Classical Music and Live Art for a Cause at Triveni – Season 3 Festival

Hyderabad, January 5, 2026: Triveni – Season 3, the annual music festival organised by Surmandal, witnessed a truly memorable evening of Hindustani classical music on Sunday night at Ravindra Bharati, Hyderabad.

The festival commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp by distinguished guests, marking an auspicious beginning to Triveni – Season 3. The ceremony was led by Vijaysen Reddy, Judge, High Court of Telangana; Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary – Industries, Government of Telangana; Puneet Kapoor, Deputy Commandant, Major General; and Kalyan Mukharjee, Chief General Manager, Canara Bank, Hyderabad.

The festival brought together sangeet, seva, and samhita, blending classical music and live art for a noble cause.

Founded in 1969 by Mohan Hemmadi with the blessings of the legendary Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Surmandal has played a seminal role in shaping Hyderabad into a major centre for Indian classical music. Triveni Season 3 also marked the organisation’s 57 years of dedicated service to Indian classical music and dance.

Conceptualised by Mohan Hemmadi, Triveni stands as a tribute to India’s classical legacy and pays homage to legendary stalwarts Ravi Shankar, Bhimsen Joshi, and M. S. Subbulakshmi, while also honouring the lifelong contributions of Anuradha Hemmadi and Mohan Hemmadi to cultural preservation.

The highlight of the evening was a spellbinding performance by Vidushi Kaushiki Chakraborty, one of the foremost exponents of the Patiala gharana and among the most compelling voices of Indian classical music today. Her artistry continues to redefine depth, discipline, and emotional honesty in vocal music, carrying Hindustani classical traditions to prestigious global stages such as Carnegie Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall.

The concert opened with Raag Shree, rendered in a traditional Hindustani style—a bold and demanding choice. The bada khayal “Chatur Sujan”, set to Ektaal (12 beats), unfolded with meditative repose, architectural clarity, and a deeply introspective alap. This was followed by a chhota khayal “Hari ke charan kamal” in Jhaptaal (10 beats), where her effortless taans and rhythmic play brought a luminous contrast.

A composition by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, set to Jhaptaal, was rendered with great sensitivity, earning special appreciation from connoisseurs.

She then moved to Raag Durga, presenting “Sakhi mori rum jhum”, marked by grace and rhythmic sparkle, followed by the powerful “Jai Jai Jai Durge Mata Bhawani”, which evoked a profound sense of devotion and collective resonance. Responding to sustained applause and audience demand, the evening concluded with the evergreen “Yaad piya ki aaye”, delivered with restrained emotion and aesthetic sensitivity. The nuanced variations, particularly the koyaliya swara phrases in the thumri, drew spontaneous and heartfelt responses from the packed auditorium.

The concert was elevated by outstanding accompaniment from Murad Ali on sarangi, offering a soulful melodic dialogue of remarkable empathy. Yashwant Vaishnav, young yet strikingly mature, displayed confident command over complex rhythmic passages. Tanmay Deochake provided steady, sensitive harmonic support, ensuring seamless cohesion throughout the recital.

Adding a deeply meaningful artistic dimension, renowned Hyderabad-based painter Sachin Jaltare created a live artwork during the concert, inspired by the music unfolding on stage. The painting was later presented to Sparsh Hospice, a palliative care centre for terminally ill cancer patients supported by the Rotary Club of Banjara Hills. The artwork was formally handed over to Mr Subrahmanyam of Sparsh Hospice.

Supporting Sparsh Hospice was a cause especially close to Mohan Hemmadi’s heart, and Surmandal expressed its honour in extending support to this noble initiative—reaffirming the belief that classical music can be a source of solace, dignity, and healing.

The full-house concert was attended by eminent members of society, including senior bureaucrats such as Jayesh Ranjan, reflecting the cultural stature and continuing relevance of the Triveni series in Hyderabad’s artistic landscape.

Triveni – Season Three stood as a celebration of artistic excellence, compassion, and community. Vidushi Kaushiki Chakraborty’s performance reaffirmed why she remains one of the most compelling voices of our time, while Surmandal Hyderabad once again demonstrated how visionary curation can seamlessly unite music, meaning, and social purpose in one unforgettable evening.