SwarGanga Music Festival 2011

Time : 4th and 5th November 2011, 7PM-10PM

Venue : Dnyandeo Seva Mandal Temple, Paanchpakhadi, Thane (W)

Note : Entree to this program will be free

Ranjani Ramachandran is a versatile and talented Hindustani classical vocalist of the younger generation. She is a disciple of Pt Kashinath Bodas, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe and Pt Ulhas Kashalkar. She has also received guidance from Vidushi Girija Devi, acquiring a rich repertoire of Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti and Kajri. She is a recipient of Central Government Scholarship for Hindustani Classical Music, Resident scholarship of the ITC-Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, UGC –NET Junior and Senior Research Fellowship, Surmani award from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai and empanelled as a performing artiste for ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations). Ranjani is a graded artiste of All India Radio and has two commercial audio CDs to her credit. A physics graduate and a postgraduate in vocal Music, Ranjani is currently appointed as a Guru at the Centre for Performing Arts, University of Pune, while also pursuing PhD in Music. Ranjani gives online music teaching lessons to aspiring students. Ranjani has performed at prestigious venues in India and abroad: Vishnu Digambar Jayanti Samaroha (New Delhi), Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, “Sangeet Pratibha” of Sangeet Natak Academy, Nehru Centre(London), Learnquest Academy(Boston), Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, (Mumbai) and Kalakshetra Annual Art Festival, Chennai. www.ranjani.net

Dr. Dhananjay Daithankar is a renowned Santoor artist. At the age of 10, he started learning tabla from Pt. G.L. Samant in Pune, India which provided him strong foundation of taal and rhythm. While studying Ayurved medicine the scintillating sound of Santoor attracted him. In 1977, he started taking initial lessons from Pt. Ratanlal Tikkoo (Disciple of Pt Shivkumar Sharma) and since 1981 he has been under the tutelage of Padmavibhushan Pt. Shivkumar Shama. Dr. Dhananjay has performed on prestigious platforms throughout the world including Sawai Gandharva Festival, NCPA, Goa Kala Academy, Tansen Sangeet Samaroh and has toured US, Europe, and Middle East.

Born in a music loving family on 23 August 1985, Gagandeep started his initial training in sitar, at the age of 4, from his father Mr. R.K. Singh who is himself a sitar player and the disciple of world-renowned sitarist "Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee" and his father "Pt. Bimlendu Mukherjee", a doyen of the "Imdadkhani Gharana" of Sitar. Hence Gagandeep was brought up in a musical environment right from the very beginning. At the age of 10, Gagandeep was awarded the prestigious National Scholarship by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for "Sitarwadan". At the age of 10, Gagandeep impressed the invited audience at a concert organized by A.I.R, Shimla. This concert was broadcasted later on. Gagandeep stood first for three consecutive years in the competition organized by the prestigious "Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan" held in Jalandhar (India). At the age of 10 and 11 Gagandeep won the first prize in the junior section in this very competition. At the age of 12, he created history by coming first in the Senior Section, which comprised of an age group between 16 to 35 years. The winner of the Senior Group is invited for the next year as an artist to perform along with other High Grade artists. Here too Gagandeep won the applaud and appreciation of the audience. Thereafter he displayed his skills at various other places and sought the blessings of eminent musicians and connoisseurs.

Kolhapur enjoys distinct identity & recognition for its rich heritage of Jaipur Gharana for a long long time. The city has gratefully witnessed & experienced the unique style of sage-musician & a maestro 'Khansaheb Ustad Alladiyan Khan', whose magical touch established the spell bounding influence of Jaipur Gharana on this princely town. Late Govindbuwa Shaligram, the artiste of yore & direct disciple of Khansaheb was bequeathed with unique qualities, which the later had. He represented Khansaheb's legacy & gayaki in true sense. Pandit Anandrao Limaye, affectionately known as 'Limayebuwa', was next ardent devotee of Jaipur Gharana. He had the privilege to receive his musical lessons from Govindbuwa and carried the mantle of Jaipur Gharana with ease & élan. Loved & appreciated for his ascetic lifestyle & down-to-earth demeanor, Limayebuwa rendered the unique style of Jaipur Gharana with equal authority, grace & elegance. He endeavored to bestow all his skills & qualities upon the next generation. Pandit Anandrao Limaye, affectionately known as 'Limayebuwa', was next ardent devotee of Jaipur Gharana. He had the privilege to receive his musical lessons from Govindbuwa and carried the mantle of Jaipur Gharana with ease & élan. Loved & appreciated for his ascetic lifestyle & down-to-earth demeanor, Limayebuwa rendered the unique style of Jaipur Gharana with equal authority, grace & elegance. He endeavored to bestow all his skills & qualities upon the next generation. The glorious tradition of Jaipur Gharana took confident steps into 21st century. Amongst many of his disciples, Limayebuwa found a promising youth with gifted voice & conviction - Sudheer Pote. With relentless riyaz & talim, Sudheer has seasoned himself to carry the baton of Jaipur Gharana to next generation. On the strength of exceptional potential & blessings from his Guru, Sudheer kept crossing his own benchmarks. Sudheer's diligence supported by thinking & experimental approach in illustrious career spanning over three decades, has fetched him scores of awards and honours. Significant amongst them is the ‘Sangeetacharya', conferred by the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai. Sudheer the artiste with a strong melodious voice, delicately unfolds the array of laya based aalaaps, breathtaking bol aalaaps, gamak based bol taans & aggressive taans with varied patterns of unique aesthetics, to leave mesmerizing effect on the audience.

Chaitanya Kunte is a disciple of Dr. Arawind Thatte. He has also received guidance from Pt. Mohanrao Karve for Hindustani Vocal music. He is one of the leading young artistes and has accompanied maestros such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt Dinkar Kaikini, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Smt. VAsundhara Komkali, Padma Talwalkar, Shruti Sadolikar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Dr. Ashwini Bhide, Aarti Ankalikar and many others. Chaitanya also is a well appreciated composer. His compositions cover a wide range of genre such as Khayal, Tappa, Tarana, Chataranga, Sadra, Saragam-geet, Thumari, Dadra, Bhajan etc. and a variety of Raags and Taals. He has composed music for Kathak dance and choreographies such as 'Amoorta', 'Rituchakra' etc. He also has scored music for several musicals for AIR, including 'Geet Govindam' of Jayadev, 'Meghadootam' of Kalidas, Sanskrit stotras of Shankaracharya, Vallabhacharya and Ramanujacharya and 'Upanishadannche Antaranga'. He has presented many theme concerts, such as 'Megha- Rang', 'Basant-Rang', 'Nayikaa-Bhaav-Tarang', 'Bhairavi-Darshan', 'Saaj Thumaricha' etc.