Open India Charitable Trust and Ignite Charitable Trust hosted 'Raga and Rhythm', an evening of soul stirring music as their annual charity show recently at the Mutha Venkatasubarao Hall in Chetpet.  

As the maestros, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Trilok Gurtu and Ganesh and Kumaresh took their places on the stage the crowds cheered to welcome them.

All the four musicians enthralled the crowd with their music. 'We have a new genre called Raga Pravaham in which the instruments by themselves are medium to express the songs and there is no need for lyrics. We played our compositions of Raga Pravaham along with a composition of Trilok ji. The last piece was a jugalbandhi composition of Ustad Zakir ji and Trilok ji,' said Ganesh of the Ganesh - Kumaresh Violin duo as they wrapped up a fantastic concert.

Ustad Zakir Hussain kept the audience engrossed in watching his fingers move over his tabla and created mind blowing music. ' It is nice to play with musicians who are equally at home with all traditions. Ganesh and Kumaresh despite being from a Carnatic background blend easily with Hindustani music and jazz and Trilok ji despite being from a Hindustani back ground is into more of jazz. They are so sympathetic to music and spontaneously blend with each other and it is such a pleasure to share the stage with such musicians,' said Ustad Zakir Hussain.

Trilok ji left the audience awe struck with his percussion in different mediums including a pail of water and an over turned stool.

The highlight of the show was the grand finale jugalbandhi with bols and percussion between Trilok Gurtu and Ustad Zakir Hussain which left the audience speechless as they broke into a loud applause.