normalnormalnormalThe three-day 47th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan, organised by the Indian National Theatre in collaboration with the Durga Das Foundation, commenced at the auditorium of Strawberry Fields High School, Sector 26. On the inaugural evening, Ramana Balachandran enthralled listeners with a spellbinding Veena recital in the Carnatic tradition, filling the air with melodious strains. On the other side, Pandit Ram Kumar Mishra, representing North Indian percussion, presented a percussion ensemble on the tabla along with Carnatic instrumentalists, earning immense appreciation from the audience. In this unique evening of classical music, the listeners experienced a mesmerizing confluence of rhythms and melodies.Before the performances, Anil Nehru, President of the Indian National Theatre, and Vinita Gupta, Honorary Secretary, welcomed the gathering of music lovers. The special guests at the Sammelan, Swami Bhitiharananda Ji (Ramakrishna Mission, Chandigarh Ashram) and Swami Vinirmuktananda Ji Maharaj (Srinagar Ashram), felicitated the artists.The enchanting evening commenced with Ramana Balachandran’s soulful Veena recital in the Carnatic tradition, weaving magic through every note. He began with “Brova Bharama” in Raga Bahudari, Adi Talam, a timeless composition of Saint Thyagaraja. This was followed by an inspiring Ragam-Talam-Pallavi (RTP) in Raga Abhogi, an original creation that reflected his artistry and improvisational brilliance. The recital further embraced the emotive “Tejonidhi Lohagol”, a composition by Purushottam Darvhekar, beautifully tuned by Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki. The performance concluded on a deeply spiritual note with “Nam Japan”, a Nirgun Bhajan in Raag Patdeep, leaving the audience immersed in serenity and devotion.He was accompanied by Kuchibhotla Sai Giridhar on Mridangam, Chandrashekhar Sharma on Ghatam, and G. Guru Prasanna on Kanjira, all of whom provided impeccable support.Ramana Balachandran is regarded as a prodigious Veena maestro, celebrated not only in India but also across the globe. His music is rooted in raga-centric Carnatic tradition, seamlessly blending improvisation and natural ease. His concerts are distinguished for the intricacies of Ragam–Tanam–Pallavi. Proficient in both vocal and instrumental artistry, he offers audiences the rare “Voco-Veena” experience, where the expressiveness of voice and the depth of Veena merge beautifully. At a young age, he has earned recognition as one of the leading Veena exponents. Remarkably, at just 16 years of age, he cleared the highly challenging audition of All India Radio and was directly graded as an ‘A’ artist – a distinction conferred upon only a handful of musicians in the broadcaster’s 75-year history.After his recital, the evening turned into a grand celebration of rhythm. Kuchibhotla Sai Giridhar (Mridangam), Chandrashekhar Sharma (Ghatam), and G. Guru Prasanna (Kanjira) enthralled the audience with their vibrant rhythmic play. Pandit Ramkumar Mishra’s tabla created mesmerizing patterns, while Vinay Mishra’s harmonium accompaniment added a melodious texture, enriching the ensemble even further.When all the artistes performed together, the atmosphere resembled the flow of a musical river. The interplay of Mridangam, Ghatam, and Kanjira, the resonant depth of Tabla, and the soothing strains of the Harmonium gave listeners a profound taste of India’s classical music heritage. The audience responded with thunderous applause, declaring the performance one to be cherished for years to come.In her concluding remarks, Vinita Gupta stated, “This program is not merely a musical recital, but a celebration of the diversity and infinite beauty of Indian classical music.”normalnormalThe post Grand Inauguration of the 47th Annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan appeared first on Chandigarh City News.