Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Taufiq Qureshi, Shankar Mahadevan and other musical greats pick those who made a mark this year
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Malini Awasthi
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, sarod player
In the field of music, someone is either good at classical or folk, or playback. But singer Malini Awasthi from Uttar Pradesh is multifaceted. She is a disciple of the late Girija Deviji and has a great voice. I listened to her for the first time earlier this month and was impressed. I am sure she has a bright future.
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Ojas Adhiya and Satish Vyas
Satish Vyas, santoor player
Tabla player Ojas Adhiya is a talented musician. I like him because despite being highly accomplished in his art, he is a simple and humble human being. Whether he is accompanying vocalists, instrumentalists and dancers, or performing solo, he is always at ease.
Taufiq Qureshi, Rhythm Shaw and Sweekar Katti
Taufiq Qureshi, percussionist
Two artistes who caught my eye this year are sitarist Sweekar Katti and guitarist Rhythm Shaw. Both of them are promising and have the spark that’s seen in those who go on to become great musicians. We should look forward to their work. I hope they continue with their hard work.
Kaushiki Chakraborty and S Akash
Kaushiki Chakraborty, singer
S Akash, a young flute player, drew my attention this year. I recorded a piece with him at a studio in Delhi and was impressed with his talent. At a time when it’s believed that the young generation isn’t serious about classical music, I was surprised by Akash’s passion. He loves the classical tradition and his zeal is evident when he practises. He always seeks suggestions for improvement, which is commendable. With such promising musicians, it’s safe to say that the future of classical music is in good hands.
Anjali Gaikwad, Ankita Joshi and Shankar Mahadevan
Shankar Mahadevan, singer
Singer Ankita Joshi, who is a disciple of Pandit Jasraj, impressed me. She is in her late 20s, but her passion and sincerity towards music is evident. Classical music is everything for her. Anjali Gaikwad is another singer who stood out for me. I saw her perform on a music reality show and was mesmerised by her talent. She has great understanding of classical music.
Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, flautist
It won’t be fair to just identify one young musical talent of 2017. We are fortunate to have a host of young vocalists and instrumentalists who present scintillating performances. Singling out one artiste as the brightest star might have a dampening impact on others who equally deserve the credit. The confidence and creativity of all the young artistes will take Hindustani classical music to greater heights.
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