Pt Prakash Sontakke Pt Prakash Sontakke The only musician from Karanataka playing the Slide Guitar and the only one to have won the INDEPENDENT WORLD MUSIC AWARDS USA and the NASHVILLE AWARD in the history of Karanataka .Especially the NASHVILLE AWARD for composers where his composition was chosen over the maestro ILLAYARAJA and the phenomenal AR REHMAN .Prakash has toured extensively with his troupe THE PRAKASH SONTAKKE GROUP( NEO CLASSICAL FUSION ) , International Trio LEHERA(World Fusion ) ,MOONARRA( Jazz and Classical fusion ) .and more recently with"FOOD" (progressive Electronic Jazz crossover ) where he performs with British Saxophone Legend Iain Ballamy and the phenomenal Norwegian Drummer Thomas Stronen and Eivind Aarset a legendry Guitarist and virtuoso who regularely performs with Daffer Yusuf A Performer ,Producer ,Director ,Innovator Prakash Sontakke is one of the leading names in the field of Hindustani Classical and Fusion music .Prakash Sontakke is a A grade artiste in ALL INDIA RADIO happens to be one of the very few people playing the Hawaiian Guitar and the Slide Guitar in the Hindustani style . He has also innovated this instrument called SWAR VEENA on which he can play the INDIAN as well as western style . Awards THE INDEPENDENT WORLD MUSIC AWARD FOR WORLD FUSION JUST PLAIN FOLKS AWARD NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL SONG WRITERS AWARD FOR THEIR SONG “COLLATERAL DAMAGE” THE ARYABHATTA AWARD THE PANCHAKSHARI GAWAI AWARD THE Dr PUTTARAJA GAWAI AWARD His creative explorations in Jazz and world music are deeply underlined by his classical training.

Vidwan CN Chandrashekhar C N Chandrashekhar is one of the most senior most violin players in India and is versatile in both the Hindustani and Karnatic styles. A Grade "A top", All India Radio artist he is also a member of the Kariakudi Mani Ensemble and has played all over India as well as abroad, including USA, Europe and South East Asia.

Vid TAS Mani Vid TAS Mani as a performer As a performer TAS Mani started his career at a tender age of ten. He has been performing for over five decades across the country and abroad. Rated as an "A top" artist by the All India Radio. He has given many performances in AIR and Doordarshan apart from performing in many other private TV channels. He has performed in AIR and Doordarshan in all the important time slots and programs like National Program of Music, Sangeet Sammelan, Outside Broadcast concerts etc.Mani has toured all across India and abroad for performances in all the leading music gatherings, Institutions (Sabhas) and music festivals.As a performer of South Indian Percussion instrument- Mridangam, he is a preferred accompanist for many leading vocal and instrumental musicians in the South. His style of playing blends excellently well with the vocal music and provides the necessary support to make the concert successful. He is a disciplined player and follows all the traditional norms of the South Indian Percussion music. His fingering techniques are a treat to listen and combined with the tonal quality he produces from the instrument he has made his playing style unique and distinct.He has performed for over twenty five years consistently in the prestigious Madras Music Academy and during the year 1970 he was awarded the "Henry Wilson Award" for the best accompanist. Awards and Accolades  Sir Henry Wilson Award, Madras Music Academy  Laya Kala Nipuna, Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore  Mridanga Kala Shiromani, Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore  Karnataka Gana Kala Bhushana, Karnataka Ganakala Parishat  Karnataka Kalashree, Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy  Mridanga Chakravarthi, Avani Shankar Mutt  Talavaya Chakravarthi, Ganajyothi Kalamandira, Bangalore  Honor for service in music, Rotary Club, Bangalore - North  Kaliyuga Nandi, Sri Vigneshwara Welfare Association  Kala Jyothi, Thyagaraja Bhajana Sabha, Malleshwaram  Kala Thapasavi, Muralidhara Sangeetha Vidyalaya  Honor for service in Music, Samskara Bharathi  Life time Achievement Award, Naarada Gana Sabha, Chennai

Ustad Fazal Qureshi Hailing from a background that reverberates with the taal of the tabla, music has been Fazal Qureshi's natural inheritance. Under the guidance of his Guru and father the late great tabla maestro, Ustad Alla Rakha, and with the inspiration drawn from his brother, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Fazal has developed a unique style that is distinguished for its fine sense of rhythm, versatility and eloquence. He performs both as a soloist and as an accompanist. His deep rooted knowledge and dedication to Indian classical music helps him accompany North as well as South Indian instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers. The musicians he has performed with include Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Sultan Khan, Dr. L. Subramaniam, L. Shankar, Vikku Vinayakram, U. Srinivas, Ustad Shahid Parvez, and Sitara Devi. Fazal has expanded his horizons by being involved with other styles of music of the world especially Jazz and Western classical music, and has performed with many well known Jazz musicians. For the last 16 years he has been associated with Mynta, his world music band based in Sweden. They have performed all over the world and have released six immensely popular albums.Besides being a performer he has also composed music for Mynta and for various other events. He has now started composing music for Indian films and is currently working on an album of his own compositions, thus adding to his versatility as a musician.Fazal has emerged as a name whose reputation is not just sustained by his strong family lineage, but on personal achievements as well

