No Indipop, rock or rap can replace the love for pure classical music, which is indexed by the audience turnout - both loyal and fledgling - eminent Hindustani vocalist Ustad Rashid Khajn says.
"From Dover Lane to here, there seems to be a fresh urge among all sections of people to soak in the waves of 'ragas'," Ustadji said referring to the huge turnout at classical music concerts.
The classicist took part in a 'Jugalbandi' of percussion and vocals with the 'Taaltantra' man Tanmoy Bose at the 'Dumdum Marg Sangeet Utsab'.
1 Playwright-actor-minister Bratya Basu, who had spearheaded the event at his Dumdum constituency, said the amazing popularity of raga-based music egged him on to start this new age Dover lane in the Northern parts as well.
"We were apprehensive. But no more. The not-so-initiated audience is also ready to listen to quality classical music all through the night," the 'Ruddhasangeet' playwright said.
'Tabla wizard' Tanmoy Bose said, "For me Dumdum, Germany, Baghbazar all appear to be the same during performance."
"Not everybody needs to be well-versed with nuances of classical music as liking and appreciating the right note instinctively is of more importance," the Pt Ravi Shankar sitar companion said.
Bratya, who jokingly tapped few beats on Tabla, said "All performing arts are instrinsically linked and I am only echoing the comments made by Aristotle."
"Seeing the first year's response we will make the classical meet night-long from next year with ragas played in sync with the time of the day and mood from evening to the dawn next day," Bratya said.
"From Ustad Rashid Khan, Pt Tanmoy Bose, Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumder, to Pt Bickram Ghosh, Pt Ullash Koshalkar, Ustad Asish Khan, Pt Swapan Chowdhury and Pt Purbayan all classical luminaries having different styles will congregate for two days. And the festival will now be an annual affair to popularise this form of music," Mriganka Bhattacharya, General Secrtetary of organisers Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy Memorial Committe, said.
