Two-day national music and dance festival celebrates Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in Hyderabad

Music director and percussionist Prodyut Mukherjee, actress Rituparna Sengupta and cultural curator Abhijeet Bhattacharya recently collaborated for a nobel cause at the Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan National Music and Dance Festival 2025 – a two-day cultural showcase held in Hyderabad in aid of Autism Ashram.

Now in its eighth edition, the festival paid tribute to the life and legacy of legendary classical vocalist Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, while spotlighting the depth and diversity of Indian classical music and dance. Organised by Sangitanjali Foundation, the festival brought together leading exponents from across the country, blending artistic excellence with social commitment.

One of the highlights of the festival was a special performance by National Award-winning actress Rituparna Sengupta, whose classical dance recital received applause from the audience. The performance was curated and conceptualised by Prodyut, a Grammy Jury member for the Los Angeles Chapter and a GiMA awardee, in collaboration with Abhijeet Bhattacharya.

The first day of the festival, December 13, featured performances by Odissi dancer Jagriti Chakraborty, shehnai maestro Pandit Lokesh Anand, santoor exponent Pandit Vipul Kumar Roy, and Hindustani vocalist Vidushi Ivy Banerjee. Their devotional and technically rich presentations left a lasting impression on the audience.

Day two, December 14, showcased sitar virtuoso Pandit Partha Bose, sarod player Sanjay Chakraborty, Banaras-based Hindustani vocalists Ritesh and Rajneesh Mishra, before culminating in Rituparna Sengupta’s acclaimed classical dance performance.

Speaking about the experience, Rituparna Sengupta said, “It is an absolute honour for me to perform at the 2025 Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan National Music and Dance Festival. Celebrating the legacy of such a legendary musician through classical dance requires deep focus, and it was truly an unforgettable experience.”

Pandit Prodyut Mukherjee added, “Working with Sangitanjali Foundation to bring together some of the country’s finest artistes to honour a musician revered as the Tansen of the 20th century has been deeply fulfilling.”

Highlighting the larger vision of the festival, Abhijeet Bhattacharya said that the Sangitanjali Foundation continues to promote Indian art forms while offering a platform to emerging talent, ensuring that the country’s rich cultural heritage is carried forward with purpose and inclusivity.

By seamlessly blending artistic brilliance with social responsibility, the Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan National Music and Dance Festival 2025 reaffirmed its position as a unique and prestigious celebration of Indian classical arts.

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