Tabla artist Nana Mule to receive Vatsalabai Joshi award at Sawai fest

Pune: Tabla player Pandit Nana Mule, who has accompanied legends like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, will receive the Vatsalabai Joshi award during the 65th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav that starts from December 13.

The award, named after Bhimsen Joshi’s wife, is presented to artists for their contribution to Indian classical music.

It is part of several activities organised by Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal which conducts the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav.

Executive president of the mandal, Shrinivas Joshi, said, “The award is being conferred for the past 13 years and is a token of appreciation of unique contributions of various artists.”

A short film festival called ‘Shadja’ has also been planned which will include screening of six short films over three days at Sawai Gandharva Smarak between 10am and noon on one day of the festival.

“On the first day, three documentaries—‘Music of India’ by Bhaskar Rao, ‘Ravi Shankar’ by Pramod Pati and a documentary on Hindustani classical vocalist Vishnu Digambar Paluskar will be screened. A documentary called ‘Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur’ by Prajana Parimita Parasher will be screened on December 14. On the last day, Rajat Kapoor’s ‘Tarana’ and ‘Sarangi-The lost chord’ by P K Saha will be shown,” Joshi said.

Under ‘Antaranga’, there will be tête-à-tête with renowned artists on all the three days. Joshi will interview Patiyala Gharana vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty on December 13. Mule and Joshi will have a dialogue the next day.

On the last day, eminent artists like Aarti Ankalikar-Tikekar, vocalist of Jaipur Atrauli Gharana, Mahesh Kale, a disciple of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, and Joshi will speak on ‘Creative Challenges’.

A photo exhibition by city-based photographer Sateesh Paknikar has been a huge attraction for the past 10 years.


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