Pune, 12 December 2025: The second day of the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival at the Maharashtrian Mandal grounds in Mukundnagar highlighted both emerging and established talent.
The morning began with the debut of young vocalist Hrishikesh Badwe, who presented Raag Gavati and Raag Shree Kalyan with poise. His bandishes, composed by his guru Pt. Vijay Bakshi, were delivered with clarity and confidence.
Badwe was followed by sarod artiste Indrayudh Majumdar, son and disciple of Pt. Tejendra Narayan Majumdar. Performing on the Sawai stage for the first time, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity and unfolded a serene and detailed presentation of Raag Shree. He continued with compositions in Raag Manj Khamaj, ending with a lively sawal-jawab with tabla player Ishan Ghosh that impressed the listeners.
The evening session featured seasoned vocalist Vidushi Padma Deshpande, who presented Raag Shyam Kalyan with depth and elegance. Her recital included the traditional khayal “Jiyo mero laal…” and her own composition “Raghunandan khelat…”. She later performed a bandish in Raag Sohni Bahar and concluded with the natyapad “Kareen Yadumani Sadana…”, showcasing her experience and command over the form.
A standout act of the day was the saxophone–sitar jugalbandi by George Brooks and Pt. Krishna Mohan Bhatt. Their exploration of Raag Charukeshi blended the subtlety of the sitar with the rich tone of the saxophone. The duo continued with a mando composition and a piece in Raag Vrindavani Sarang. Their finale, based on Ahiri, drew strong appreciation, with tabla maestro Ojas Adhiya adding rhythmic brilliance.
The second day of the festival offered a vibrant mix of youthful promise, classical depth and inventive collaboration, setting a high note for the days ahead.
