There was a rather unique concert that had taken place in London over two decades ago, which featured two of India's biggest cultural icons. It involved Ustad Amjad Ali Khan doing what he does best — weaving magic with his sarod. But there was also a non-musician accompanying him on stage. MF Husain was creating a work of art on the spot based on the strains that emanated from Khan's instrument. It was the perfect jugalbandi of music and painting, with the artwork being completed from start to finish to coincide with the duration of the concert. Later, it was auctioned off, and the episode has gone down in history as an example of two diverse artistes at the height of their powers joining hands to complement each other.

Similarly, two years ago, master painter Paresh Maity joined forces with tabla virtuoso Bickram Ghosh for a similar gig on a jetty stationed on Kolkata's Hooghly River. The programme was organised to raise funds for the Tata Cancer Hospital, and even today, Maity remembers the evening fondly when he recounts it to us.