Sawai merchandise to build bonds with youths

PUNE: Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, the organizers of Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, have introduced a range of merchandise ahead of the annual music festival to engage young listeners. The festival will start on December 11.
Furthering their efforts to engage with Generation Y, Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal - organizers of Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Mahotsav, have introduced a range of merchandise in the run up to the annual Indian music bonanza which will unfold on 11 December (next week Thursday).
Shriniwas Joshi, executive president, Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, said the merchandise includes T-shirts, coffee mugs, sling bags and caps. "It is to connect better with youngsters who will be committed patrons of the event and inspire contemporary artistes," Joshi said. The merchandise will cost around Rs 100. He added that the organizers won't look at the sales as a source of income.
Hrishikesh Deshpande, director of entertainment production house Indian Magic Eye, has created the items with Mirchandice.
"My father (the late Bhimsen Joshi) had once noticed a few youngsters listening to the performances while eating snacks at the stalls outside the venue. He asked the volunteers to invite them to the pandal to get a better experience," Joshi recalled.
He said as is the practice, two special initiatives - Shadja and Antaranga will take place between December 11 and 13 at Sawai Gandharva Smarak Hall on Ganeshkhind Road near Rahul theatre in Shivajinagar.
The Shadja series will comprise short films Ek Surila Darvesh - Rajab Ali Khan (December 11), Pandit C R Vyas - Raag Shuddha Kalyan (December 12) and an audio-visual presentation on Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi by Bakul Bhavsar (December 13). The Antaranga section will have special interactive sessions with singers Ajay Pohankar (December 11) and Suresh Wadkar (December 12).
Films in Shadja series will start at 10.30am followed by Antaranga attractions at 11.30am. Entry to both will be free on first-come-first basis, Joshi said.
'Virasat' - an exhibition of photographs by renowned photographer Sateesh Pakanikar is one of the major attractions at the festival. This year's exhibition will display photographs establishing the bond between artistes of different generations.
Photographs of singer Hirabai Badodekar and her grandson Nishikant Badodekar (tabla player), sarangi player Ram Narayan and his son Brij Narayan who is a sarod player, tabla maestro Suresh Talwalkar along with his daughter Savani and son Satyajeet, Bhimsen Joshi and his son Shrinivas Joshi are included in the show.