1. art and entertainment
2. dance

Bansuri: It is a transverse flute of India made
from a single hollow shaft of bamboo with
six or seven finger holes. An ancient musical
instrument associated with cowherds and
the pastoral tradition. The Bansuri is revered
as Lord Krishna's divine instrument and is
often associated with Krishna's Rasa lila;
mythological accounts tell of the tunes of
Krishna's flute having a spellbinding and
enthralling effect not only on the women. Shehnai: It is a double reed oboe,
common
in
India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iran, made
out of wood, with a metal flare bell
at the end. Its sound is thought to
create and maintain a sense of
auspiciousness and sanctity and, as a
result,
is
widely
used
during marriages.
Pt. Rajendra Prasanna: Born in year 1956, Pt.
Prasanna belongs to a musical family of Banaras
Gharana. He is son of Late Pt. Raghunath
Prasanna who was also known as Basuri King .
Pt Rajendra Prasanna is one of the most popular
flute and shehnai player in India today. Top Grade
Artist of All India Radio.
He is known for his rendering of light classical
genres like thumri, chaiti, kajri on both bansuri
and shehnai and for performing ragas Shri, Kedar
and Gorakh Kaylyan on flute.
His Key Achievements are:
• He is Grammy Award Certificate Winner in year 2004
• His major concerts are Edinburgh festival (UK), WOMAD Festival (Australia, New
Zealand)
• He is among few artists in the world who got honour to perform in UNO
Headquarters and Concert of George in London.
• He is Top Grade Artist of All India Radio.
• He has performed numerous shows for BBC Radio, Radio One and many more.
We are delighted that he had accepted our invitation to perform at India Art,
Culture and Heritage Fiesta 2014, Hong Kong.
The rebab also known as joza" or "jawza is a type of a bowed string instrument so
named no later than the 8th century and spread via Islamic trading routes over much of
India, North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Europe, and the Far East. The bowed variety
often has a spike at the bottom to rest on the ground, and is thus called a spike fiddle in
certain areas, but plucked versions like the kabuli rebab (sometimes referred to as the
robab or rubab) also exist. Furthermore, besides the spike fiddle variant, there also exists
a variant with a pear-shaped body, quite similar to the Byzantine lyra and the Cretan lyra.
This latter variant travelled to western Europe in the 11th century, and became the
rebec.
It usually consists of a small, usually rounded body, the
front of which is covered in a membrane such as
parchment or sheepskin and has a long neck attached.
There is a long thin neck with a pegbox at the end and
there are one, two or three strings. There is no
fingerboard. The instrument is held upright, either
resting on the lap or on the floor. The bow is usually
more curved than that of the violin.
The rebab, though valued for its voice-like tone, has a
very limited range (little over an octave), and was
gradually replaced throughout much of the Arab world
by the violin and kemenche. It is related to the Iraqi
instrument the Joza, which has four strings
Hindustani Vocal: It is the Hindustani or North
Indian style of Indian classical vocal found
throughout Eastern Pakistan and North India. The
style is sometimes called North Indian classical
music or Shāst iya Sangīt or Klāsikī Mausī ī. It is a
tradition that originated in Vedic ritual chants and
has been evolving since the 12th century CE,
in North India and to some extent in Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Today, it is one of
the two sub-genres of Indian classical music, the
other being Carnatic music, the classical tradition
of South India.
Master Mehndi Hasan: He is young ustad of Rampur sahaswan gharana he is a versatile
singer.
He is the Great grandson of Late Padmabhushan Ustad Mushtaq Husain Khan and
grandson of Late Ustad Ghulam Husain Khan.
Mehndi Hasan not just sings Indian classical Raagas he is amazing at singing western songs
as well.He is performing since age on 9 Years. He is one of the youngest Indian
International Singer based in Hong Kong.
Bharata Natyam: It is a classical
South
Indian dance form that originated in the
temples of Tamil Nadu. This dance form denotes
various 19th- and 20th-century reconstructions
of Sadir, the art of temple dancers
called Devadasis. Bharata Natyam is known for
its grace, purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque
poses. Lord Shiva is considered the God of this
dance form. Today, it is one of the most popular
and widely performed dance styles and is
practiced by male and female dancers all over
the world.
