Virtual music festival to welcome monsoon

The Indian National Theatre

organized a two-day virtual classical music event, 'Varsha Ru Tu Sangeet Sandhya-2020'. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the arrival of monsoon with enthusiasm. The first day of this virtual evening of classical music fest began with famous singer of classical music, Sawani Shende giving a virtual rendition.
Prior to the program, N Khosla, President of the Indian National Theatre and Secretary,

Vinita Gupta

welcomed her and praised her work in various music circles. Sawani was born in a musically rich family. She was introduced to Indian classical music at the age of six by her grandmother, Kusum Shende, who was herself a noted singer of the Kirana Gharana and an honoured artist of

the Sangeet Natak Era

. Sawani’s father, Dr Sanjeev Shende, a disciple of

Shobha Gurtu

, has groomed her in semi classical genres like Thumri, Dadra, Kajri, etc.
Quest for more knowledge in music brought Sawani to learn more music under the expert guidance of Dr Veena Sahasrabuddhe, a noted classical vocalist from Gwalior Gharana. She has been felicitated on several important occasions and has performed at national and international programmes.
Sawani Shende started her recital with raag Amrit Varshani. She gave a beautiful slow tempo rendition in Vilambit Ektaal 'Nirmohi Piya' followed by a Drut Ektaal composition 'ka sung keenhee preet'. She continued with a madhyalaya composition in Raag Jayant Malhar 'tore badan par chandrakishori' and a fascinating composition in drut ektaal 'aiyi re barkha ritu'. After this she sang a kajri and concluded with a dadra in Raag Bhairavi.
She was accompanied by Rahul Gole on harmonium and Arun Gawai on tabla.