Tehai, in its maiden venture, selected three genres of music and pinned hope on its foreign connections through Koushik Bhattacharya. As expected this did attract the head of the classical vocalist’s alma mater apart from other aficionados on April 4 at the Birla Academy.

Sandwiched between his German disciple’s elementary endeavour and superb malleability of Tanika Bhattacharya’s rendition in lighter vein, Koushik began with Shuddh Kalyan. He made the best use of his deep, rich voice steeped in melody during the badhat in slow ektal. Opulently adorned by long standing notes and deliberate glides the true persona of the heavy raga emerged slowly. Hiranmay Mitra’s harmonium helped, but Swapan Bhattacharya’s tirkit on the tabla, which started with an unmusical thud, constantly disturbed the mood.

After the taar shadaj arrived at its pinnacle, the duni laya facilitated the sargam and vowel taans. Faster taans in drut teental were rather lacklustre due to the inaudible danas. A tappa in Mishra Kafi and a Bhairavi thumri stretched his recital beyond 75 minutes. Tanika’s high-pitched voice was at its emotive best in Tomar banshi penned by Archana Puri and composed by Koushik. Mike Litteg, supported by Annett Gunzel on the tabla, commenced the evening with a bhajan.