An experience to remember

Patki was inducted into music through parampara. His grandfather, Dr Pandurang Rao Patki was a famous vocalist of Hindustani classical mu...

Patki was inducted into music through parampara. His grandfather, Dr Pandurang Rao Patki was a famous vocalist of Hindustani classical music, in whose honour the Patki family has been organising an annual music festival in Gulburga for the last 17 years. This led to his interaction with famous singers and inspired him to devote his life to achieving proficiency in classical music. Patki received his initial training with Rahalkar at Shahabad and later with Saroj Kolharkar at Gulburga. He has trained in Mumbai under Chandrashekhar Swamy, one of the earliest disciples of Pandit Jasraj.

The 33-year-old Patki can transform almost anyone into a music lover. According to him, music is the only answer to the complexities of modern life. By far one of the most popular music teachers in the city, many of his students swear that they will never give up learning for the rest of their lives! 8220;When I teach one person, I actually introduce the entire family to the fascinating world of classical music,8221; says Patki. His list of students is endless, including 5-year-olds whose mothers are also students, doctors, industrialists, bhajan singers, home-makers, professors and teachers, executives, fashion designers, journalists, foreigners and socialites. And to top it all, a large chunk of them receive first class and distinction certificates from the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya every year, with a couple of them reaching 90 last year 8211; no mean feat indeed.

The show was inaugurated by K K Taparia, senior joint president, Rajashree Cement Ltd, after which the programme commenced with the Ganapati and Saraswati vandanas rendered by the most junior of his students in perfect unison. Then the guru started with one of his personal favourites, raag bihag, Kaise sukh son, neend na aaye. He built up the mood of the raag with the bada khyaal in vilambit taal ektaal, and by the time he transferred into the choto khayal Lat uljhi surajhaja balam, haatan mehendi lagi he had the audience completely in tune with him. After that he sang a chhota khayal in Raag Miya Malhar keeping in view the rainy season. The well-known lyrics Bole re papihara, ab ghan garaje were appealing and the silence through the entire performance was followed by thunderous applause.

Next came a tabla solo by Shrikant Devipur, the young accompanist who learns from none other than Ustad Allah Rakha. Shrikant entertained the audience with his demonstration of Peshkar, Kaida, and Chakradhar in taal trital.

The bhajan session saw the entire audience singing along with Patki in devotional fervour. Patki, who can sing bhajans in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada and Sanskrit regaled the audience with his Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari. The concert came to an end with his effortless rendering of the Bhairavi bhajan Hai savan rang rachi.

The show, which was attended by 150-odd people, was a huge success. All in all, a fitting tribute to the much-loved guru by his shisya who thought of this novel way of celebrating guru purnima.The singer, who was his usual humble self with bowed head and folded hands, had just one thing to say at the end of the show: 8220;I want to disprove the common myth that one can either be a famous classical singer or a good teacher, but not both.8221;