KELI'S FUTURE MISSION

Keli Classical Music Festival 2009
On Hindustani instrumental music traditions

For 16 years, Keli Festivals have been delighting audiences in Mumbai with the finest of Kerala’s performing arts traditions – honouring masters, presenting exciting new talent and inviting audiences to revel in musical excellence.

This year, the 17th of its existence, Keli wishes to pay tribute to some of the finest exponents of Hindustani Classical Music instrumental traditions. In a 3-day Festival, Mumbai will be able to feast on the music of the masters –

January 21st  at Y.B. Chavan Centre by 6.45 pm– Ustad Zakir Hussain (tabla solo)
January 22nd  at Prithvi Theatre by 7.00 pm – Brij Narayan (sarod)
January 23rd Y.B. Chavan Centre by 7.00 pm – Padmabhushan Pandit Ram Narayan  (sarangi), joined by Harsh Narayan (sarangi)

The Festival will be supported by ONGC and LIC Housing Finance Ltd

On the 21st, Keli will begin by honouring the maestros –

Pandit Ram Narayan will receive the Veerashringhala (the traditional golden bracelet of appreciation given to the seniormost gurus) in appreciation of his role in raising the sarangi from an accompanying instrument originally confined to nautch houses to a magnificent solo instrument of the classical performance stage.                                          ---For details see the attached file Pandit Ram Narayan)

Ustad Zakir Hussain will receive the Keerthishankhu (golden conch of appreciation, given to younger gurus) for expanding the range of the tabla – keeping mastery of the classical tradition while simultaneously expanding into experimentation across musical boundaries.
                                                                   ---For details see the attached file Ustad Zakir Hussain)

Brij Narayan will receive the Sudhamsu (golden locket of appreciation, given to artists for their contribution to their art) for carrying over the richness and purity of the exclusive style of his guru Pandit Ram Narayan (sarangi) into a wholly different instrument – the sarod.
                                                                    ---For details see the attached file Brij Narayan)

An award will also be presented to Harsh Narayan as the most promising artist of the year.

Keli is delighted and honoured to present these icons of Hindustani Classical Instrumental Music and moreover, to be able to bring these performances to the general public of Mumbai – the performances are free and open to the public.

(Free Passes are available from the 19th at Rhythm House and at Prithvi Theatre. Seating will be on a first-come-first basis.)

For further information, please contact K Ramachandran, Director of Keli Festival
(+91 9820835737) – Email: ramk.keli@gmail.com