Aman (left) and Ayaan Ali Khan perform in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 12: Sarod players Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan performed at the Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Samman festival here on Thursday.

The three-day festival was held to mark the second death anniversary of legendary Gangadhar Pradhan. Eminent artistes from the field of classical music and dance paid tribute to the Guru, who is revered for his contribution to Odissi dance and known as a pioneer in organising Odissi festivals.

Doyen of Odissi music Guru Raghunath Panigrahi felicitated the duo before their performance. They touched Panigrahi’s feet to seek his blessings.

Then began a musical conversation between Amaan and Ayaan, accompanied by tabla player Vijay Ghate. The music did all the talking. Be it a fervent rendition of raga Rageshri or a recital of Carnatic raga, Charukeshi, on the Hindusthani instruments, the presentation was unique.

Through their performance, Amaan and Ayaan, sons of sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, showed why they had caught the attention of connoisseurs in the international music arena at such a young age.

A dance recital by Odissi guru Nabakishore Mishra preceded the sarod recital. Through fluent movements, the veteran dancer depicted the making of Buddha in the recital Nirvana. Mishra also performed Kaibartya prasanga, an episode from the Ramayan.

Organised by the Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Foundation, the festival conferred awards on veterans from the field of music and dance on the second evening. Odissi dance guru Gotikrushna Behera, vocalist Shyamamani Devi and tabla player Umesh Kar received the awards this year.

Hindusthani vocalist Nirali Karthik, Odissi exponent Sujata Mohapatra dance school Nrityagram’s artistic director Bijayini Satpathy and sitar player Budhaditya Pradhan performed on the inaugural day.

“I miss guruji a lot. He was and will always remain my inspiration,” said Satpathy, a disciple of Gangadhar Pradhan and a product of his school, Odisha Dance Academy.