donated to Angels for Animals, an NGO for the welfare and caring of animals.
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