Kolkata,India: March 29: Legends of India announced its 9th Annual Sangeet Festival here today in Kolkata. The event will be held on April 6, 2007 in Kalamandir, Kolkata. Sarod samrat Rajeev Taranath, world renowned flautist Pt. Ronu Majumdar and Kuchipudi maestro Padamshree Jayarama Rao and Vanashree Rao will perform at the show.
Addressing the media, Dipayan Mazumdar, Chairman Legends of India, said, "There are some decisions that change one's whole life. One such decision, taken over nine years ago was to launch the "Legends of India". It is an attempt to nurture Indian art forms, be it music, theatre or the fine arts. In the last nine years, we have organized more than 25 Festivals and presented over 150 artistes who include Legends of Indian Classical art forms besides those who are Legends in the making. In the process, Legends of India has taken on a life of its own and gained momentum that pushes us forward to take on more and more ambitious projects." Two eminent personalities of the music world, Shri Bikram Ghosh and Shri Tejinder Narayan Majumdar were also present at the conference.
Their new project in 2007 is the Legends of India Sangeet Festival in Kolkata for the very first time. The event is being organised in collaboration with Hutch. Both shall henceforth jointly present the annual Sangeet festivals. This will provide an opportunity to the music lovers of Kolkata to witness some of the legendary artists.
Hutch has had a long-standing involvement with art and culture in India. Over the years, it has made many exciting events possible. Hutch has been a partner in many cultural events like Kolkata's very own Odeon, featuring the cream of national and regional theatre. The aim of the Hutch group has always been to bring out the best of Indian classical art forms on one stage, a dream that it shares with the Legends of India.
The society has also introduced the Legends of India Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 2002 in order to honour an accomplished artist or organization for his/their unrelenting effort/s in promoting traditional art forms be it Sangeet, theatre and fine arts. Late Smt. Chandralekha, Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Shri Badal Sircar are some of the legendary artists who have received the award in the past.
Legends of India is a society and a non-profit organization. We wish to create an Institution of Culture conducting mutual exchange programs in India and abroad, imparting the knowledge of rich Indian art forms and provide educational amenities implementing Guru Shishya Parampara. In this endeavour we seek the support of all and the corporate world in particular.
"The aim to this society remains to bring the Legends of Indian classical music to the common man", said Krishna Bhadra, Secretary, Legends of India.
Legends of India has been hosting music, dance and art festivals in Delhi and Mumbai for the last 8 years successfully. It has presented "legends" like Ghulam Ali, Amjad Ali, Shubha Mudgal, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma to the people and aims to bring such legends closer to the people.