Stage Plot

Pt Prakash Sontakke Pt Prakash Sontakke The only musician from Karanataka playing the Slide Guitar and the only one to have won the INDEPENDENT WORLD MUSIC AWARDS USA and the NASHVILLE AWARD in the history of Karanataka .Especially the NASHVILLE AWARD for composers where his composition was chosen over the maestro ILLAYARAJA and the phenomenal AR REHMAN .Prakash has toured extensively with his troupe THE PRAKASH SONTAKKE GROUP( NEO CLASSICAL FUSION ) , International Trio LEHERA(World Fusion ) ,MOONARRA( Jazz and Classical fusion ) .and more recently with"FOOD" (progressive Electronic Jazz crossover ) where he performs with British Saxophone Legend Iain Ballamy and the phenomenal Norwegian Drummer Thomas Stronen and Eivind Aarset a legendry Guitarist and virtuoso who regularely performs with Daffer Yusuf A Performer ,Producer ,Director ,Innovator Prakash Sontakke is one of the leading names in the field of Hindustani Classical and Fusion music .Prakash Sontakke is a A grade artiste in ALL INDIA RADIO happens to be one of the very few people playing the Hawaiian Guitar and the Slide Guitar in the Hindustani style . He has also innovated this instrument called SWAR VEENA on which he can play the INDIAN as well as western style . Awards THE INDEPENDENT WORLD MUSIC AWARD FOR WORLD FUSION JUST PLAIN FOLKS AWARD NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL SONG WRITERS AWARD FOR THEIR SONG “COLLATERAL DAMAGE” THE ARYABHATTA AWARD THE PANCHAKSHARI GAWAI AWARD THE Dr PUTTARAJA GAWAI AWARD His creative explorations in Jazz and world music are deeply underlined by his classical training.

Vidwan CN Chandrashekhar C N Chandrashekhar is one of the most senior most violin players in India and is versatile in both the Hindustani and Karnatic styles. A Grade "A top", All India Radio artist he is also a member of the Kariakudi Mani Ensemble and has played all over India as well as abroad, including USA, Europe and South East Asia.

Vid TAS Mani Vid TAS Mani as a performer As a performer TAS Mani started his career at a tender age of ten. He has been performing for over five decades across the country and abroad. Rated as an "A top" artist by the All India Radio. He has given many performances in AIR and Doordarshan apart from performing in many other private TV channels. He has performed in AIR and Doordarshan in all the important time slots and programs like National Program of Music, Sangeet Sammelan, Outside Broadcast concerts etc.Mani has toured all across India and abroad for performances in all the leading music gatherings, Institutions (Sabhas) and music festivals.As a performer of South Indian Percussion instrument- Mridangam, he is a preferred accompanist for many leading vocal and instrumental musicians in the South. His style of playing blends excellently well with the vocal music and provides the necessary support to make the concert successful. He is a disciplined player and follows all the traditional norms of the South Indian Percussion music. His fingering techniques are a treat to listen and combined with the tonal quality he produces from the instrument he has made his playing style unique and distinct.He has performed for over twenty five years consistently in the prestigious Madras Music Academy and during the year 1970 he was awarded the "Henry Wilson Award" for the best accompanist. Awards and Accolades  Sir Henry Wilson Award, Madras Music Academy  Laya Kala Nipuna, Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore  Mridanga Kala Shiromani, Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore  Karnataka Gana Kala Bhushana, Karnataka Ganakala Parishat  Karnataka Kalashree, Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy  Mridanga Chakravarthi, Avani Shankar Mutt  Talavaya Chakravarthi, Ganajyothi Kalamandira, Bangalore  Honor for service in music, Rotary Club, Bangalore - North  Kaliyuga Nandi, Sri Vigneshwara Welfare Association  Kala Jyothi, Thyagaraja Bhajana Sabha, Malleshwaram  Kala Thapasavi, Muralidhara Sangeetha Vidyalaya  Honor for service in Music, Samskara Bharathi  Life time Achievement Award, Naarada Gana Sabha, Chennai

Ustad Fazal Qureshi Hailing from a background that reverberates with the taal of the tabla, music has been Fazal Qureshi's natural inheritance. Under the guidance of his Guru and father the late great tabla maestro, Ustad Alla Rakha, and with the inspiration drawn from his brother, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Fazal has developed a unique style that is distinguished for its fine sense of rhythm, versatility and eloquence. He performs both as a soloist and as an accompanist. His deep rooted knowledge and dedication to Indian classical music helps him accompany North as well as South Indian instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers. The musicians he has performed with include Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Sultan Khan, Dr. L. Subramaniam, L. Shankar, Vikku Vinayakram, U. Srinivas, Ustad Shahid Parvez, and Sitara Devi. Fazal has expanded his horizons by being involved with other styles of music of the world especially Jazz and Western classical music, and has performed with many well known Jazz musicians. For the last 16 years he has been associated with Mynta, his world music band based in Sweden. They have performed all over the world and have released six immensely popular albums.Besides being a performer he has also composed music for Mynta and for various other events. He has now started composing music for Indian films and is currently working on an album of his own compositions, thus adding to his versatility as a musician.Fazal has emerged as a name whose reputation is not just sustained by his strong family lineage, but on personal achievements as well