Ms Roopa Kiran: Roopa kiran, a dancer, teacher, choreographer and a
performing artist who hails from a princely city of Mysore, started learning
Bharatanatyam in Pandanallur style at the age of 5 under the guidance of her
renowned guru Dr. Vasundhara Doreswamy in Mysore, Karnataka. She displays
aesthetic taste and innovative skill while retaining the traditional purity of the
style. Her main objectives are to promote the beauty of Indian classical dance
outside India, to bring people together and achieve mutual understanding and
harmony through the art form.
Ghazal: It is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing
the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss
or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in
6th-century Arabic verse. It is derived from the Arabian panegyric qasida.
Ghulam Abbas Khan: One of the prominent young vocalists of India, He belongs to the
Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana. He was initiated into music at a tender age by his grandfather,
the late Ustad Ghulam Jafar Khan, a well known sarangi player of India. Later he continued his
training under the guidance of his father Padmashri Ustad Ghulam Sadiq Khan, a classical
vocalist of international repute. Ghulam Abbas happens to be the grandson of the great
classical vocalist of India late Ustad Mushtaq Husain Khan who was the first recipient of the
Padmabhushan Award.
• He was invited by the Government of Mauritius to perform
for the 100th Birth Anniversary of Sir Abdul Razzak
Mohamed.
• In 2007 Ghulam Abbas Khan performed in special concert
held at Rashtrapati Bhawan (President House) in front of
Honorable President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• In 2009 he received the Senior Fellowship Award for the
research in Indian Classical Music from Department of
Culture, Ministry of Human Resources of India.
Ustad Nishat Khan: Nishat Khan is universally
acknowledged as a leading sitar player of his time,
transcending musical barriers with his provocative
expression and spellbinding technical mastery. The son
and disciple of Ustad Imrat Khan Nishat Khan stands at
the threshold of the future of sitar and Indian music
with his uniquely invigorating, contemporary approach.
Born in Kolkata, he has been dazzling audiences since
the age of seven, and was the youngest performer ever
to play All-India Radio at the age of thirteen.
He has performed at major venues internationally, including Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center in
New York, and the Royal Albert Hall in London. In January 2004, the President of Croatia received
Maestro Khan in Zagreb, where he performed "Meeting of Angels" with Gregorian chant. Later that
year, he was invited to perform alongside Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin and
others at the Crossroads Festival in Dallas, Texas. In Summer 2007 he toured across India in a fiery
fusion with violinist Vanessa Mae. In 2008 he toured Europe with his pioneering project, "Spirit &
Passion" featuring Flamenco guitar great Paco Pena and his ensemble. In 2008 Nishat made Indian
music history performing for the second time for the Henry Wood Promenade Art Concert at the Royal
Albert Hall.
Nishat Khan's trademark sitar playing is most lyrical, as is evident in all his music. He masterfully
extends this lyricism into developing further his family's hallmark sitar and surbahar playing, pioneered
by his forefathers in an unbroken lineage of seven generations.
Ghulam Siraj : One of the prominent young vocalists of
India, Ghulam Siraj belongs to the Rampur-Sahaswan
Gharana which owes its allegiance to Tansen's
tradition. He was initiated into music at a tender age
by his father, the Ustad Ghulam Husain Khan, a
classical vocalist of international repute. Ghulam Siraj
happens to be the grandson of the great classical
vocalist of India late Ustad Mushtaq Husain Khan who
was the first recipient of the Padmabhushan Award.
Gifted with a sonorous and mellifluous voice, Ghulam Siraj sings classical khayal, ghazals,
thumri, dadra, Sufi, folk, bhajans and geets with equal ease. In ghazal singing he has
developed his own style which includes original compositions. He places emphasis on the
aesthetic sense of poetry and composition.
He is popular not only at music festivals and concerts in India but also performed abroad in
countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Sri Lanka. In 2007 Ghulam Siraj Khan performed in special concert held at
Rashtrapati Bhawan(President House) in front of Honorable President of India, Dr. A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam.
Kathak: It is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dance.
This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of
ancient northern India, known as Kathakars or storytellers. Its
form today contains traces of temple and ritual dances, and
the influence of the bhakti movement. From the 16th century
onwards it absorbed certain features of Persian dance and
central Asian dance which were imported by the royal courts
of the Mughal era.
