Unforgettable evening of Indian fusion with Bickram Ghosh and ensemble
View(s):
The VIPs at the concert and (below) taking in scenes of Ladakh captured by photographer Nilan Maligaspe (in the background)
It was a most distinguished gathering at the BMICH on Tuesday, August 15 to celebrate India @70, with Indian tabla virtuoso, the Oscar-nominated Bickram Ghosh holding the audience spellbound for one and a half hours with his musical genius.
The show was titled ‘ Rhythmscape’ and listening with rapt attention was President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wckremesinghe, former President Chandrika Bandaranike Kumaratunga with Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and other VIPs.
A widely acclaimed composer and percussionist, Ghosh had brought with him his skilled ensemble –S. Sekhar on mridangam, Abhishek Mallick on an electric sitar, Pulak Sarkar on keyboard, Satyajit Mukherjee on drums and vocalist Ambarish Das, along with sound engineer Shamik Guha Roy. Starting with ‘the dance of Shiva’ the fusion numbers based on the Indian classical ragas and performed with a combination of energy and ease, made for an unforgettable evening. In a little humorous anecdotal piece maestro Ghosh also vividly demonstrated the close link between human emotion and Indian drum rhythms, while also delighting the audience with his virtuoso depiction of how the Indian heart beats to the beat of the Indian drum.
The Indian Independence Day celebrations also included an exhibition on Ladakh by photographer Nilan Maligaspe- a collection of stunning images of this remote but culturally and geographically rich landscape.
In his element: Maestro Bickram Ghosh (above) and (below) with his ensemble. Pix by Amila Gamage
