A rapt audience was treated to an enthralling session of music by Padma Bhushan recipient Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, the renowned Mohan Veena exponent. This was the inaugural session of Saaz-Sargam, an inter-school instrumental music competition. He was accompanied on the tabla by the well-known percussionist and “Karma” band founder, Pandit Subhen Chatterjee.

The widely renowned Grammy Award winner began his performance with a composition of his own, Vishwa-Ranjini raga. His performance of a section of his Grammy Award-winning composition A Meeting by the River was the afternoon’s high point. Additionally, he engaged the crowd in a ghazal that he sang. Finally, he sang Vande Mataram.

Everyone in attendance found the hour-and-a-half-long performance of the many ragas to be a touching musical delight. The evening’s musical feast was enhanced by Pandit Subhen Chatterjee’s unique approach. The musical offering gained richness from his accompaniment.

This was followed by the competitive round of Saaz-Sargam in which 6 schools, namely, The BSS School, Gokhale Memorial Girls’ School, DPS (Ruby Park), Sri Sri Academy, D.A.V. Public School and the host school South Point High School participated. There were two rounds—Participants’ Choice and Judges’ Choice.

The winners of Saaz-Sargam 2023:

1. D.A.V. Public School

2. The BSS School

3. South Point High School

The First prize winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 20,000.

The Second prize winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 14,000.

The Third prize-winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 10,000.

The winners will receive the cash prizes on July 4, the Annual Prize Distribution Day of South Point.

Congratulations to the winners.

Priyanka Dutta