Rock musicians from Japan perform in Puri. Pictures by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 14: Rock music presented in a new flavour has thrilled the young audience, as well as the rural listeners, at a music festival hosted near Puri on the premises of Chandrasekhar Academy.

The highlight of the festival was the Japanese artistes, who performed not only rock numbers, but also Indian classical instrumental.

Organised by the India Japan Friendship Centre, 30 Japanese artistes performed at the show on Tuesday evening. While rock singer Nachoso Nia Hara gave an energetic performance, Kaoru Kishida was outstanding on the guitar. Masahiro Yamanaka was impressive on drums. The team presented Japanese rock numbers that received rave response from the crowd.

“Though we did not get the meaning of the songs, the music was pulsating,” said Abhinav Sahoo, a music lover.

Many Japanese artistes played instrumental compositions on tabla and bamboo flute “dizi” and so on. “At the India Japan Friendship Centre, tourists and visitors from Japan are given a chance to learn tabla, sitar and various Indian classical arts, so that they keep coming back to learn more. Many of our Japanese students performed at the event,” said host of the rock show and president of the Friendship Centre Srimanta Dash.

The daylong festival took place near a village along the Puri-Konark Marine Drive and many rural people turned up to enjoy the music.

“Usually, we hear of such musical programmes being organised either in Bhubaneswar or in Cuttack. We are glad that this time, we, too, got a chance to enjoy this unusual music,” said a local viewer.

Apart from the Japanese performers, many Odia artistes were also seen on stage. Diver Sabir Bux, who also tries a hand at music, showcased a welcome song in Japanese for the visitors while many local artistes teamed up with the singers and musicians to present wonderful fusion music. Well-known Odia playback singer T. Shouri rendered a song devoted to Buddha.

Former chief minister Giridhar Gamang, who is renowned for his proficiency in tribal music, was also seen getting into an instrumental jugalbandi (duet) with the Japanese percussionists.

“We are extremely delighted with the response. It was amazing to perform alongside the Indian artistes,” said Yukie Sakai, a Japanese tabla player.