Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival celebrates Indian classical music

The Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival will take place at the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra’s open theatre this weekend. This famous festival celebrates Indian classical music and lasts three days, from March 21 to 23. The festival, which started nearly 80 years ago, made classical music more accessible to the public. Before it began, only those with invitations could attend concerts. At first, tickets cost ₹2, but now the festival is free for everyone. Many well-known musicians from North Indian classical music have performed at this festival. However, some notable artists, like Pandit Kumar Gandharva, were not invited early on. The festival has featured various instruments, including the violin, which has been less common until more recently. Shobha Deepak Singh, the chairperson of the festival, has helped organize it for 50 years. This year will be particularly special for her as it will be the first festival without her husband, Deepak. In his memory, she believes the festival must continue. The festival will open with Rahul Sharma playing the santoor and include performances from various artists throughout the three days. One of the highlights will be a performance by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who has been associated with the festival since the 1960s. He emphasizes that every performance of a raga is unique and highlights the universal nature of music. The festival will be held at the Open Air Theatre, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, starting each evening at 6 PM.