The almost two and a half hours concert had audience mesmerised and asking for more. Through music, Dr Vandana and the musicians transformed the music hall to a timeless journey
FROM LEFT: Sridhara Suveshwara Chari, Dr Vandana Jyotoirmayee, Amar Sangam Das, Cherry Abraham
A scintillating evening of Ghazal and Sufi music was held at Intercontinental Muscat performed by Dr Vandana Jyotirmayee, accompanied by Shreedhsra Chari on tabla, Amar Sangam on guitar and mandolin and Cherry Abraham on Organ.
The almost two and a half hours concert had audience mesmerised and asking for more. Through music, Dr Vandana and the musicians transformed the music hall to a timeless journey.
Dr Vandana’s selection of songs of the evening were classical Ghazals and Sufi songs, which left the audience spellbound all through the event, as the language of the Jabreen Hall of Intercontinental was roars of applause and clapping from all the corners.
Amit Narang, Indian Ambassador to Oman, was Chief Guest of the event, while Dornath Aryal, Ambassador of Nepal to Oman graced the occasion as Special Guest. Event’s Guests of Honour were Sunil D’Souza, CEO Travel Point and Haroon S. Khan, Managing Director, Al Manwari Trading and Contracting LLC.
Dr Gauhar Naqvi, head of the event organising committee, said the programme turned out to be a major attraction for the Urdu lovers and those who have interest in classical Ghazal and Sufi songs.
Shri Amit Narang, Ambassador of India in Oman honoured Dr Vandana
The programme sponsored were Travel Point, Intercontinental Muscat, Al Injaz Private School, Sea Pearls, Pink Stone Travel & Tourism, Badr Al Samaa Hospital, Al Jazeera airline, and Global Money Exchange.
A passionate singer Dr Vandana began learning music from the age of six, and the journey is on with national and international performances, teaching and learning music. For her, music is more than a passion; it includes her prayers and she considers it as a way of worshipping the Almighty.
“Music is a medium for me to connect with almighty… Sufi tradition is the tradition of love for one and all… seeing Almighty in everything…and this suits my inner being. Hence the love for Sufi music is there,” Dr Vandana said.
Besides singing, she also writes poetry and composes music.
“These are the hidden ones written and sung only for my Maalik (Almighty). Like a confidential conversation between me and Him,” she says.
She got the basics of music from her mother Dr Urmila Singh, who was honoured with many awards, including one from then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. Teaching is her other passion. She is a Senior Faculty of Mass Communication.
Her list of performances is long. She has performed in India, US, Bahrain and Oman.
Ardaas is her ‘bhajan’ album where the bhajans have been written and composed by Dr Vandana.
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A passionate singer Dr Vandana began learning music from the age of six, and the journey is on with national and international performances, teaching and learning music. For her, music is more than a passion; it includes her prayers, and she considers it as a way of worshipping the Almighty
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Association with Gharanas:
She learnt classical music from Gaya Gharana by Kameshwar Pathak, continued further with Shambhu Upadhyaya from Kirana Gharana, and currently continuing with Dr Meeta Pandit from Gwalior Gharana.
Her areas of singing are Ghazals, Sufi Music, and Light Classical Music.
Shreedhara Suveshwara Chari
Her music accompanist, Shreedhara Suveshwara Chari is one of the most promising tabla players in the Indian music scenario presently. Disciple of the great legend, Ustad Allarakha Khan, Chari originally hails from the state of Bihar but has been living in Mumbai since 1995.
Through sheer hard work and his considerable talent, Chari has created a niche for himself in not only classical and light music segments, but has also been working with the biggest music directors of the film industry like Anand-Milind, Nadeem-Shrawan, Jatin-Lalit, Ismail Durbar, Bappi Lahiri, Pritam, Vishal Bhardwaj etc.
He has also arranged rhythm for some blockbuster movies like Bajirao Mastani, Judwa, Roy, Toilet Ek Prem Katha etc. He has also worked in the Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Punjabi film industry.
Chari had the privilege of performing on stage with the great Jagjit Singh, the doyen of Ghazal singing. He has also played with the likes of Anup Jalota, Jaswinder Singh, Rajendra Mehta-Nina Mehta, Jaswant Singh and Shashank Shekhar.
Having performed across continents like America, Africa, Europe and also in the Middle-East, Chari has gained invaluable experience as a solo player as well as an accompanist. Today, he is a much sought-after tabla player who is fast turning into a star.
He has performed with Vandana for many concerts and Festivals Goa Music Festival, Bihar Mahotsav in Patna and in Salalah.
Amar Sangam Das
Amar Sangam Das, who played guitar and mandolin for the concert, is a Mumbai based Stroke player approved by A.I.R Delhi as a “B High, Grade” mandolin player & empanelled artist of 1.C.C.R Govt. of India. He is a disciple of the Great Mandolin Maestro (Pt U.Srinivas).
Amar is working as a staff artist in R.O.B (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) for last 23 years. Amar plays world ethnic stroke Instruments like Mandolin, Dotara, Bouzouki, Saz, Oud, Ukulele, Tenor Banjo, Tar, Rabab, Dulcimer, Tumbi, Charango, Lute Guitar.
He has worked with PadmaBhushan Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan, Javed Ali, Sonam Kalra, Padmashree Penaz. Masani, Kailash Kher, Talat Aziz, Kavita Seth, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Richa Sharma, Harshdeep Kaur, Shankar Mahadevan, Abida Parveen, Padmashree Hariharan, DJ Phukan, Monty Sharma, Millind Gaba, Dj Cheb i Chaba, Raghu, Dixit and Vandana in Oman.
He has performed in many World Music Festivals around the globe, Performed at Coke Studio with Sonam Kalra and has done his solo concerts in Guwahati & Europe.
Amar has travelled with his music to countries like – Oman, Egypt, London, Uzbekistan, South America, Nepal, South Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Dubai, Thailand and many more.
Cherry Abraham
Organ player, Cherry Abraham is an established pianist and an instructor at Harmony Music Institute, Muscat. He has participated in national and international events and is extremely passionate about teaching music. No matter what the style of music is, he is at ease. He enjoys collaborating with musicians.
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