MUMBAI: The rains have come back with its wonders! Think of the rains, and you automatically think of Malhar, the oldest and one of the most melodious ragas of Hindustani classical music, with its innumerable varieties attributed to nature’s gift of the monsoon season.

The combination of monsoons and music is magical. To spread this magic, Pancham Nishad Creatives have come into the seventh year of Malhar Rang, a musical concert on 21 June 2013 at Nehru Centre, Worli with performances from classical veteran vocalist Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar and sitar player Budhaditya Mukherjee.  The concert begins from 6:30 pm onwards.

Ulhas Kashalkar, one of the most sought after Hindustani classical vocalists. He has received training in the Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra Gharanas, and is considered a representative of all three schools. He adheres to the aesthetic contours of each individual style, and also to the formal demands of the raga being presented. He is well known for his authentic presentations of seldom heard traditional ragas.

Budhaditya Mukherjee a world renowned sitar and surbahar player of the Imdadkhani Gharana, he was taught by his father Bimalendu Mukherjee. In 1970, he won two national-level music competitions, and soon after was famously endorsed in glowing terms first by film maker Satyajit Ray and then South Indian veena great Balachander, who proclaimed him "sitar artist of the century”. Mukherjee has toured the world extensively, giving concerts in over 25 countries. He has also taught students from different parts of the world from time to time at the Istituto Interculturale di Studi Musicali Comparati in Venice and the Rotterdam Conservatory.

Pancham Nishad Creatives director Shashi Vyas quoted, “Malhar Rang is the first concert of this season in Mumbai. This concert is very close to my heart as monsoon creates magic in the air and this magic will be multiplied by the maestros of classical music Ulhasji and Budhadityaji performing various Malhar art forms like Miyan Malhar, Ramdasi Malhar, Megh-Malhar, Surdasi Malhar, Gaud Malhar and more.”

"Performing in Mumbai has always been a great experience. The audience genuinely loves classical music and cheers us giving more vigor to perform at our best,” said Budhaditya Mukherjee. 

Adding to this moment Ulhas Kashalkar said, “We will be signing variety of Malhar ragas and as per the tradition, these ragas are sung only during the rains, as that's when they get their full flavour. The rains help in capturing the spirit of the ragas.

Tickets for the concert are available from June 16, 2013 at the venue, Maharashtra Watch Co. Dadar and Rhythm House priced at Rs 300, 200, 100 for further information please contact 022 24188494.