Performances
Kalapini Komkali – Tribute to Pandit Kumar Gandharva
On the occasion of his centenary birth anniversary, the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) is honoured to celebrate the life, legacy, and music of Pandit Kumar Gandharva. As one of the most innovative and visionary artists of the 20th century, he played a pivotal role in shaping the arts in modern India. His unique approach to music and his fearless experimentation with tradition have left a lasting impact on generations of musicians and artists across various disciplines.
This special celebration is designed to take the audience on an immersive journey into the world of Pandit Kumar Gandharva. The event will seamlessly blend his timeless compositions with deeply personal anecdotes and memories shared by his daughter and disciple Sushri Kalapini Komkali. These stories will provide rare insights into his aesthetic philosophy, approach to creativity, and the way Pandit Kumar Gandharva perceived the world around him.
The event will be led by his daughter, Sushri Kalapini Komkali, an accomplished vocalist who has dedicated her life to preserving and promoting her father’s musical legacy. Through her narrative, she will offer a glimpse into the remarkable journey of Pandit Gandharva, from his early days as a child prodigy to becoming one of the most respected and revered musicians in India. Her presentation will highlight the challenges he faced, his innovative spirit, and the profound love he had for music and humanity. She will present her father’s original compositions.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
Sushri Kalapini Komkali
Endowed with a wholly original, melodious and extremely rich voice, Kalapini is widely recognised as one of the finest and well – trained classical vocalists of India. She is the daughter and disciple of the legendary Pandit Kumar Gandharva and has also been trained by her illustrious mother, Vidushi Vasundhara Komkali.
Kalapini’s wide repertoire of ragas and compositions is further supplemented by the presentation of the traditional songs of Malwa representing the folklore and ethnic flavour of the region. The Sagun-Nirgun bhajans (devotional songs) of the various saint poets rendered in her inimitable style provide an ascetic flavour to Kalapini’s music.
Under the aegis of Kumar Gandharva Pratishthan, she has organised music festivals across all major cities of India and at Dewas to bring together major scholars, performers, as well as young artists. A performer of uncommon perception, Kalapini is popular amongst the youth for her lecture – demonstrations of Indian Classical Music. Acknowledging her immense contribution to Indian Classical music, she has been awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2023 by the Government of India.
