Mastered melodies

Pandit Pannalal Ghosh's name flows out in the same breath as flute and Hindustani classical music.

Legendary flautist Pandit Pannalal Ghosh will be remembered amidst the strains of flutes and the beats of tablas at this musical event

Pandit Pannalal Ghosh’s name flows out in the same breath as flute and Hindustani classical music. To mark his 50th death anniversary,Pune-based Amulya Jyoti Bansuri Vidyapeeth,(Ghosh was also known as Amal Jyoti Ghosh),is organising a musical evening on September 4 where Ghosh’s unique style will be celebrated. This Sangeet Samaroh will feature an orchestral performance by four flautists and two tabla players,classical and semi-classical songs by Pandit Vijay Bakshi and a jugalbandi between Pandit Keshav Ginde on the flute and Ustad Faiyaz Hussain on the violin. Pandit Ginde is the inspiration behind the Vidyapeeth and is a name that all flute doctorate seekers come to for guidance and approval. We have been organising tributes to Pandit Ghosh for 22 years now. This year is special as it is his 50th death anniversary. Next year will be his birth centenary and more events akin to this one will follow. The celebrations started from April itself, says Pandit Ginde,adding,Amulya Jyoti has always made an effort to give a platform to upcoming flautists,who may not get the exposure otherwise. Our aim is to propagate and educate the talent that lies dormant around the country.

The flute Vidyapeeth has proven to be a fertile playground for flute innovations,both in size and sound perfection. Azharuddin Shaikh,a product of Amulya Jyoti,will be a part of the orchestral performance. Shaikh is credited with inventing the Anahata flute,a nine-foot long monster that leaves the surroundings resonating with the lowest octaves. Shaikh says,I invented,rather innovated,this flute in 2008. The flute,though it looks big,is actually pretty light but needs to be handled delicately. I have tuned it in a way similar to the clarinet.

Lord Krishna’s flute had a unique power. It could produce sounds of the frequency that could only be felt within a person’s inner being. This sound had the power to reach and invigorate the Anahata Chakras of one’s body. The Anahata flute is capable of conjuring up a similar effect. In a performance that Shaikh and I had,some audience members confessed to having been moved to tears. They felt blissful after listening to this flute, says Pandit Ginde,who has also innovated the Keshav Venu flute,that has been mentioned and certified by the Limca Book of Records as well as the Guinness Book of World Records. This unique flute is capable of producing three and a half octaves of sound,unlike a normal flute which can produce only two or two and a half. I am also involved in an effort to set the playing form of the flute using all 10 fingers. This will be a first in flute-playing.

Amulya Jyoti has been making fervent efforts to keep the flute alive and mellifluous in public consciousness. Every year,the institute sponsors two scholarships in support of a tabla student and a flute disciple from the Lalit Kala Kendra,Pune University. The flute scholarship is awarded to a student who is adept at playing in the Pandit Pannalal Ghosh style,that is with the use of seven fingers. All our initiatives are meant to keep his memory alive and the beauty of the instrument shining strong, he says.

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