A melodic game of gamak and meend

Santanu Bandyopadhyay gives a mellifluous performance. He is accompanied by Dr. Fakir Sumon on the tanpura.

The Daily Star organised a solo classical music soiree at its AS Mahmud Seminar Hall on December 21. Pandit Santanu Bandyopadhyay was the featured vocalist who set off the soiree with a khayal set on a romantic raga Madhuvanti. Pt. Bandyopadhyay's vilambit bandish “Eri Mero Peyaro” and drut bandish “Manat Nahi Rasia” performances were embellished with soothing melody, speedy akar and sargam taan, pukar-ang murki, meendkhand, tehai and a harmonious game of gamak and meend. The maestro showcased unpredictable movements of melody comprising three octaves.    

Eminent music exponent and editor of Star Arts and Entertainment Sadya Afreen Mallick delivered the welcome address. She called upon the editor and publisher of the newspaper Mahfuz Anam to greet Pandit Santanau Bandyopadhyay and other accompanying artistes with bouquets. Later, the editor also addressed the gathering.

Pt. Bandyopadhyay presented another khayal based on raga Jog. He also wove the bandish “Sajan Morey Ghar Aayo” with mellifluous bahelwa and beautiful murki. Pt. Bandyopadhyay ended up with a tarana performance set on another romantic raga Behag.

 Kirity Bhusan Adhikary on tabla, Krishna Kanta Acharjee on harmonium and Dr. Fakir Sumon on tanpura accompanied the maestro.

Later, an interactive Q & A session followed where noted Nazrul singers --Sadya Afreen Mallick, Shelu Barua and Maidul Islam took part and the vocalist corroborated some issues, including vocal science.        

Pandit Santanu Bandyopadhyay is the sixth generation artiste of the legendary Vishnupur Gharana, the lone gharana of the subcontinent belonging to Bengal. He is the son of the illustrious musician Pandit Amiya Ranjan Bandhyopadhyay who is one of the scions of the gharana. One of the most authentic exponents of khayal, Pandit Bandyopadhyay follows a distinctive rendition style of his own.