Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival – Celebrating Tradition and Talent

The music festival owes its inception to an all-night musical soirée organised by Kendra’s Founder, Mrs. Sumitra Charat Ram, on the eve of the country’s independence. Several greats from the world of Indian Classical Music participated in the event, enthralling the audience until the morning hours.

In the wake of this successful event, the Jhankar Music Circle was established to further the appreciation and understanding of Indian classical music. The Circle began by organizing monthly concerts and, eventually, an annual festival. Held initially at the Shriram House 18, Curzon Road, Delhi and then at the Constitution Club, these gatherings played a crucial role in reviving and sustaining interest in traditional Indian music As the festival grew, its programming expanded to include a wider array of performances, each carefully curated to ensure a diverse and enriching musical experience. The festival became a platform for both established maestros and emerging artists, showcasing a range of musical styles from across the Indian classical music spectrum.

Some iconic names who have performed here are Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubhai Hangal, Sr.Dagar Brothers, Mallikarjun Mansur, Ram Chatur Malik, Sharafat Hussain Khan, Pt. Jasraj, Begum Akhtar, Girija Devi, Kishori Amonkar, Rashid Khan, Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Ajoy Chakrabarty, Ulhas Kashalkar,            Kaushiki Chakrabarty, Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Shanti Sharma among the vocalists, and Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sharan Rani Backiwal, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shivkumar Sharma, Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, Pandit Ram Narayan, L. Subramaniam, N.Rajam, Rakesh Chaurasia, Purbayan Chatterjee, Biswajeet Roy Chaudhary and more.

The festival has been instrumental in facilitating the exchange of musical ideas and techniques among artists from various backgrounds. This interaction has helped preserve traditional forms while also encouraging innovation, allowing for fresh interpretations that engage both traditional audiences and newcomers to Indian classical music.

Despite facing organisational challenges, such as the withdrawal of the Shankarlal Foundation in 1993, the Kendra took on the responsibility of organising the festival independently, maintaining its prominence as an integral event in India’s cultural calendar. The festival’s continued success highlights its importance as a cultural institution.

The Kendra has a large bank of live recordings from Pandit D.V. Paluskar to Panna Lal Ghosh, Pandit Malikarjun Mansur, Salmat Nazakat, Yashwant Bua Joshi and Gundecha Brothers to name a few. The Kendra now has about 300 hours of live recordings that have been digitally remastered. The Kendra thanks the artists without whose support these recordings may not have seen the light of day.

The Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival is the oldest musical festival in the country. Since classical music has evolved over the past six decades, the festival format has been designed to meet today’s challenges while retaining its original flavour. The festival has pioneered the process of providing a forum for the best in Indian classical music to the people of Delhi.

By providing a stage for both renowned artists and promising new talent, the festival plays a crucial role in India’s cultural life. It nurtures the growth of Indian classical music and ensures its place in the global cultural landscape.