The Mallicks represent the illustrious dhrupad lineage of the Darbhanga gharana; They perform Saraswati and Abhogi Kanada, both sweet, late-night ragas, synthesizing poetry and melody with intense rhythmic elaborations creating a stunning approach. As they launch their performance, their voices float, intertwine, touch and overlap each other, forming harmonic layers of contraposed tones above each other. Surdarshan Chana lends sublime rhythmic support to the recital on the jori, a traditional pair of drums that accompanies spiritual Sikh music.

Pandit Mallick is a leading exponent of the Darbhanga dhrupad court music tradition, named for a former state near the Nepalese border. It is said that his ancestors once ended a drought in the area through singing the rain-invoking Raag Megh, and the family still live on land gifted to them by the Maharajah as a result. Their style of dhrupad is marked by intricate rhythmic elaboration and a lively approach to composed forms, as well as strong poetic influence. His son and disciple, the junior Mallick, joins him on stage charging the ambience with his energetic delivery.

Chana is an exponent of tabla and jori. He first studied under Bhai Gurmeet Singh Ji Virdee and then with Sukhvinder Singh ‘Pinky’ for 14 years. He is known for his expertise in dhrupad and knowledge of rare rhythmic compositions.

Musicians
Pandit Premkumar Mallick & Prashant Mallick (dhrupad)
Surdarshan Chana (jori)

Raag Saraswati, Thaat: Kalyan, Samay: late night
Raag Abhogi Kanada, Thaat: Kafi, Samay: late evening