In a mesmerizing evening at the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU) in Masabtank, Ronkini Gupta, a versatile vocalist celebrated in mainstream cinema and a three-time Filmfare nominee, left classical music enthusiasts spellbound with her debut performance in the city.
Acclaimed as A.R. Rahman's favorite classical musician, Gupta inaugurated her performance with the evocative Rag Bhimpalasi. This raga, characterized by the subdued longing of a lover, carries a serene dignity while throbbing with profound emotion, effectively capturing the essence of Shringar Rasa.
Her second rendition was a delightful bandish about rain, an ode to welcoming its arrival. Gupta humorously connected with the audience by recounting, “On my arrival, somebody said, ‘If you are coming from Mumbai, please bring some barish (rain) along with you.’ Hence, I chose to render this bandish.”
Gupta's repertoire for the evening spanned several ragas and her own compositions, including:
Raag Bhimpalasi: "Nayya Mori Paar" - Vilambit Khayal; "Dekho Bijuria" - Drut Khayal in Teentaal
Raag Jog: "Mora Jhanjharva" - in Rupak; "Naveli Naar" - Drut Bandish in Ektaal
Raag Shyam Kalyan: "Shyam Chhabi" - in Jhaptaal
Raag Hansadhwani: "Arana" - in Rupak
Other compositions: "Saawan ki Saanjh" in Teentaal; "Ae Ri Sakhi" in Ektaal
The Hindustani Classical Recital, organized by Surmandal in collaboration with Telangana Tourism and the Government of Telangana, drew an audience of about 200 classical music aficionados. The event highlighted Gupta’s extensive musical training spanning over 25 years, solidifying her status as a distinguished vocalist.
Gupta’s accolades include three Filmfare nominations for Best Female Playback Singer for the chart-toppers "Rafu" from Tumhari Sulu and "Chaav Laaga" from Sui Dhaaga. Her rendition of "Tula Zapnaar Aahe" earned her the Zee Talkies Maharashtra's Favorite Singer Award in 2020. Recently, she was honored with the Swar Kokila Lata Mangeshkar Award. Her performances at prestigious festivals across India further underline her acclaim in the classical music scene.
Accompanying Ronkini Gupta were Ashish Ragwani on tabla and Deepak Marathe on harmonium. Ragwani, a prodigious talent, has performed with stalwarts like Shri Anup Jalota, Pt. Ravichari, and Shri Ashwin Srinivasan. Marathe, likewise, boasts collaborations with renowned musicians such as Pt. Jayateerth Mevundi, Padmashree Hariharan, and Ustad Rashid Khan.
The concert also featured contributions from two local tampura artists. The evening commenced with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, with Siddharth, Nagesh, Narender, and Gajendar Shewalkar joining Ronkini Gupta in this auspicious start to a memorable performance.