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".... à Brussels. . . . just as the fine line of the horizon joins the sky & the earth here is the group Antaragni who marry traditional indian music with elements of folk music . . . . . Down Load an edited version of "Desert Blues" including the original Introduction & Recommendation in French from our Songs Page . . . . the indian group Antaragni who were fromed around two years ago but their albums are not yet available, Unfortunately ! " |
PRESS REVIEW IN ‘ASIAN AGE’ (BANGALORE) DATED AUGUST 10, 1999 SECTION – BAND WATCH: BY SANTOSH GNANAKAN
You cannot contain the fire within for too long. At some point, you seek release. Which is exactly what happened to the members of Antaragni. Just six shows old, the band has grown from a jam-session outfit into a professional fusion set-up. And the future has only just begun. During their college days, about seven years ago, Raghupathy D. Dixit, vocalist and guitarist, and H.N. Bhaskar, violinist and Carnatic Vocalist, competed against each other in Mysore. Afterwards, Raghu approached Bhaskar, wanting to jam with him. Bhaskar wasn’t interested at all. But a year later, Bhaskar asked Raghu to play guitar with him. It was a match made in heaven and the two realised that they had more than just harmony. Twenty-four year old Raghu, a microbiology gold medallist at Mysore University, couldn’t find the right job. Bhaskar too was a struggling musician. "We had the fire within us and wanted to bring it out!" says Raghu. Officially started in 1997, Antaragni was still unknown. "We just played for ourselves," recalls Raghu. But all that changed in December 1998, when they competed at National Law School’s rock competition. It was Raghu and Bhaskar’s first ever live performance. And out of 26 bands that took part, they made it to the top six in the finals. "We were very surprised," both Raghu and Bhaskar recall. Bhaskar won the best instrumentalist award, while Raghu won the best vocalist award. Antaragni was called back to NLS – the college wanted an exclusive performance. That has been our best show and Bhaskar was even mobbed by girls," reports Raghu. A few months later, Kulur Ravichandra Rao, 25 years old, joined the band, playing Carnatic and Key flutes and and Kanjira. Both Ravi and Bhaskar are professional musicians, giving concerts and playing as sessions musicians. In June this year, Antaragni performed at the Sunday Jam, Bangalore’s monthly arts concert. "This show opened a lot of doors for us and word got around," says Raghu, who now works as a scientific writer. Today the band is keen on recording an album, but stresses that that wouldn’t be the ultimate. "Performing live on stage is the best," emphasises Raghu. While Raghu’s vocals hit you right between the eyes, the bliss on the faces of Bhaskar and Ravi as they play with amazing skill, is a treat to watch. But this is just the beginning for the band. Raghu believes that what they have as musicians is just the core sound of Antaragni, adding, "But we never thought we’d get this far. We should be satisfied." Bhaskar is confident when he says, "There’s a good future for us." Look out Bangalore, this is a band to watch. |
PRESS REVIEW IN ‘ASIAN AGE’ (BANGALORE) DATED JUNE, 1999 BY SANTOSH GNANAKAN
There’s room for everyone at this concert. And everything. Sunday Jam, Bangalore’s monthly arts festival, turned green for the weekend. And although it seems to have been a passing fancy to think eco on June 5, World Environment Day, at least somebody’s trying. This month’s version of Sunday Jam, rechristened The Green Jam, was a two day event held on June 5 and 6, at the Ravindra Kalakshetra’s Open air theatre to commomerate the World Environment Day. The evening was cool and so was the music………. …….The surprise package, however, was Antaragni, a fusion music band. Simple music, but largely enjoyable. If there’s ever a recommendation, it will be that these boys perform at Vasantahabba next year. An acoustic guitar, violin, bass guitar and percussion; that’s all it took to transport the audience to another dimension……… |
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