Pandit Nandan Mehta Smruti Samaroh Begins
Nandan Mehta, legendary tabla maestro known for his brainchild — Saptak — the country’s biggest annual Indian classical music festival held in January every year, committed his life to preserving the tradition of Hindustani classical music. In an innovative way to pay homage to him, City Pulse Film and Television Department, has started a new tradition of hosting an annual music festival especially dedicated to Mehta.
With the support of Saptak, City Pulse has organized the three-day Pt Nandan Mehta Smruti Samaroh to mark his second death anniversary. This gesture supports the last words of Mehta, who passed away on March 24, 2010. He said “Yeh sab chalta rahega, kyonki mere bachche etne layak hein”. “This was Mehta’s final take on the legacy of Hindustani classical music,” says Manju Mehta, founder trustee of Saptak.
Performing artists at the baithak concerts include Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, renowned Mohan Veena artist; Kaushal Das, noted Sitar player; and Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, well-known vocalist. Bhatt, Das and Deshpande will perform on March 24, March 25 and March 26, respectively.
Ashok Purohit, owner of City Pulse, said: “With the help of Saptak, we organized bhaithak concerts in the memory of Mehta last year to pay homage to him on his first death anniversary. From this year, we will host annual festival of bhaithak concerts known as Pt Nandan Mehta Smruti Samaroh in March every year.”
Many eminent artists and thousands of music lovers from the city will attend the event to be held Nandan Mehta Auditorium at City Pulse, Gandhinagar.
