Ragas in the Rain

Pandit Chhannulal Mishra.

The last time Pandit Chhannulal Mishra came to the Capital, it was for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mishra is among those who proposed Modi’s candidature from Varanasi and had wanted to extend his famous Purabiya lilt at the ceremony. But since the ceremony was strictly time bound, there wasn’t much space for music. Now, a little over a month later, Mishra is set to perform at the Kamani Auditorium, today. “I’m not sure if he will come. Kaafi vyast rehte hain (he keeps really busy). I hope the organisers are extending him an invitation and he can make it,” says Mishra, who will evoke the rains with his kajris, jhulas and thumris at the 13th edition of Banyan Tree’s Barkha Ritu Festival. For his performance today, ragas from the Malhaar family will dominate. His opening performance will be followed by a sitar recital by Ustad Shujaat Khan and finale by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.

Mishra is one of the few singers in the country who is as adept at singing khayal gayaki of the Kiraana gharana as he is with the semi-classical thumris. In fact it’s his efforts along with the likes of Girija Devi that have given a serious status to thumri. “A lot of people would say this is easy. It’s not,” he says.

But it was only in 2012 that the world of popular music discovered him. Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan was Mishra’s Bollywood debut at the age of 75 with Saans albeli, a lyrically, musically and vocally potent composition in the delicate and difficult raag Todi. The singer sang his heart out in this one and there it was, the Purabiya lilt, he is so famous for, making an appearance in a contemporary set up. “I told them that I needed good lyrics. I wouldn’t have sung any song just like that,” says Mishra.
Growing up in the village of Hariharpur and learning music under Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan, Mishra never realised that he would be pursuing music. “I helped my Ustaad’s wife with household chores in the morning and Khan sahab would teach me in the evening,” says Mishra, who follows every answer with a shloka from the Ramcharitmanas.

The concert will take place  at Kamani Auditorium, 6 pm  onwards. Entry is free. 

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