Politicians should listen to the flute, says Chaurasia

Pune: Renowned flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia on Wednesday said that flute should be played in every household as it creates a positive ambience. “Our ministers and politicians should especially listen to the flute as its natural melody creates harmony among people,” he added.

Chaurasia was speaking at an interactive session with renowned vocalist Amarendra Dhaneshwar at the Sawai Gandharva Smarak during Antaranga programme that is a part of the iconic Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav on Wednesday.

Chaurasia said Indian classical music has gained recognition worldwide. “The musicians and performers must study what should be performed after considering the type of audience,” he said.

He also spoke about the role of his guru Annapurna Devi, renowned surbahar player, in shaping his future. “I still sit in front of her photo and practise,” he said.

On women playing the flute, Chaurasia said, “I have many women students all over the world. The flute is for everyone and there can be no partiality or gender barrier at all.”

As a part of another programme, ‘Shadja’, two short films on Ustad Amir Khan directed by S N Sastri and Pandit Ramnarayan- A Tryst with Sarangi’ directed V Packirisamy, were screened.

The festival was inaugurated by garlanding the statue of Sawai Gandharva at Sambhaji Park. ''This tradition has been followed from six decades. Every year, the members of Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal and music connoisseurs gather on the first day and express their gratitude to Sawai Gandharva,'' Shrinivas Joshi, executive president, Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, said.


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