Agra Gharana: Ek Vatavriksha

The Agra gharana is one of the oldest musical traditions in Hindustani music and its origins can be traced to the 14th century. It boasts of a long line of distinguished musicians and composers who have nurtured, embellished and enriched this gharana, and faithfully passed it on from generation to generation. The presentation will give a glimpse of some of its distinguished stalwarts and their contribution to Hindustani music in general, and the gharana in particular. Lalith Rao, a doyenne of the Agra gharana, along with her talented disciples, will present this unique musical journey. The multimedia presentation traces the evolution of the colourful and multi-faceted Agra gharana, vividly unravelling its delightful gayaki and compositions, through live renditions, and the voices and visuals of some of its old masters. Having been groomed under some great teachers – Ramarao Naik, Khadim Hussain Khan and Dinkar Kaikini, Lalith Rao is eminently suited to offer a kaleidoscope of the gharana. Many of her disciples are graded artistes and popular performers. The participating disciples are Tara Kini, Bharathi Prathap, Pratima Ganesh, Meera Shasrabuddhe, Kailash Kulkarni, Vir Dasmahapatra, Nishant Panicker, Shanti Subbaraman, Vandana Pandit and Lalitha Ramesh.