The first edition of Sitar Rama Rao Utsav will be held in Bengaluru on November 30. Sitarist Subhendra Rao says, “This event celebrates the legacy and contribution of my father NR Rama Rao to the world of classical music.”

Speaking over phone from Delhi, Shubhendra adds, “I plan to make it an annual event and institute an award in my father’s name, which we plan to give to senior musicians and those who have contributed to music. Are. We are also planning to start scholarships for young musicians so that they can pursue classical music.”

“My father passed away 20 years ago and I’m thinking of starting something in his memory. I was too busy with my life and music to start anything at first. Now everything has come together and here we are holding the first celebration in my father’s name.”

Like his father, Shubhendra has taken training from the famous sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar. Rama Rao was associated with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for more than two decades and was an ICCR empaneled artist. Rama Rao performed all over the world and is recognized for his contribution to popularizing the sitar and North Indian music in Karnataka. Rama Rao was awarded the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, the State Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the prestigious T Chowdhaya Award.

Born in Mysore, Subhendra grew up in Bengaluru and moved to Delhi at the age of 18 to learn from Ravi Shankar. “I am lucky to be associated with Guruji (Ravi Shankar) and lucky to be born to my parents because they introduced me to the world of music.”

Shubhendra says, along with the pictures of Gods and Goddesses, there was also a picture of Ravi Shankar in his house. “He was worshiped for his music and as our guru, he is omnipresent. In the world of music, my father is called ‘Ram Bhakta Hanuman, Ravi Bhakta Rao’, the love between Lord Ram and Hanuman is compared to his respect for Ravi Shankar.’

Rama Rao, says Subhendra, was one of Ravi Shankar’s closest students. “Guruji repaid her love. In fact, I am also named after Guruji’s son Shubhendra.”

Shubhendra says, Ravi Shankar had the ability to invoke all the Navarasas in his music. “He was a consummate artist and had a childlike enthusiasm for learning, a quality he carried on even at the age of 90!”

This year the festival will feature two concerts – one by Subhendra and Bikram Ghosh, and the other by Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ravindra Yavagal (tabla).

“Bikram is a good friend and we have a lot of similarities in the way we are brought up. We both come from families where our parents were immersed in music. I wanted to bring in artists who knew my father personally and were aware of his work and contribution to music.”

Shubhendra says, unfortunately many of his father’s friends are no more. “Hariji (Chaursiya) is not only a dear friend of the family, but also a mentor to my wife (Saskia Rao-de Haas, a cellist and composer from the Netherlands). I thought it would be appropriate for Hariji to be a part of this celebration. He agreed only after being asked. “I can’t ask for a better blessing than having Hariji inaugurate the festival.”

Shubhendra says, this year’s award is in honor of late Dr. Rajeev Taranath. “He was closely associated with my father and our family. I still remember him coming into our house at the crack of dawn, calling my father’s name loudly and asking for filter coffee made by my mother.

After collaborating with various artists across the border, Shubendra composed ‘Ekta’ to honor German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to India in 2015. He also composed ‘When Gods Meet’ and ‘Apa Deepo Bhava’, which was composed by the late Odissi dancer Sonal Mansingh for her dance. Productions.

“This is not fusion music,” says Shubhendra. “I call it creations and collaborations. In fact, my wife and I do many of these things together and individually. We work with different styles. “It is not fusion, but like wearing different hats.”

The duo is promoting music in India. “We believe that a child’s education begins nine months before his birth. As was the case in the family, I took up music. However, there are many people who do not have access to such an environment or have no exposure to our classical traditions.

Saskia wrote a curriculum, Music: The Birthright of Every Child, which was launched by the Subhendra and Saskia Rao Foundation, says Shubendra. “The project covers music education curriculum from nursery to high school level and is India’s first music curriculum for new learners.”

This course has been launched in various schools across the country including Goenka School, Tata Steel Foundation and UNESCO. “Music should not be taught arbitrarily in schools. “It should be accessible to children, just like the Montessori method.”

Just because music is taught in schools, says Shubhendra, it doesn’t mean that anyone who learns it needs to become an artiste. “It’s similar to science, everyone learns the subject, but not all become scientists or mathematicians. We feel the same way about music.”

Subhendra Rao started the festival in the memory of his father Rama Rao. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

It is important for children to be rooted in their culture, says Shubhendra. “Our music program is Indian classical music-centric and the program is not about flute, sitar, singing, but just about music. No matter which country the music comes from, it is based on seven notes.

Shubhendra says, parents play an important role in instilling these values ​​in children. “It should start at the grassroots level, only then we can keep our heritage, culture and music alive.”

The first edition of Sitar Rama Rao Utsav will be held on November 30, 6 pm at Choudiya Memorial Hall. Tickets on BookMyShow.