Chowmahalla’s loss is Hitec city’s gain

Indian Classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, who is in the city for the 40th Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroha, says he has always had a special connection with Hyderabad, and he feels happy coming back to his roots. “My father (Pandit Motiram) is buried in this city,” he shares, further recalling, “We had all come down to Hyderabad when my father was to be honoured as the state musician in the court of Osman Ali Khan. But, unfortunately, he passed away even before he could be honoured. I was four years old, and my mother decided that we stay back in Hyderabad, close to my father.” And, that is why, he says that the city is very special to him.

Jasraj has been organising the Sangeet Samaroha in the memory of his father for 39 years now, and this is the 40th year of the musical festival. However, because of the recent trouble in the Old City, only for this year, the festival will he held at the Centre for Culture Resources and Training (CCRT), instead of the Chowmahalla Palace. This not only ensures safety, but also provides an opportunity to youngsters who work in and around Hitec City to experience this three-day musical bonanza. Another unique aspect to this year’s festival is that there will be a live webcast of the performances, and those can be viewed by logging on to www.youtube.com/hungama.

The 40th Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroha will kick-start in the city tomorrow and conclude on December 1. Entry is free of cost.