Nagpur: A monsoon-inspired flute recital, a tribute to Dinanath Mangeshkar and an evening steeped in Hindustani classical music brought the curtains down on the 33rd Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Memorial Music Festival on Friday, as music lovers filled Vasantrao Deshpande Hall for the festival’s concluding performances.Organised by South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) in memory of the legendary vocalist and actor Dr Vasantrao Deshpande, the three-day festival concluded with performances by Padma Shri Pt Ronu Majumdar and noted vocalist-composer ‘Swaradhish’ Dr Bharat Balvalli, capping three evenings that celebrated vocal, instrumental and theatrical traditions.Opening the finale, Ronu Majumdar unfolded Raag Ramdasi Malhar through an elaborate alaap, jod and jhala, gradually building the mood associated with the monsoon. He followed it with Raag Sur Malhar before shifting to Marathi repertoire with the Natya Sangeet composition Ya Bhavnatil Geet Purane. His recital concluded with the devotional abhang Majhe Maher Pandhari, drawing warm applause from the audience. He was accompanied by Ajinkya Joshi on tabla, Omkar Dalvi on pakhawaj and Kalpesh Sachla on flute.The second session featured Dr Bharat Balvalli, who opened with Raag Durga, presenting Amona Re Abu Re in Vilambit Teentaal and Naad Brahma Parmeshwar in Drut Ektal. He later moved to Raag Jhinjhoti with Pati Devna Mahadev and Sakhi Mukh Chandra, before rendering his self-composed bhajan Hari Mhana. One of the highlights of the evening was his musical tribute to Master Dinanath Mangeshkar through Divya Swatantrya Ravi and Yuvati Mana. He concluded the recital with Shiv Ke Man Sharan in Raag Bhairavi. He was accompanied by Makarand Kundle on organ, Ramkrishna Karambelkar on tabla and Dr Dada Parab on pakhawaj.The festival witnessed enthusiastic attendance across all three days, beginning with vocalist Padma Shri Shubha Mudgal and sitar maestro Niladri Kumar, followed by the acclaimed Marathi musical Devbabhali, before concluding with Friday’s classical performances.During the closing ceremony, SCZCC deputy director Mithila Talvanekar felicitated assistant director (programmes) Deepak Kulkarni and former programme executive Shashank Dande with shawls and mementoes in recognition of their contributions to the festival over the years. The festival was organised under the guidance of SCZCC director Aastha Karlekar, with Renuka Deshkar compering the concluding programme.
