In a field where most successful musicians burn out in their 40s and 50s from complacence, vocalist Kishori Amonkar’s musical growth continued unabated. By Team Viva
The melodious tunes bequeathed to Indian classical music by Kishori Amonkar are masterpieces of different combinations of ragas. Infusing a sense of awe and mesmerising the audience with her singing, Amonkar’s death is a loss to Indian classical music. Her death has left a gaping hole which would take time to heal. Even a month after her death, people are reluctant to let go of the great legend that Kishori Amonkar was.
A tribute led by Amonkar’s seniormost disciple Nandini Bedekar on Friday pierced the fond memories of Amonkar’s fans yet again. Even though Bedekar could not get the chords right, she did bring in a sense of nostalgia through the texture in her voice and the famous Jaipur gharana which was a painful reminder of the loss of the legendary artist.
The evening was carried forward by the 88-year-old Girija Devi, who came from Varanasi to pay her respects. She began her recital with a Namdev bhajan, touched on Amonkar’s favourite Mirabai and concluded with a Shankar stutee. “In the past, I have sung tributes to musicians older than me, paid odes to them, never to those younger. But I have made an exception for Kishori, a musician who looked after her mother’s music, our music. My voice today is a tribute for a wonderful girl who’s gone to live with the gods,” she said.
The director of SPICMACAY, Rashmi Malik, believed that the voice of Amonkar still resonates through the performing hall where she had done quite a few shows in the past. “Kishori tai had performed here six times in the past and I feel that she is still here in the very air of this place,” she told us. Her absence would be felt in the years to come. A tribute was previously paid by personalities like Mrinal Pande and Vikram lal, who shared their experiences with Amonkar and celebrated the lost legend in grandeur. The event was a success as the details of Amonkar’s life and career were discussed in detail with her rise to fame through her exceptional talent in music.
With an atmosphere of grief, the event was furthered by other dignitaries. Those who paid tribute included sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, vocalists Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra and former MP, NP Singh. Together these artists lit the evening with soulful music while reminiscing the legendary days of Kishori Amonkar.