Udaipur, with a captivating start by the Tabla Tandav performance. This event, which seamlessly combined vocal, instrumental, and dance performances, left the audience enthralled. Organized by the Western Region Cultural Center, Udaipur, the festival featured renowned artists from various genres.
On the first day, Pt. Kalinath Mishra and his ensemble of 17 artists set the stage with the Tabla Tandav, a unique fusion of tabla and dance. This mesmerizing performance, directed by Kiran Soni Gupta, the director of the Western Region Cultural Center, showcased the rhythmic brilliance of Pt. Kalinath Mishra. The performance included elements like "Banaras Ka Uthan" in three taals, displaying the grace of rhythm, and more, which captivated the audience.
Following this was a Kathak presentation showcasing the fusion of South Indian Mridangam and Western drums. Anand Tandav, Shiv Tandav, and Krishna Tandav joyfully filled the audience. Rajkumar Sodha, a noted Bollywood artist, enthralled the audience with his skillful saxophone performance. Pt. Kalinath Mishra's rendition of Megh Malhar, accompanied by various instruments, left everyone spellbound.
The event also featured a presentation of Rajasthani Mand music with the Sound of Color Music. The program beautifully blended Tabla and Kathak. The evening saw soulful renditions of traditional songs like "Chhaap Tilak" and "Mohe Naina Milaike." The event concluded with the patriotic song "Vande Mataram," leaving a sense of pride and reverence.
The program began with a ceremonial lighting of the lamp by distinguished artists, and at the end of the event, the artists were honored with a mural art portfolio. Kiran Bala Kiran and other key figures managed the event smoothly.
The performances were a collaboration of various artists and instrumentalists. Pt. Kalinath Mishra led the Tabla Tandav, accompanied by tabla, dholak, and kohan players. Other performers included Satyaprakash, Avinash, Hemant, and Sohan on percussion instruments, Dakshinamurti on mridangam, Hemant on pakhawaj, Prathamesh on drums, Rajkumar Sodha on saxophone, Vaibhav Mankad on vocals, Mandviya Arpit on sarangi, Alka Gurjar on sitar, and Devu Khan on khadtaal. Dr. Khushboo Panchal, Ritu Panwar, Bichitra Mukhopadhyay, and Pranjali presented the Kathak dance performance.
The second day of the Malhar Festival showcased a convergence of various classical dance styles from across the country. The event featured 28 artists performing Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Kathak, Sattriya, Odissi, and Mohiniattam. These classical dance forms were directed by Guru Vanashree Rao, who had received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Kiran Soni Gupta, the director of the Cultural Center, mentioned that witnessing the convergence of these dance styles would be a thrilling experience. The event was open to the public and occurred in Shilpgram's Darpan Auditorium at 7:00 PM.