Ms. Annanya Mishra : She born artist. She belongs to the most
famous family of music i.e. from Lucknow gharana. She is
grand daughter of the legendry Kathak Dancer
Padmavibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj and is a national award
winner kathak dancer.
She is also INDIAN IDOL4 finalist.
She is doing her best in promoting Indian Classical Music and
Dance.
Ms. Neesha Jhaveri : She is a well known Kathak Dancer in Hong Kong.
She have been practicing Kathak since age of 5. She has won many
awards and honours for her performance. She is a dancer,
choreographer and a teacher of Kathak Dance. She is usually busy
promoting Kathak in East Asian Countries.
Natya Shikara was conceived in 1997, when Guru Sandhya started with
just a single student. Since then, it has flourished rapidly and has drawn
over 50 students from various parts of Hong Kong. Sandhya is renowned
for hosting Hong Kong's first ever Bharathanatyam Aragetram in 2003 and
has since imparted her wisdom and gift to many others. Her students are
popular with the Hong Kong Government and the Indian Association and
are often called upon to showcase their talents in various cultural
programmes. Sandhya aspires to put Bharathanatyam on the world's
cultural frontier by raising the art form's profile by giving performances
on a global scale. By not only capturing talent and a sense of ethnic
grace, Sandhya wishes to instil discipline and share her love for dance.
Most importantly, her dream is to keep alive the Indian culture and roots
by carrying forward a traditional art form
Sarangi: sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string
instrument from South Asia which is used
in Hindustani classical music. It is said to most
resemble the sound of the human voice – able to
imitate vocal ornaments such as gamaks (shakes)
and meends (sliding movements).
Sarangi is a common representative of vitat class of
musical instruments. It has three to four main playing
strings and a number of sympathetic strings. The
instrument has no frets or fingerboard; the strings
float in the air. Pitch is determined by sliding the
fingernail against the string rather than pressing it
against a fingerboard (like violin). This instrument is
extremely difficult to play, as a consequence its
popularity is on the decline. This instrument has
traditionally been associated with the kathak dance
and the vocal styles of thumri, dadra and kheyal. It
was also greatly associated with an Indian version of
the geisha tradition, known as the tawaif
Ustad Kamal Sabri: He musically gifted. He is the son of
Sarangi Legend Ustad Sabri Khan Shahab and is carrying
forward the rich culture of Sania Gharana.
Kamal, who is the seventh generation of a distinguished
family of traditional musicians, has demonstrated
profound versatility in playing the Sarangi.
Kamal was initiated and trained by his father in the style
of the Senia Gharana (school) of Rampur, Moradabad
from the tender age of 5 years and very soon this child
prodigy made waves in the musical world with his talent.
His musical brilliance and talent as a seasoned
accompanist gained immense popularity amongst
eminent classical vocalists..
Kamal has also made his mark on the international musical forum, has participated
and represented India in several International festivals including the "Art of the Bow"
Festival in Geneva, Switzerland (Nov.2001) , BBC Millennium Concert in International
Convention Centre, Birmingham, UK (Dec2001), Sangeet Mela Festival ,
Rome, Italy(May2003), Tropen Theatre Museum, Amsterdam, Holland (Nov.2001) , Festival
musicale del mediterraneo, Genoa, Italy (July 2005), Festival of Indian Music,
Antwerp, Belgium (Nov2001), Oslo World Music Festival, Norway (Nov.2007)
, Surinam (May 1998), Eesti Konserte, Tallin, Estonia (May 2004), today he is a name to
reckon with in the International cultural scene. While honing his skills in the traditional
style of music, he has also adapted to the changing musical scenario and is constantly
trying to set new trends and standards within his tradition.
Sitar: It is a plucked stringed instrument used mainly Indian
classical music. The instrument is believed to have been derived
from the veena, an ancient Indian instrument, which was
modified by a Mughal court musician to conform with the tastes
of his Persian patrons and named after a Persian instrument
called the Setar. The sitar flourished in the 16th and 17th
centuries and arrived at its present form in 18th century India.
Pt. Prateek Chaudhuri: He is a brilliant performer, is acclaimed as
one of the most outstanding Sitar players of the Indian country.
