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Journalism of Courage
There is a 1989 album by Pt Debu Chaudhuri and tabla maestro Shafaat Ahmed Khan, which is still remembered for its captivating notes of raag Desh played on a sitar with 17 frets (most musicians play with 19-25).
Chaudhuri had touched the raga from the Malhar family with tenderness and defined its contours with that trademark dulcet delivery. He will invoke the same Desh and in turn some rain, on the opening day of the two-day Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan Festival on June 2, one of the few summer festivals in the Capital. “Let’s see if we succeed in invoking the rain gods. We might, since this festival is completely devoted to my guru,” says Chaudhuri, who began learning from Khan at an early age.
He will be accompanied by ace percussionist Ustad Akram Khan for his performance. The festival, which is a celebration of Khan’s 105th birth anniversary, will also feature his son Prateek Chaudhuri, who will open the second day of the festival with a sitar performance, which will be followed by a jugalbandi by santoor virtuoso Bhajan Rustom Sopori and his son Abhay. This year, the festival is shorter and a little lackluster, with not many artistes participating in it. “This is largely because of paucity of funds. But since this festival belongs to the memory of my guru, I’m doing this with whatever funds I could generate,” said Chaudhuri.
The festival will be held at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre from June 2-3, 7 pm onwards. Entry is free. Contact 24682005
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