After experiencing the winter blues for months, New Englanders have welcomed the warm spring season with open arms. It is no surprise that seasonal changes affect us by elevating or dampening our moods.  On Saturday evening, June 4, in a musical presentation titled “Ritu-Rang” that revolved around the theme of seasons, the leading Hindustani vocalist Smt. Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar presented a well-knit program that featured classical and semi-classical compositions celebrating the seasons.  The concert was organized by the organization Radio Music India (RMI) which has been instrumental in popularizing Hindustani classical and film music on Sunday mornings (11AM to 12 noon) at the Boston’s foreign language radio station WRCA AM 1330. Dr. Pradeep Shukla, Smt. Anuradha Palakurthi, Syed Ali Rizvi and Shri Sanjay Jain comprising the RMI team were delighted with Smt. Arati Ankalikar’s acceptance at launching their first musical offering in a live “baithak” style concert at a private residence in Framingham.

A large bright yellow and red banner with RMI’s name provided a colorful backdrop to the pure white sheets bedecking the raised stage. In the ambient lighting, dressed in a royal blue silk sari with a contrasting magenta and gold threaded blouse, sparkling diamonds in her ears and in a long black mangalsutra necklace, Smt. Arati Ankalikar looked radiant. Commanding the stage with a charismatic presence, the artist conversed freely with the attendees in the baithak style mehfil where the atmosphere was congenial to an intimate give and take between the artists and the audience.

Smt. Ankalikar opened her recital with a slow paced vilambit composition “Akhiyaan mori laag rahi“ set to 12 beat cycle ektaal in the afternoon raga Bhimpalasi. She sang imaginative aakaar alaaps (slow melodic sequence of notes) and alaaps that used the lyrics of the composition, delicately ornamenting her intricate musical phrases with smooth glides and lightning vibrato touches, skillfully creating the atmosphere of a hot languorous summer afternoon. Powerful voice projection, enviable breath span and control, the manner in which she imparted life to perfect-pitched musical notes in her signature voice were noteworthy. Two faster paced compositions followed – a traditional drut khayal “Ja Ja Re apnay mandirva” and a taraana “Daani Tanom Tanaderena”.  An impressive variety of well-constructed fast taans were cleverly interspersed with evocative, meend (glide ornament) laden alaaps to break the spell of the rhythmic delivery of the baraabar taans. A short and attractive tabla solo by Shri Suryaksha Deshpande to Shri Kedar Napahade’s harmonium accompaniment presented in this segment was well received by the audience. This opening rendition in raga Bhimpalaasi established a strong and firm classical foundation upon which the artist deftly constructed the rest of the evening’s presentation.

Smt. Ankalikar reminded the audience of the cyclical seasons, Vasant Ritu (Spring), Grishma Ritu (Summer), Varsha Ritu (Monsoon), Sharad Ritu (Autumn) and Shishir Ritu (Winter). To celebrate the Spring season, Smt. Ankalikar presented the famous traditional composition “Piya Sung Khelo Ri” in Raag Basant in medium tempo teentaal, a cycle of 16 beats. The modulated delivery of the bandish (composition), alaaps and taans sung with passionate intensity transported the listeners to a space where visions of fragrant flower garlands, romance and gaiety came to play together in harmony.

The magic of monsoon season was ignited with the presentation of a unique taalmaala “Naad Bramha Parameshwar” set to a garland of 4 rhythm cycles -  12 beat cycle ektaal, 14 beat cycle aada chautaal, 10 beat cycle jhaptaal and 16 beat cycle teentaal. Listeners were reminded of their homeland India’s robust monsoon season, of the steady pitter-patter of rain at most times contrasting with alternating periods of thunder and heavy rain at other times, to bring relief to the parched earth. The bandish (composition) told the story of Mian Tansen, (the creator of Raga Mian Malhar) who at the request of emperor Akbar sang Raga Deepak. Lamps in his court were automatically lit creating raised temperatures. The singer’s body became feverishly hot and the sisters Taana-Riri had to be summoned to cool the intense heat. The journey through a variety of Malhar flavors in multiple rhythmic gaits, oscillations on gandhar note (ga) and heavy gamak taans from the bottom octave leading to the upper octave created a dramatic atmosphere for the listeners, recreating feelings of awe and wonderment at the robust rainfall.

To give a glimpse into Sharad ritu (Autumn), two beautiful compositions in raga Hemant “Aaao ri aao sakhi gaao, ritu raaj Hemant aayo” in 16 beat cycle teentaal and “Jhanana Jhanana Jhanana baaje” in fast paced 12 beat cycle ektaal were presented.  A high order of creativity and imagination were evident in the beautiful soundscapes created by the artist through the effective delivery of bandish (composition), intricate musical phrasing in alaaps (slow melodic movements) and taans (fast melodic movements).

In the next musical offering, listeners could visualize a young maiden adorned with a colorful bindiya, red mehendi on her fair skinned hands and beautiful flowers in her long black hair via a semi-classical composition in the genre known as “Jhoola”. Based on raga Maanjh-Khamaj and set to 6 beat Dadra cycle, ragas such as Tilak kamod and Jaijawanti were introduced in the mix to add color to the presentation. The ending of this song was particularly impressive with a crisp laggi played by Shri Suryaksha Deshpande on the tabla.

To signal the winter which ends a full year of changing seasons, Smt. Ankalikar concluded her 3.5 hour long concert on a high note, by singing a sophisticated taan-instensive tappa in raga Bhairavi “Dil-e-bahaar” set to Pashto taal followed by a fast taraana “Odir tanana tana derena” set to teentaal. The lyrics of the second half of the taraana were in praise of ragini Bhairavi which possessed the power to evoke blessings of Goddess Saraswati so all the kala-upaasak (devotees of music) could offer their salutation and service to Nritya(Dance), Geet(Song), Vaadya(Instruments) that comprise Sangeet(Music).

Smt. Ankalikar’s aesthetically rich presentation owing to her prodigious talent and intensive training in techniques of Gwalior, Agra and Jaipur gharaanas (under the stalwarts Pandit Vasantrao Kulkarni, Pandit Dinkar Kaikini and Gaana-Saraswati Smt. Kishori Amonkar respectively), her artistry and supreme confidence owing to her long experience as a performer, her fluidity in communicating mature musical ideas, her encouragement as a mentor to her disciples and her cheerful demeanor throughout the concert left an indelible impression on the minds of the attendees. The skillful accompaniment by the talented New Jersey based artists, Shri Kedar Naphade on the harmonium, and Shri Suryaksha Deshpande on the tabla deserve special mention. Disciples of Smt. Ankalikar, who took turns to provide pleasant vocal support were Anuradha Palakurthi, Vaishnavi Kondapalli, Rucha Jambhekar and Pradnya Jadhav. A delicious dinner catered by Masala Art restaurant and served under moonlit night skies allowed listeners to mingle, and socialize after the concert. Listener Rohini Sundar said “Looking at the beautiful artist and listening to her divine music, I have no idea how so many hours of the evening disappeared quickly!”  Kudos to the Radio Music India (RMI) team and all the artists for organizing an excellent themed music show that touched the hearts of the listeners.

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