Ravi Shankar: A Profile By MOHAN NADKARNI The Illustrated Weekly of India, September 25, 1955 RAVI SHANKAR, the famed sitar-player, ranks among the great musicians of today who have devoted their lives to the revival and enrichment of our traditional music with fresh inspiration. Scion of an aristocratic Bengali Brahmin family, 35-years-old Ravi Shankar is the youngest brother of the world-famous dancer, Uday Shankar....
D V Paluskar – a tribute D.V. Paluskar participated in his first Music Conference when he was only 14. MOHAN D. NADKARNI The Illustrated Weekly of India, November 27, 1955 The sudden death, at 34, of Dattatraya Vishnu Paluskar is truly a national loss, coming as it did at a time when the older generation of giants in music is gradually dying out. Paluskar...
Sublime Genius – Pannalal Ghosh His music was sublime. His commitment to his art, total. Pannalal Ghosh was the finest flautist in Hindustani music. A visionary who evolved a new style of playing the instrument and imparted a classical cachet to it as well. MOHAN NADKARNI profiles the maestro whose dazzling artistry opened new horizons before his premature death 27 years ago. The Illustrated Weekly...
Indian Odyssey – Ken Zuckerman In the West, which has more than its fair share of Indian classical music aficionados, there are also a few dedicated practitioners of the art Noteworthy among them being Ken Zuckerman, the American-born disciple of sarod player Ali Akbar Khan. How did the westerner come to develop an interest in Indian sangeet? And what kind of response does he...
Omkarnath Thakur was one of the most colourful musicians to have graced the concert arena. A controversial genius, his musical enterprise often generated both apprehension and awe. MOHAN NADKARNI on the life and times of the great musicians. The Illustrated Weekly of India, February 22, 1987 What was Pandir Omkarnath Thakur? Was he a purist? Or a romanticist? Or an iconoclast? Questions such as these...
The Chantuses – Girija Devi Girija Devi is the doyenne of the Benaras gharana. The classical singer remains the last great artiste from the holy city still active on the performing platform. A tribute to the sensitive chanteuse, who turns sixty this week. Girija Devi’s commitment to music had made her vocal in its cause when the need arises. During a recent international symposium...