On the Valentine’s Day, song and sound of flute cast a spell on the audience at the Rabindra Mandap auditorium. There was love in the air. Celebrating the completion of five years in Bhubaneswar, Vrindaban Gurkul organised a programme “Hari Rang Hari Sang” on music and life of the flute exponent Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia on February 14.
The Bansuri Samrat explained his musical journey which started in Odisha. He shared interesting and memorable moments of his life in a conversation with the audience. “I was a stenographer in the State Government service, but I could not help being allured by music. Flute became my Valentine,” said the flute wizard. He also said, “I have gone to many places throughout the world, but the love, blessings and musical training, which I got in Odisha attract me to this place and I want to live here for the rest of my life.”
Pandit Chaurasia came from Uttar Pradesh to Odisha and began his career with the All India Radio, Cuttack. “I have a dream to see that all the children of Odisha play flute one day, and I would also like to see our nation as ‘jees desh me bansuri bajti he’ like Raj Kapoor’s film ‘jees desh me Ganga behti he,’ “ said Chaurasia. The show opened with Ganesha Bandana ‘Gajanana Shri Ganraya’ by Bibhabari from Mumbai. Then the Gurukul students played flute in chorus with Raag Hansadhwani.
The conversation was also followed by the songs ‘Sagare adhira nila tarang,’ ‘Sathire mu je jana na kaha bata,’ Mohammad Rafi’s ‘Mayuri go tuma aakashe mu,’ ‘Phir wohi sham,’ ‘Piya bina’ and many more, where Pandit Chaurasia had played the flute. The songs were performed by Nazia Alam, Abhijit Mishra, Bibhavari and Manoj. Guruji also shared some of his intimate moments with Madan Mohan, S D Burman , lata Manjeskar and other maestros. Pushpanjali and Sangeeta Goswain coordinated the programme.