Performed for Darbar Festival on 20 Sep 2015, at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Musicians:
- Kaushiki Chakraborty (khayal vocals)
- Satyajit Talwalkar (tabla)
- Milind Kulkarni (harmonium)
- Ranjana Ghatak & Gunwant Dhadyalla (tanpuras)

Raag Bhimpalasi; Thaat: Kafi; Samay: Afternoon

Kaushiki’s virtuoso technique is the result of years of intense training, primarily from her esteemed father Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty. She hails from the Patiala gharana, known for a strong Islamic influence and elaborate ornamentation when singing taan [fast improvised melodies]. She describes her approach: “It’s all in the mind. One has to mentally align oneself to the form...My training has taught me two approaches to music – to do music and or to become it. The latter gives you the fluidity to transcend form and become one with it.”

Milind Kulkarni, also featured, is a modern exponent of Hindustani classical harmonium. Starting at the age of seven, he learned fast under the tutelage of successive gurus - Vasantrao Gurav, Anna Diwan, and Pramod Marathe. He still studies under the latter, and also receives accompaniment instruction from leading non-harmonium artists too, including vocalist Ulhas Kashalkar and tabla maestro Suresh Talwalkar.

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