Dubai: Four renowned Indian classical musicians serenaded the packed auditorium of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation on Friday night as part of the celebration of the UAE’s 43rd National Day.
Called ‘Vibrant Strings, A Melodious Conversation’, the three-hour classical concert featured Hindustani music, the North Indian style of Indian classical music with influences from Iran and Middle Eastern countries.
Poly Varghese with his Mohan Veena, a charming stringed instrument altered from the traditional guitar, India’s first lady santoor player Shruti Adhikari, Akhilesh Gundecha with his mridangam, a two-headed drum, and Sunayana Ghosh with her tabla, enchanted the audience as they jammed for the first time as a quartet in Dubai.
“That’s the speciality or uniqueness of Indian classical music. You don’t have to rehearse. They can simply come, sit and jam together. They can play on their own [but still sound melodious]”, Anil Kumar, from the group Resonance, Music for the Soul, which organised the event, told Gulf News.
Kumar said the programme was part of Al Owais Cultural Foundation’s goals to promote cultural activities beyond borders. It also aims to relate this type of music to the younger generation of Indians in the emirate.
“One of the objectives is to introduce young Indians here to Indian classical music that has such a long and rich cultural heritage behind it. We would like our youngsters to get to know and enjoy Indian classical music as well,” Kumar said.
“Generally, Indian classical music needs some kind of awareness [on the part of the audience] before listening to it to appreciate it. They need some kind of exposure to classical music, otherwise they won’t understand the nuances or intricacies of this type of music.”
