PRIYAANKAA MATHUR
Utsaah Portrays the Joy to bring Indian Classical Music to the Fore
The hugely popular ' Utsaah ' # spreading happiness series bestows a unique dual format bringing in engaging interactions between the artists with the host , followed by the live performances . Durga Jasraj Founder Art & Artist , who ' s the daughter of legendary Indian classical vocalist , Sangeet Marthand Pandit Jasrajji has taken the baton to enhance the reach and penetration of Indian classical music to a whole new level with this show .
Bringing together both young and established performers from the world of Indian classical music , dance and folk traditions , the series features vocalists , instrumentalists and dancers . In it ' s 230 + episodes ' Utsaah ' has created 5 Billion Impressions on Facebook alone . It is the first digital talk show , which started during the lock down period and goes on till date , involving interesting conversations about the life and journey of an artist bringing in many stories , trivia and life experiences , which the artists rarely get to share . We spoke to some eminent and young artists , to explore the ' Utsaah ' experience from a performers perspective , some excerpts ...
Young and elegant Odissi danseuse Arushi Mudgal , belong to an illustrious musical family being the Grand Daughter of Pandit Vinay Chandra Mudgalyaji and the Daughter of the leading Hindustani Classical Vocalist Pandit Madhup Mudgalji . In her conversation with Durgaji , Arushi brought insight on her taleem under her illustrious guru the legendary Odissi exponent Madhvi Mudgalji , who shares a great bond with her as she also happens to be her Aunt ( bua ). Arushi talks about her journey into the world of dance and why she chose dance and not music as a career , says ," Choosing dance was perhaps my natural inclination to groove to any music . Although , I learnt both music and dance but I felt so much joy when I danced . Of course , I grew up watching Madhviji practice and who eventually became my inspiration to take up dance . She is a perfectionist and perfection for her is not just in the technique of dance , but , also in every aspect of the performance , be it the stage , decor , lights , and it ' s overall aesthetics . It ' s about that perfection all around you , so doing anything less is not just an option ."
She adds ," Our family shares a great bond with Durgaji and Pandit Jasrajji and it was great fun interacting with her as if it was with an older friend . I and Durgaji reached those days when Panditji used to visit our home . I have seen Panditji very closely , when I was too young even to understand the gravity of whom I was interacting with . Once my grandmother asked me to sing a song to Panditji , so I sang a song ' Chaa gaye badar ' from the film Chitralekha to him . Durgaji remembered that incident and asked me to sing on the show , and I sang ' Baiyan na dharo '. I feel it ' s a platform , where an artist can kind of unwind and let you know a bit more of what they do apart from their regular performance repertoire . Regarding my performance on Utsaah , I did one of Madhaviji ' s choreography called ' Vasant ' and a piece called ' Kamala ' which has one Shloka composed by Pandit Jasrajji ."
Tabla Maestro Pandit Shubha Maharaj , who ' s the grandson and disciple of Pandit Krishan Maharajji brings light on his ' Utsaah ' experience says , " I was invited by Durgaji in the very initial phase of Utsaah , when Pandit Jasrajji was alive and was listening to us . It was a very informal kind of a conversation with her as we share close family ties , since there was a very close relationship between Pandit Kishan Maharajji and Pandit Jasrajji . We had a lot of discussion on their bond , as they performed a lot together . In those times when Maharaji used to go and meet Panditji at his residence in Mumbai . Once Pandit Jasrajji came and performed with Kishan Maharajji in front of the Lord Ganesha Idol , which has been sculpted by Pandit Kishan Maharajji himself at his residence in Benaras in Ganesh Kaksh , which is a home baithak ( concert hall ), where many eminent performers have performed . I remember I was around 7-8 years old then ."
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