His Sitar sparkles with the rare combination of virtuosity with
technical finesse and a deep sense of aesthetics. His music also
reflects the eternal essence of Sitar. He is son of Pandit Debu
Chaudhuri, Padmabhushan Awardee.
• Prateek received the rare distinction and honour to give a Special Concert for the President of
United States of America, Mr. Bill Clinton .
• He also had the honour to perform for the President of India, Shri Abdul Kalam and Shri R.
Venkataraman in Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
• He is the only Indian musician to have performed with the Renowned Swarovsky Music
Wattens Orchestra, consisting of 80 musicians, from Austria in a Special Concert held in
Jaipur, India in the year 2005, which was highly appreciated and profusely praised by the
audience.
• He was invited to give a Special Live Concert for BBC 3 Radio in London
Sufi music : It is the devotional music of the Sufis, inspired by the works of Sufi poets, like
Rumi, Hafiz, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusrow and Khwaja Ghulam Farid.
Qawwali is the most well known form of Sufi music and is mostly common in parts of
Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. However, music is also central to the Sema ceremony of the
whirling dervishes, which is set to a form of music called Ayin, a vocal and instrumental piece
featuring Turkish classical instruments such as the ney (a reed flute). Some of the Sufi orders
have taken an approach more akin to puritan forms of Islam, declaring music to be unhelpful
to the Sufi way.
Ustad Najmi Khan: Ustad Nazmi Khan is one of the
prominent Young Sufi Singer in India. He is famous
for his versatile style of sufi singing.
He has performed at various International concerts
in North America and Europe.
Ustad Najmi Khan has received many honors and
awards for his singing.
Indian Rock: It is a music genre in India that incorporates elements of Indian
music with mainstream rock music, and is often topically India-centric. While India is
more often known for its classical music and Bollywood music, the Indian rock scene has
also produced numerous bands and artists.
Astitva The Band : It, is a multi-genre Hindi band.
Astitva is the Sanskrit word for identity, and true
to this name. It is one of the most popular band in
India. It has always worked towards carving a
niche for itself by pioneering the dawn of a
dynamic musical experience. They have been
aiming to do just that by belting out songs with a
magical blend of rock, jazz, and Hindustani
Classical.
• The only band to give Delhi Anthem.
• It is the only commercial rock band to be showcased in Indian Republic Day Parade.
Mr. Vivek Mehbubani: Mr. Vivek Mahbubani is an
Indian Origin bi-lingual and Hong Kong-bred standup comedian who performs in both Cantonese
and English.
• He was crowned 2007 Chinese and 2008 English
Funniest Comedian in Hong Kong.
• He was the host of the TV series Hong Kong
“tories by RTHK.
• He appeared in a cameo role for the movie All’s
well, ends well 2009
• He a headliner at TakeOut Comedy Club Hong
Kong.
• He has appeared in many TV Commercials of
CitiBank, Samsung etc.
• He is a youth Icon in Hong Kong
Bollywood Dance: It is a music genre in India that incorporates elements
of Indian music with mainstream rock music, and is often topically India-centric.
While India is more often known for its classical music and Bollywood music, the
Indian rock scene has also produced numerous bands and artists.
DJ Vijay: DJ Vijay or most commonly known as DJ VJ is an Indian
Origin bi-lingual and Hong Kong-bred Disk Jockey who Deejays in
both Hindi and English.
• He plays Bollywood, Bhangra and English at most and is most
popular DJ among Indian Community in Hong Kong
• He has played at many venues at Hong Kong, China and Macau
with many famous Bollywood Deejays.
Dhol: Bollywood DJ is incomplete without Dhol.
A Dhol is a double headed drum widely used in
folk music and dance of India. The Punjabi dhol is
perhaps best known abroad due to its prominent
place in the rhythm of popular Punjabi bhangra
music.
Mr. Avijeet Roy: He is a dynamic singer and performer. He is hot favourite of many
Bollywood stars for the quality of performance he delivers with his mesmerizing charm.
• He was the one and only performing
singer of a high profile World tour
called "Heat" in 2006.
• He has also done playback singing
for bollywood movies.
• He has done more than 1000 live
shows in India and Abroad and still
continues to do it.