Performance of pristine melodies

The artiste (2-L) performs at the event.

The Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct, a centre for the promotion of traditional arts opened to the public on May 23 with a display of selected artworks by master painter SM Sultan -- titled “Poradrishti” (“Second Sight”), hosted its third cultural event, on June 20.
Noted vocalist Khairul Anam Shakil performed in a solo classical soiree at the Precinct, as part of the series of programmes, focused on exhibit. The performance was held in the gallery amidst the evocative ambience of   paintings and drawings of SM Sultan.
Khairul Anam Shakil started off his rendition with a kheyal performance set on a romantic raga Behag. The vilambit bandish “Kaise Sukh Sou” performance was on ektaal. Shakil skillfully gripped the apt melody in mandra saptak and adorned his entire performance with ragdari. The artiste weaved a melodic garland covering notes of three octaves. His drut bandish “Alire Albeli” performance proceeded like boltan and was on teentaal.
Shakil's performance had many remarkable features including druut sargam taan, outstanding aakar taan, meend, fascinating murki, khatka and several marvelous pukar. Several tehai were also much-appreciated by the audience. Iftekhar Alam Prodhan produced a tabla lahora and Bizon Chandra Mistry on harmonium wove a musical whirlpool during the performance. Later, set on Raga Rageshree, the artiste presented two bandish -- “Beguni Ko Gun Di Jo” (on teentaal) and “Chyan Dhund Jogi Chyan Nehi Paye” (on ektaal). Rukhsana Karim Kanon on tanpura accompanied the artiste.
Shakil, a noted Nazrul Sangeet artiste of the country, has been performing kheyal at prestigious classical music festivals. Initially, he received talim from Ustad Narayan Chandra Basak for five years. Later, he trained under renowned guru Ustad Mohammad Sagiruddin Khan for 8 years.  
At the opening of the soiree, DG of Bengal Foundation Luva Nahid Choudhury spoke on SM Sultan's artistic creations along with a rundown of the forthcoming programmes to be organised by the Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct: Noted litterateur-poet Syed Shamsul Haq will recite modern poetry at 6pm on June 24. A conversation by three well known theorists titled “Prakriti and Purusha”, representing women and men in Sultan's work, will be held at 3:30pm on July 1. A screening of a video-interview with filmmaker Tareque Masud, on the making of “Adam Surat” and his relationship with SM Sultan (2011) will be held at 3:30pm on July 12. Catherine Masud will introduce the film to the audience.