Mar 09 2025 to Mar 09 2025 11 a.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

The Sarod, a relatively new introduction in the world of Hindustani classical music has established itself as one of the foremost instruments in this niche artform garnering love from all corners of the world. Originating from the Afghan Rebab, and demonstrated proficiently and intellectually by the masters of the senia Gwalior and Shahjahanpur gharanas, the Sarod was later received with open arms by the Maihar Gharana in the late 1800s, headed by Ustad Alauddin Khan, and popularised by his son Ustad Ali Akbar Khan as well as Pandit Ravi Shankar.

This morning concert features Abhishek Borkar, a pupil of the Sarod with roots in Maihar Gharana, through his father Pt. Shekhar Borkar, himself a disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. The performance will dive deep into the music of Maihar, as well as present intricate techniques of the Senia and Shahjahanpur gharanas, beautifully melding into a wholesome and rounded Sarod concert which will present tradition and modernity with just the right balance.

You will experience through this session, the impact and perception of an ancient tradition through a young lens, as well as the role global music plays in our everyday lives.

Performers

Abhishek Borkar
Sarod
Abhishek Borkar, a versatile young musician, was drawn to the sarod early on. Born into a musical family in Pune, he initially trained in vocal and tabla before dedicating himself to the sarod under his father, Pt. Shekhar Borkar, of the Maihar Senia Gharana.

He gave his first concert at ten, earning praise for his erudition. Awards followed, including the C.C.R.T National Talent Scholarship (age 11), the Senior Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture (2016), and the Sangeet Pratibha National Award (2020). His first solo CD, Pratibha, was released in 2008, and he has performed widely, including at the Darbar Festival in London.

Abhishek blends sarod, sitar, sarangi, and vocal styles, creating a unique musical identity. He has performed extensively in India and internationally, alongside his brother Praashekh and at prestigious festivals like Sawai Gandharva and Tansen Samaroh.

During the 2020 lockdown, he founded Artists United, a digital platform showcasing over 400 artists. Influenced by Ustad Allauddin Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, he also teaches music and plays the guitar. A Commerce graduate with a master’s in Indian Music, he continues to evolve the Tarankaar Baaz and Sur-tarang styles pioneered by his father. As he says, “Music comes from the heart, and the heart never ceases to sing.”

Ravindra Yavagal
Tabla
Pandit Ravindra Yavagal began his musical journey under his father, Late Sri Ramachandra Yavagal, at the age of four. He continued his tabla training with Sri Veeranna Kamkar of Hubli and later honed his craft under Pandit Sheshagiri Hanagal, a renowned tabla artiste from Dharwad, maintaining a musical association with him for nearly three decades. He also received guidance from Pandit Lalji Gokhale, a disciple of the legendary Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakhwa.

Recognised as a child prodigy, Yavagal gave his first solo performance at age ten at the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Music Festival in Kundgol.

A top-ranking artist of All India Radio and a postgraduate in music from Indira Kala Vishvavidyalaya, Khairagarh, he is among the most sought-after tabla players in India today, captivating audiences with his masterful fingering techniques.