Classical artiste Salil to spell magic today

Gurnaaz Kaur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 20

After a hiatus of close to eight months, the curtains will finally go up for a classical live performance in the tricity tomorrow.

Noted classical artiste Salil Bhatt will mesmerise the audience at the Pracheen Kala Kendra. It will be the first major performance for the Satvik Veena player. Although he did a couple of live concerts during the lockdown, it felt like an assassination of art, music and artiste put together. “Everyone preferred only online shows but after doing two or three such concerts, I realised performing online without any audience and without the real setting is just like you are assassinating the art. So, my father and I stopped immediately.”

Limited audience

Sajal Koser of Pracheen Kala Kendra is all too happy to bring classical art to the city. He says it’s high time things got back to normal for the world of art. “On the day of the concert, the entire premises will be disinfected twice or thrice and it’s strictly “no mask, no entry”. A limited number of people have been invited and the seating arrangement will be marked. We will also provide masks at the venue.” Since a limited number of people are invited, the show will be telecast live on various social media platforms, including the official YouTube channel, Facebook and Twitter.

Performing art and gadgets are not a great combination for some justifiable reasons. “Who will hold a mobile handset for an hour? And when we did the shows, we saw people come, visit for a few seconds and then move ahead aimlessly. Someone entering the session, someone walking out, it’s very distracting for everyone.”

This performer breathes and lives through his art and audience. Thus this show means some semblance of normalcy finally. “For a performer that energy exchange is a must. That’s what the art is all about. An artiste will die if he doesn’t get the applause and appreciation, the reaction from his audience instantaneously. That’s how we have lived our life from day one. The ambience is all lit up, then we appear, the curtains go up, the whole vibe is so dramatic and uplifting. The applause at the end gives you the reason to live for another day.”

Ask him if there’s any apprehension to come on the stage during the pandemic and pat comes the answer. “No apprehensions, no doubts whatsoever. The entire world is going on, the system is working. Visit any market or public places and you’ll know if any protocol is being followed at all. Here every necessary precaution is being taken and it’s a limited audience show, so there is no reason to worry.”