Indian vocalist enthrals audience

Dr. Kumud Diwan, a well-known semi-classical vocalist from India captured the imagination of the audience with her voice quality and poetic expressions when she rendered Ghazals and Thumris at Kularathne Hall, Ananda College, Colombo recently.

The musician selected Ghazals of Begum Akhtar and Farida Khanum for the concert. Through her renderings Dr. Kumud Diwan could express the longing, love and passion of human soul. For understanding the crux of Ghazal poetry Dr. Diwan translated the lines from Urdu to English and explained the meaning of couplets.

In her concert the accompaniment on Sarangi done by Farooque Lateef Khan showcased the beauty and range of the Sarangi which he inherited from Ud. Abdul Lateef Khan, his father.

On the harmonium Milind Kulkarni supported the renditions with equal virtuosity and delicacy of the main musician. Harshad Kanetkar excelled in his accompaniment on the Tabla and the audience appreciated the rhythmic patterns he wove on it.

The Ghazal concert was organized by the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo in association with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Arts, Western Province, Sri Lanka. Alhaj S. Alavi Mowlana, Governor, Western Province was the chief guest on the occasion and Ashok K. Kantha, the High Commissioner of India presided over the function. Pt. Amaradeva was the Guest of Honor. The Ghazal troupe led Dr. Kumud Diwan sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi toured in Sri Lanka and held concerts at Galle, Kalmunai and Kandy in addition to the Colombo concert.

Alhaj S. Alavi Mowlana, Governor, Western Province, the chief guest on the occasion umud Diwan at the concert and Ashok K. Kantha, the High Commissioner of India at the concert	Dr. Kumud Diwan at the concert