Minati Khaund and her daughter Sunita Bhuyan perform at Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati

Violinist Minati Khaund, a name to reckon with in the world of classical music, recently completed 50 years of her association with swars.

Three generations — Khaund, her daughter and granddaughter — came together to celebrate the golden event at Rabindra Bhawan. Several other artistes also performed on the occasion .

The first item of the evening was presented by Khaund’s sister, vocalist Pranati Khaund. She sang two bhajans composed by singer Anup Jalota. With her perfect sense of melody and rhythm, Pranati created a divine ambience in the auditorium.

Pranati’s recital was followed by a group performance on violin by Khaund’s junior students, including her granddaughter Panchami Khaund. The performers enchanted the audience with their rendition of a small number based on Raga Bhupali. Two promising youngsters, Angshumala Phukan and Sanjana Phukan, also charmed the audience with their rendition of Raga Chhayanat. The classical music treat continued as vocalist Mitra Phukan presented a thumri and a dadra in her own style. She was well supported on the tabla by Dibyajyoti Changmai.

Next came the grand finale of the evening as Khaund took centrestage with her daughter Sunita Bhuyan, also an accomplished violinist.

The duo presented a piece in Raga Hamsadhwani, composed by Khaund’s mentor and violin maestro Pandit V.G. Jog.

After a soft, touching alaap and jod, the artistes played the vilambit laya in Rupak taal and the drut laya in teentaal.

Besides grammatical authenticity for which Khaund is known, the recital contained freshness and an endearing interaction between the two artistes.

Next, three generations of violinists — Khaund, Sunita and Panchami — came together to present Mahatma Gandhi’s popular bhajan, Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye... — an ecstatic experience altogether. The programme concluded with Sunita’s presentation of Pandit Jog’s composition titled Bharat Darshan, set to Raga Desh. She combined the tune of Bihu along with elements like bhangra, baul and Rajasthani tunes.