Spicmacay@UCI's next event - Morning Raags in April by Pt Arun Dravid
Sridevi M
Pandit Arun Dravid is an exponent of Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. His early training was under the tutelage of late Ustad Abdul Majid Khan Saheb, himself a disciple of late Ustad Alladiya Khan, and life-time Sarangi accompanist to late Smt. Kesarbai Kerkar. His advanced training was from Ganasaraswati Smt. Kishori Amonkar, illustrious daughter of late Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar. He also received occasional guidance from late Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar.
The Jaipur Gharana specializes in blending the tonal and rhythmic emphasis, achieving a golden mean between contemporary gharanas like Kirana (Tonal emphasis) and Agra gharana (Rhythmic emphasis). Old masters like Mogubai Kurdikar, Kesarbai Kerkar, Mallikarjun Mansoor, Nivruttibuva Sarnaik enchanted audiences with somewhat puritanical presentations of the Jaipur gayaki. Kishori Amonkar gave the Jaipur gayaki a somewhat new direction, emphasizing the emotional content (Bhava or Rasa), and consequently de-emphasizing the structural content of the Jaipur gayaki.
Arunji is now an accomplished vocalist of the Jaipur Gharana. He has performed in concerts at many prestigious music conferences in India, notably, Balkrishnabuva Sangeet Sadhana Mandal - Ichalkaranji, Deval Club - Kolhapur, Alladiya Khan Samaroh - Dharwad, Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, Brahman Sabha, Kalabharati (Karnatak Sangh), Bade Ghulam Ali Yadgar Sabha, Swar-Mauli, Alladiya Khan Death Anniversary Conference, Kalyan Gayan Samaj, etc. (all in Mumbai), and Naad, Bharat Gayan Samaj, Sur-Sadhana, Swarmayee Gurukul, Sahyadri Swarmanch, Lalit Kala Kendra, Confluence, Mirashibuva Death Anniversary, (all in Pune). Arunji has presented over 130 concerts in India, USA and UK, including over 50 concerts in USA.
Arunji has attempted to cultivate a balanced version of the “Bhava-dominant” style of Smt. Kishori Amonkar and the structural beauty that was the characteristic of the styles of early Masters of Jaipur gharana. The structural purity of the Jaipur gharana is characterized by open and effortless voice application, tandem relationship between the taal and the sur, rhythmically intricate and yet pleasing bol-taans and finally, complex but architecturally pleasing taan patterns.
Arunji also sings with equal charm light-classical varieties such as Thumris and Marathi stage songs (Natya-Sangeet).
Along with the above, he has also had an illustrious academic career with a President’s Gold Medal from IIT Bombay and a Ph.D in chemical engineering from MIT. He is currently the Chairman Emeritus at Jacobs Engineering India.
Shri Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee
Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee, among the most accomplished and leading tabla players today, began his initial training under Dhiranjan Chakraborty at the tender age of seven. Then the tabla legends Late Ustad Alla Rakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain accepted him as a disciple and he has learnt under their tutelage since.
Blessed with incredible ability of percussion and innate creativity, Prithwi has progressed to become a tabla player of very high order. Today, he is one of the most sought after and accomplished Tabla players of his generation.
Prithwi has given solo performances at several prestigious concerts and traveled extensively all over India and abroad accompanying many eminent artists, including Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Shahid Pavez , Kala Ramnath, Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Laxmi Shankar ,Rahul Sharma and many more.
With his Guru’s blessings and his uncompromising dedication and passion for Indian Classical Music and percussions, Prithwi is ably carrying forward the rich Punjab tradition and legacy of his Gurus in India, USA, etc.
Prithwi is currently the faculty at the Pt Jasraj School of Music, Atlanta Chapter. Through his teachings and performances in the USA and globally, he is expanding horizons of music and contributing proficiently to the cultural heritage and environment in the USA.