Performers
The Maihar Gharana is one of the oldest and most revered traditions of Hindustani Classical Music — a lineage passed directly from generation to generation, and carried into this afternoon by sitarist Nikhil Patwardhan and tabla player Shailesh Shenoy.
The recital opens with a meditative alaap and jod as an invocation to the raga itself. With a distinctive focus on the kharaj, the heavy bass strings of the sitar, the signature of the Maihar Gharana draws from the Dhrupad tradition. As the tabla joins, the conversation deepens through slow and fast compositions, intricate exchanges, and dynamic interplay, culminating in a fast-paced climax that showcases the spontaneity and virtuosity of both instruments.
The second half turns lighter with a series of expressive dhuns offering a joyful and accessible conclusion while preserving the depth, nuance, and emotional richness of the tradition. The music speaks through temperament, through season, through the rhythms of the natural world.
Rain. Raga. Radiance.
Supported by:
Performers
Nikhil Patwardhan
Nikhil Patwardhan belongs to the Maihar Gharana and brings over 35 years of engagement with Hindustani Classical Music. He began his training at the age of five under his grandmother, Smt Sarojinidevi Patwardhan, and his father, Shri Kumar Patwardhan, before receiving formal tutelage from Pandit Parthapratim Chatterjee. At fifteen, he was awarded the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training scholarship by the Government of India. He has performed across India, including on Doordarshan National TV, at the ICCR, and at the SZECC,Shailesh Shenoy began his journey in Hindustani Classical Music at the age of six, training first under his father, Pandit Haridas Shenoy, and subsequently under Pandit K. Pundalik Shenoy. A graded artiste of All India Radio, he has performed alongside renowned musicians at prestigious festivals across the country. He also plays the Santoor and teaches Tabla. and internationally in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Dubai. He teaches students across the globe and conducts music therapy sessions with the sitar. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States and works in the field of semiconductors and electronics.
Shailesh Shenoy
Shailesh Shenoy began his journey in Hindustani Classical Music at the age of six, training first under his father, Pandit Haridas Shenoy, and subsequently under Pandit K. Pundalik Shenoy. A graded artiste of All India Radio, he has performed alongside renowned musicians at prestigious festivals across the country. He also plays the Santoor and teaches Tabla.
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