Hindustani Vocal By Dr Veena Sahasrabudhe: Events in Hyderabad

She teaches at IIT Mumbai. It's hard to say which of the two is adding luster to the other.

The Indian Music Education Society (IMES) is organising the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal of Mumbai, on 20th and 21st January, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan auditorium in King Koti.

The occasion also marks the punyatithi (death anniversary) of legendary Hindustani musician, academician and founder of IMES, Dr N K Karhade. A host of music and dance programs will stud the event. Today, the 1st day, there is a Hindustani vocal recital by Veena Sahasrabudhe, supported by Seema Shirodkar on the harmonium and Vishwanath Shirodkar on the tabla.

Veena comes from a family of musicians, with her father, late Pandit Shankar Shripad Bodas, being a disciple of Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. Young Veena started her musical education with Kathak dance. She was initiated into Khayal singing by her father, and her brother, late Pandit Kashinath Shankar Bodas. She also trained under Padmashri Balwantrai Bhatt, late Pandit Vasant Thakar and late Pundit Gajananbua Joshi.

She specialises in and retains the fundamental values of the Gwalior Gharana, with a mild melange of the Jaipur gharanas adding sparkle. Apart from Khayal, she is also sought after for her rich repertoire of bhajans.

She has sung at several prestigious venues and occasions including at the Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior and the Sawai Gandharva in Pune. She also represented Indian classical music at the Vokalfest in Stockholm and the Voices Of The World festival in Copenhagen. Veena was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 1993.

Besides being a popular performer, she is also a composer and a teacher. Her compositions adorn many of her recordings. Currently she is an Adjunct Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

The recital starts at about 7:00pm and the entry is free. For further details, please contact Suresh Karhade at 94408-40569 or 2406-1400.