By Jagpreet Sandhu ,Chandigarh, Febuary 11 : Ustad Eltaf Hussain Sarahang on Saturday performed at Dr. M.S. Randhawa auditorium of Punjab Kala Bhawan, Chandigarh. The event was organized by the Pracheen Kala Kendra to mark its 173rd Baithak Programme.
Inheritor of a long and glorious family tradition of classical music, Ustad Eltaf enthralled the audience with his mellifluous voice. He sang various genres of Hindustani classical and light classical music such as the Khayal, Thumri and Ghazal. In addition, he also sang the folk songs of Afghanistan which remains close to his heart. The harmonium inter-weaving of the Hindustani and Afghanistan’s traditions created a texture unique to Ustad Eltaf’s singing.
Complementing the beauty rendered by the setting sun, Eltaf began the evening with Raga Gaurakh Kalyan. The Bada Khayal composition “Dhan dhan bhaag hamare piya ghar aaye….” created a strange kind of ambience which promised more to come. The Thumri of Patiala gharana left the audience mesmerized.
Eltaf Hussain had finest team of accompanists. Mehmood Khan on Tabla, Muralidhar Soni on Harmonium/Keyboard, Satwinder Singh on Dholak, Manish Sachdeva on Guitar/Mandolian and on Tanpuras Puja Sharma and Puja Bhatia provided admirable support.
Kendra Chairman Sh. S.K. Monga, IAS (Retd.), Registrar Smt. Shobha Koser and Secretary Sh. Sajal Koser honoured the artists.