Pandit Buddhadeb Dasgupta performs with tabla exponent Debashis Sarkar in Ranchi on Sunday. Picture by M. Ganguly

Ranchi, Nov. 29: Sarod instead of CT scan. A living legend’s sarod magic after a teenaged sitarist’s proficiency. And the maestro’s gratitude to two capital’s neurologists, who helped him regain the flexibility of his fingers.

The Advanced Diagnostic Centre on Booty Road, Bariatu, sprung many such surprises as the venue of Sarang Music Centre’s classical music fest yesterday evening. Instead of doctors and technicians conducting the usual CT scans and MRI tests, a packed house of music lovers waited for renditions of Hindustani classical vocals and instrumentals.

With diverse attractions that included Calcutta-based 77-year old legendary sarod exponent Pandit Buddhadeb Dasgupta and Ranchi-based Class XI student and sitar exponent Saumitra Thakur, the event was a refreshing mix of seasoned and fresh performers.

The evening started with vocals by Beli Ganguly who presented payeliya jhankare, an abridged khayal on Raga Puriya Dhaneshri set in teen taal. Teenager Saumitra followed it up with a sitar recital in Raga Iman and after aalap, topped it up with drut laya set in teen taal. His deft handling of the instrument drew huge audience applause. “He will surely go a long way,” said Malay Layek, a music lover in the audience.

Then came the legend the audience was waiting for. Pandit Dasgupta, who trained under Pandit Radhika Mohan Moitra intensively for 38 years from the tender age of 10, has a distinct and unique blend of the ancient rabab style upheld by Ustad Amir Khan and the Rampur Seni gharana of Ustad Dabir Khan.

Sitting characteristically cross-legged with the stringed instrument on his lap, the maestro began his recital with an elaborate rendition of Raga Jay Jayanti, complete with aalap, jod and nara. Accompanied by two fellow Calcutta artistes, Debashis Sarkar on tabla and protégé Dwaipayan Roy on sarod, Pandit Dasgupta then proceeded with his famous rendering of a series of bandishes.

Dasgupta’s renderings turned interactive when he presented bandishes in Ragas such as Desh, Kafi and Suddha Kafi and also gave an illustration of how notes kept recurring.

While the hall was packed to the gills, many music lovers stood outside to listen to the performances.

The event was also living testimony to the benefits of medicine meeting music.

When the audience applauded Pandit Dasgupta’s dexterity on the sarod, he divulged how two acclaimed Ranchi doctors, Dr K.K. Sinha and Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee, were responsible for the continued proficiency of his performances.

“Two years ago, my fingers nearly refused to play sarod due to a nerve-related disorder. But these doctors not only treated me, they also sent me medicines to Calcutta. I am performing before you only because of their help,” he said. Dr Sinha and Dr Mukherjee were also the main organisers of the event.