The inaugural edition of Naad, a music and dance festival, was held at a city auditorium from March 25 to 27. Renowned personalities from the Indian classical music and dance industry across the country showcased their talent under one roof.
The festival, directed by percussionist Bickram Ghosh, is a collaboration between a charitable public trust and his late father’s foundation, with the support of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The aim of the festival is to present Indian music and promote different genres in the coming years. In its first year, the focus was on classical music, but the festival plans to incorporate other genres going forward. Ghosh has curated the festival to appeal to all generations, particularly the youth.
One of the highlights of the festival was the jugalbandis, or duets, between artists from North or East India and artists from South India. Pt Debashish Bhattacharya performed with Vidwan Rajhesh Vaidhya, while Vidwan S Sekhar showcased his talent alongside Pt Anindo Chatterjee. Another captivating performance featured Rakesh Chaurasia, who played the classical flute alongside percussionist Anubrata Chatterjee.
Pt Tejendra Narayan Majmdar expressed his excitement about the festival, emphasizing its unique concept. After a long break, live shows are finally making a comeback in our lives, and being a part of Naad is a breath of fresh air for performing artists like himself. The opportunity to perform in front of a live audience after such a hiatus is rejuvenating and invigorating.