Idea to hold jalsa concert series

Shimla, Nov 18 (UNI) Leading cellular service provider, Idea Celular, is holding the Jalsa concert series here at which the famour playback singer Suresh Wadkar will sing bhajans and songs.

Accompanying him would be newcomers Ritesh and Rajneesh Mishra, from the house of the famous Benaras Gharana, who are introduced by the Indian Musical Academy (IMA).

Going down memory lane, Mr Wadkar, who spoke to the media before the concert, said that he was performing in Shimla after 42 years.

''Then I had come with my Guruji, performed at the town hall and for accommodation had put up in a dharmshala,'' he said.

Durga Jasraj, daughter of maestro Pandit Jasraj and founder of IMA said that the concerts series was an effort to conserve and develop Indian classical music.

''IMA was conceived with the objective of introducing Indian classic music to younger generations as well as presenting upcoming maestros of classic vocal as well as instrumental music,'' said Ms Jasraj.

Introducing the Mishra brothers, she said that they were the sons of Pandit Rajan Mishra from the Beneras Gharana of music.

Speaking on the occasion Peter Cherian, Vice-President and circle head for Himachal, said ''Idea has always maintained its objectives of contributing to social causes and making an impact in areas outside their business.'' It is the second year of collaboration of IMA with Idea and plans are afoot to hold 24 concerts in 22 cities between September 07 and February 08.

Last year, 12 concerts were organized.

The doyens who are to perform in other concerts include Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Zakir Hussain, Pandit Jasraj, Kialash Kher, Pankaj Udhas and Jagjit Singh, Ms Jasraj added.

UNI