Mohan Veena Recital By Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt: Events in Hyderabad

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On the occasion of the 36th Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh 2008, the Department of Culture, together with Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, is organising a 4-day grand music festival, from 27th to 30th November, at the Nizam College grounds. Young and upcoming artistes will share the dias with some senior ones during the festival, such as sarangi player Sabir Khan, Carnatic vocalist Sudha Raghunathan, Hindustani vocalists Pandit Jasraj, Ratan Mohan Sharma, Hemang Mehta and Sanjeev Abhyankar, sitarist Niladri Kumar, Bharatanatyam dancer Subha Visweswaran, violinist Dr. N Rajam, renowned Mohan veena player Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and tabla player Kumar Bose.

Today, the last day, Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt will perform a Mohan veena recital, the first recital of the evening session. Born on 27th July 1952, Grammy winner and Padmasri Vishwa Mohan Bhatt hails from the famous Bhatt family of musicians. Almost all members of his family are well-known artists. He had his initial training from his elder brother, Shashi Mohan Bhatt.

Vishwa Mohan has successfully Indianised the Western guitar by changing the strings which were originally used and adding 'Chikari' and 8 'Tarabs' (sympathetic strings), and has developed his own style of playing Indian classical music. The style is a fine combination of 'Gayaki Ang' (vocal style) and 'Tantrakari Ang' (instrumental style).

He is one of the leading artistes of India and has given his performances all over the country, and abroad too. His performances are highly admired by the audiences as well as the press. He has performed in USA, Canada, UK, France and Switzerland. An A-grade artist of the All-India Radio and Doordarshan, he has also participated in the national program of the All-India Radio.

Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, and Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, have graciously conferred the titles "Sur Mani" and "Tantree Shringar" respectively upon him. He's also won a Grammy, and the crowning glory has been the Padmasri.

In memory of his late father Pandit Motiram and brother Pandit Maniram, Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, in association with the Department of Culture, organises a music festival every year at the Nizam College grounds, where his father and brother taught music to several students. This festival is being organised since 35 years.

The entry to the samaroh is free. Please contact the Department of Culture at 2324-2482 for further details.