Bismillah repays ‘debt’ to Kolkata

Jugalbandis continue to make news. Eight days after one ended on a sour note with a public spat between shehnai legend Ustad Bismillah Khan and sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, another music great, sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, joined in yesterday and criticised the sarod player after a jugalbandi with Bismillah.

While the first jugalbandi ended abruptly after Bismillah complained about a ‘‘faulty’’ microphone, yesterday’s concert left the audience spellbound. The jugalbandi was organised by the Society for Awareness Building and Intervention (Sabai), an NGO that works for street and slum children.

‘‘Hamara kaam sirf bajana hai, usmein asar dalna upar waley ke hath hai (our job is just to play, to make it effective is in God’s hand),’’ the octogenarian shehnai player said halfway through the concert.

He said, ‘‘mere upar Kalkatta walon ka karz tha jo maine utar diya (I was indebted to Kolkatans which I have paid back)’’.