A snapshot from Sitar Ramarao Utsav’s 2024 edition
| Photo Credit: Kishan
In November 2024, a concert to commemorate the life and music of late sitar maestro Pandit NR Rama Rao was launched by his son, Pandit Shubhendra Rao. The Sitar Ramarao Utsav returns this year, with performances by Padma Shri Shubha Mudgal, Saskia Rao-de Haas, Pandit Aneesh Pradhan and others such as Ishaan Ghosh on the tabla and Pandit Sudhir Nayak on the harmonium.
“The first Lifetime Achievement Award is being given to Dr P Sriram, managing director of the Bangalore Kidney Foundation, for his contribution to society and unstinted support to the arts. There will also be a short presentation by my father’s disciples performing a special sitar ensemble,” says Shubhendra.
Saskia Rao-de Haas
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
He adds that his father’s inspirational journey, “selfless dedication to the promotion of the sitar and contribution to the cultural ethos of Karnataka needs to be celebrated and duly acknowledged”. “It is with this thought that sitar Rama Rao’s family and disciples from across the globe have come together to celebrate his life,” he says of his father who was the recipient of the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, the State Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and the T Chowdiah Award.
Saskia, creator of the Indian cello, is looking forward to sharing “the magic of pure Hindustani classical music” with the instrument she created in 2004. The Dutch cellist, now settled in New Delhi with husband Shubhendra, says, “My musical journey is deeply rooted in the Maihar Gharana’s instrumental traditions, and I’ve spent years exploring both the intricate vocal styles of Khyal and the meditative depth of Dhrupad alap-jor-jhala. For this concert, I want to take you on a journey through the timeless repertoire that meant so much to my late father-in-law.”
The artiste adds, “This is the music that called to him so powerfully that he left the security of his engineering studies in Bengaluru and travelled to Delhi to study with his guru, choosing the uncertain path of a classical musician. That passion and dedication inspires everything I do.”
A snapshot from Sitar Ramarao Utsav’s 2024 edition
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Mudgal, who has been studying two Hindustani classical vocal forms, the Khayal and Thumri-dadra, for several decades now, will be presenting a repertoire from these forms. Addressing the role of women in Indian classical music, the artiste says she is a first-generation musician.
“Despite that, with unconditional support from my family, I have been able to study music and make it my life’s work. I have also been fortunate to receive encouragement and acceptance from listeners.” However, she says, “there are instances of women being exploited, suppressed and treated unfairly even in the field of music and those instances cannot be ignored or swept aside”.
Saskia is especially looking forward to Mudgal’s performance of ‘Madhuvanti’, a special composition “by my husband that will be performed by his sister, cousin, and his father’s disciples”. “It is a beautiful tribute, and the sitar ensemble brings it to life magnificently,” she concludes.
On November 28 at 6 pm, at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bengaluru. Tickets on Bookmyshow
Published – November 17, 2025 01:14 pm IST
