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“The power of devotion has moved mountains; but the
power of faith has moved the destiny of human race. Music has been the
golden key to his spiritual evolution. Many times geniuses are made
but rarely are they born.” -Pushkar Lele stands the test of time.
"I know of only one Gharana - Divinity!", says Pushkar
A promising artiste of the young generation, Pushkar
has emerged today as an international artiste whose style reflects
an aesthetic blend of contemplation in music and technical exellence.
His maturity and understanding far exceeds his age. Since 1990 Pushkar
was a recipient of of the Central Government Scholarship for classical
vocal music awarded by Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New-Delhi. He
is currently the recipient of the scholarship from the Department of
Culture, Government of India. He has featured in 'Jeevan Gane',
a programme of light music on E-TV ( Marathi) Channel, 'Sur -
Taal ', a popular programme on Zee Marathi Channel, ' Music
- Masti - Gappa - Gani', a programme on Doordarshan (Sahyadri)
Channel and has been exclusively interviewed on Akashwani Sydney, Rajdhani Radio Canberra
and on
Radio Gandharva and Surabhi Channels on Worldspace Satellite Radio.
Pushkar been showered with blessings and appreciation
by musicologists,critics and stalwarts of classical music like Pt.
Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Late Shri. P.L.Deshande, Late Pt. Chota Gandharva,
Pt. Smt. Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Girijadevi, Ustad Sultan
Khan, Ganasaraswati Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Gundecha Brothers and many others.
Pushkar's gayaki has evolved from an intense and
deep study of the unique singing styles and musical ideology of Late
Pt. Kumar Gandharva. It is like lifting the 'Shiva Dhanushya'!
Guided by his Guru Pt. Vijay Sardeshmukh and Pt. Satyasheel Deshpande on this path, Pushkar has showcased
his deep understanding of the spirituality and the musical intricacies
of this gayaki.
Kumarji’s style is not something that can be absorbed by mere imitation.
One has to master the thought process that goes behind singing and
grammar of a Raga, apart from some unique ornamentation.
To the listeners, Pushkar's music music not only leaves
a soothing effect for the ears but is also a visual treat. Unlike (the
very common) singers who follow the traditional and stereotyped rule
of concentrating only on the strict parameters of a composition, he
comes across as a storyteller and communicator par excellence while
singing. His ability to engage the audience by direct eye contact, perfect
diction, romancing with the poetry , appropriate emphasis on words and
superb timing is mind-boggling!
A graded artiste of the AIR, he presents Natyasangeet,
Bhavgeet, Bhajan, Tappa, Thumri, Dadra Hori and other semi-classical
and light forms with exceptional ease and expertise.
A highly spiritual and cerebral person that Pushkar is, his maturity and
understanding far exceeds his age! His highly intellectual and emotional
insights into his music makes him a class apart.
Projects:
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Mala Umajalele
Vasantrao |
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Pushkar had
devised a programme titled 'Mala Umajalele Vasantrao'
based on his research on the gayaki of the legendary Late
Dr.Vasantrao Deshpande. Here Pushkar tries to express the very
core of Vasantrao's gayaki as he has understood it. The programme
received tremendous response from the audience across Maharashtra.
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Kumar
Gandharva Darhan |
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Pandit Kumar
Gandharva - An iconoclast, he broke free from the sahkles
of gharana-s and developed a style of his own which was
an amalgam of the most beautiful elements of North Indian Music.
Some called him a rebel, some hailed him as a prodigy, but his
music never failed to attract attention. A classicist, an innovator,
a cerebral musician, Kumar Gandharva was a music impresario par
excellence.
This programme is a humble and sincere effort of presenting
what Pushkar has been able to understand, learn and assimilate
about the musical ideology of Kumarji. The programme gives an
overview of the vast musical contribution of Kumarji and includes
traditional bandish-s sung by Kumarji, Kumarji's self-composed
bandish-s from Anoopraagvilaas, Thumri-Tappa-Tarana,
compositions from Kumarji's programme on seasons namely Geet
Vasant, Geet Varsha, Geet Hemant and Rituraaj Mehfil,
Natyageet-s from Kumarji's Mala Umajalele Balgandharva,
Marathi bhavgeet-s from Kumarji's programme Tambe
Geet Rajani, and devotional compositions from Kumarji's
programmes namely Tulsidas Darshan, Tukaraam Darshan, Triveni
and Nirguni Bhajan-s not to forget folk songs from Malva
ki Lokdhune.
The script bound programme (written in Hindi)
is interspersed with audio-visual clippings of Kumarji,
interviews of his close associates and montages of some of his
rare photographs. This programme is not an attempt to present
the life history of Kumarji but focuses solely on his music
and his thoughts related to music.
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Saguna
- Nirguna |
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Saguna- the visual and cognitive and
Nirguna - the intangible and ethereal are but the two sides
of one sublime thought. 'Saguna-Nirguna'
explores the form (absolute) and formlessness (abstract) of divinity
within and around us through the two different mediums of Bharatanatyam
Dance and Hindustani Classical Vocal. A Nirgun formless
raag gets a form through a Saguna bandish
just as the Nirguna lines and geometrical shapes give rise
to Saguna interpretative and sheer rhythmic dance.
In this concert, the talented and accomplished trio of Arundhati
Patwardhan-Juee Deogaokar and Pushkar try to explore physical
and metaphysical though a unique blend of music, dance, paintings
and literature.
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Pravaahee
Right from the times of Samaveda to today’s fusion music,
Hindustani Classical Music has seen many changes in its form,
texture and content. Similarly, from the Kathakas of the 14th
century to the court dancers in the Mughal era to the intra-cultural
dance extravaganzas of the 21st century, Kathak
has adapted itself to the changing times. Many generations of
Guru-Shishyas have devoted their lives to this rich tradition of
music and dance, contemplating and contributing in diversified
creation.
Tradition is not
like stagnated water in a pond. It is something that flows,
something that is ‘pravahee’ taking in new
influences that change its look at every turn. It is not just
replicating and reproducing what has been taught by the Guru
but contributing with one’s imagination and vision; yet keeping the
core values and basic framework intact.
In Pravahee, Pushkar collaborated
with one of India's renowned Kathak danseuse Shambhavi Vaze
to explore the changing facets of North Indian Music and Dance
through Hindustani Classical Vocal Music and Kathak. In this
three hour concert Vocal Music and Kathak
were interwoven in a homogeneous whole. The wide repertoire of
Hindustani Music comprising of Prabandha Gaayan, Dhrupad, Khayal,
Chatarang, Folk Music, Thumri, Tappa, Natya Sangeet and
Gazals were presented by the artist duo. Parallel to
this, the repertoire of Kathak consisting of Taal
presentation, Hori, Gat-bhav and Tarana were presented
by Shambhavi. This unique and one-of-its-kind production concluded
with a Jugalbandi by the artists. They were accompanied on
the Harmonium by Chaitanya Kunte and on the Tabla by
Charudatta Phadke.
The artistes took this unique production on a
month and half long tour of Australia and Singapore in
February-March 2008. They performed in various cities like Perth,
Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville.
Pravaahee was staged at the prestigious Canberra National
Multicultural Festival and got a phenomenal response at each
place.
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