Stringing together

As he proficiently tunes the frets and effortlessly plucks the strings,they reverberate with mystic sounds. And resonance proliferates,both his and the instrument’s. Going places,gathering accolades sitarist Sameep Kulkarni sets out again for a series of concerts in UK along with performing at the inauguration of the Sai Baba temple in London.

Having played the sitar for the past 20 years,the 26-year-old artiste,who had done a similar tour of the United States last year too,has to his credit several albums released globally. “I will be playing on an international platform and in around 10 concerts sponsored by various associations. This also happens to be the first Sai Baba temple in London. Beginning June 25,one of the important performances is organised by the Maharashtra Mandal in London on June 27,along with the one at the temple on July 7. The shows will have Raag Yaman as well as folk tunes and dhoons (classical and semi-classical tunes). I will play three compositions,based in seven,12 and 16 beats,adds Kulkarni,who has been trained under Ustad Usman Khan and Ustad Shahid Pervez.

Senior software professional Kulkarni maintains his daily five-hour riyaaz and constantly performs on weekends. The artiste has also learnt tabla. However,he focussed on sitar at a later stage. Belonging to the Etawa gharana of music,he also plays different genres including Indian classical and western classical,pop,jazz and so on. Considering it a great experience to perform before a ‘mixed crowd’,Kulkarni adds,“The beauty of instrumental music is that it cuts across barriers of language and culture. Pandit Ravi Shankar had popularised the instrument in a great way and it is now appreciated and recognised throughout. All my international concerts have received enthusiastic response,irrespective of any particular country or place. Audiences there are well versed with the instrument and with our music.”