Countdown begins for Swara Samrat Festival 20-21, biggest digital fundraiser festival of Indian classical music and dance
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only altered the way we live but also the way we listened to music and held concerts, music festivals and tours. However, embracing digital is the “new normal” and therefore, for the first time ever in India, 100 top music legends and Indian classical music maestros are coming together to perform for the biggest digital fundraiser music and dance festival, titled Swara Samrat Festival 20-21.
Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Kolkata-based renowned sarod player, organizes Swara Samrat Festival every year. However, Swara Samrat Festival 20-21 will be the biggest digital fundraiser festival of Indian classical music and dance where 100 top legendary classical masters will connect digitally from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru and perform and support the economically weak Indian artistes affected due to the global pandemic.
Swara Samrat Festival 20-21 will feature 36 stellar performances by musicians such as Kaushiki Chakraborty, Bickram Ghosh, Kushal Das (in Kolkata), Ulhas Kashalkar (in Pune), N Rajam (in Mumbai), Rajendra Gangani (in Delhi), Mysore Manjunath & Mysore Nagaraj, Pravin Godkhindi, Jayanthi Kumaresh and Rukmini Vijayakumar (in Bengaluru).
Padma Bhusan violin maestro Dr N Rajam appealed to the budding musicians and dancers to utilise this festival as a "great opportunity". "We are all aware that the entire world is facing an unprecedented situation. But have we not been taught time and again by our great traditions, sanskaars and spiritual masters to rise up to situations instead of lamenting over what is unavoidable! There lies the uniqueness of our great country. I would appeal, in particular, to the young, aspiring, upcoming and talented artistes of our country to utilize this great opportunity provided by nature to turn inwards, engage themselves in some in-depth thinking and emerge as a great force for the entire world to follow," said the 82-year-old legend.
Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, his wife and eminent vocalist Dr Manasi Majumdar, their son and popular sarod player Indrayudh Majumdar have been organizing Swara Samrat Festival for the last nine winters in Kolkata.
A superhit among the classical music connoisseurs, the programme features the best musicians of Indian classical music and also promotes the promising talents in the field of Indian classical music and dance. However, coronavirus changed the way we live and altered all plans. Hence, Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar has decided to go digital with the prestigious and most-awaited Swara Samrat Festival 20-21 so that the Indian classical music lovers can enjoy the programme on their smart phone, laptop, or smart TV in the comfort of the homes safely.
"In this COVID-19 times, the musicians and dancers wouldn't be able travel from one city to another, therefore, we have shot in five cities namely Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru. I'm very happy to share with you that along with 18 topmost musicians and dancers of the country, we will also present 18 best performances of the young budding musicians," said Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, the man behind the festival.
However, there's a noble cause involved behind the festival. Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar said that Swara Samrat Festival 20-21 will also raise money for those musicians in the country who have been severely economically affected by the pandemic for the last 7-8 months. "These musicians don't have any concerts and we still don't know when things will normalise for those musicians. So, basically we would like to help and support those musicians. Hopefully, we will able to do that through Swara Samrat Festival 20-21 and the audience will appreciate our effort like every year," he said.
Renowned tabla player Bickram Ghosh can't wait to perform at the digital music festival. According to him, there are many music festivals, which continue for more than a week. But he isn't aware of any music festival, which runs across four months. "Swara Samrat Festival is definitely the biggest digital festival of Indian classical music and dance. What makes it stand out is the quality and the talent which is on display. The talents were, of course, some of the biggest names in the world of classical music. But it also involves younger artistes of lesser-known names but who are of impeccable quality. I think Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar and his young son, the brilliant sarod player Indrayudh Majumdar, have created a festival which is unique in every way. It is the festival in which every artiste across the country wishes to be featured," he said.
The famed Kolkata-based percussionist also said that moving the festival onto digital platform means the festival is no longer limited to Kolkata. "Shoots are conducted across the country and artistes are involved who are from different parts of India. It is extremely important to organize music and dance festivals especially in these times because positivity and optimism is scarce. People need art to revive them," he said.
Classical singer Kaushiki Chakraborty is elated to perform at the festival. "I'm extremely glad to associate myself with a unique concert that has such a great social cause," said the daughter of legendary Hindustan classical musician Pt Ajoy Chakraborty.
Besides the performances by illustrious musicians, one Global Digital Competition named SSF Championship will also take place in SSF 20-21.
Details:
36 concerts – 4 months – Rs. 999/- (valid for 1 Year)
10 concerts – 1 month – Rs. 299/-
1 concert – Rs. 99/-
Tickets available at:
www.swarasamrafetival.com