Bireshwar Gautam is a master of both art kathak and thumri
Times of India: He is a renowned dancer and classical vocalist. Kathak dancer Bireshwar Gautam started learning dance and music at the tender age of three and a half and today he is an internationally-known artiste.
“I trained in kathak under Guru Bandana Sen, the late Gopi Krishna and the late Damyanti Joshi,” says Gautam whose father Sailen Pal introduced him to the world of classical music, followed by Pt Vasantrao Kulkarni and Pt V R Athavle. “My guru Shobha Gurtu instilled in me the sensuous and romantic style of thumri singing,” he says.
Gautam’s introduction to both these art forms happened quite naturally as he was born in Kolkata and lived there for some time, before moving to Mumbai. “At that time, Kathak and Hindustani classical music were quite popular in Kolkata.”
On learning both these art forms together, he states, “Thumri singing is an intricate part of kathak so it happened quite naturally.”
Gautam will perform in the city during the Baajaa Gaajaa music expo, which will begin from February 6. As a tribute to 19th century music clubs called Parsi Gayan Uttejak Mandali’, Gautam will sing the thumri and also perform an abhinaya’. “I have been asked to sing the thumri, because I’m a kathak dancer,” he says.
On the Baajaa Gaajaa expo, Gautam says that it a great and innovative initiative. “Both Aneesh Pradhan and Shubha Mudgal, the expo organisers, have always tried to do something different without moving away from the originality of the musical style. I think in times when the classical music is not getting a lot of exposure, such an event can work well in taking the classical music far and wide,” he says.
He says that this festival will do great things for the classical music. “It is our duty to keep this tradition of music alive. Indian classical music is rich in content and is revered everywhere, even abroad,” says Gautam, who even performed before Prince Charles in London last year.
On performing in Pune, Gautam says that he likes the city, especially its appreciation for the arts and not to forget the weather. “I have performed quite a few times, including the Pune Festival, in the city and people have always liked my work. I hope this is the case this time around too,” he concludes.
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