Kirana gharana vocalist Girish Sanzgiri is known in the Hindustani classical music world as Phiroze Dastur’s most devoted student. The pair was so close that Sanzgiri performed Dastur’s last rites when he passed away in May. Sanzgiri, who studied the Kirana style of singing with Dastur at the University of Mumbai in the mid-1980s, said that his teacher had the patience of a saint. “He would first repeat the wrong or imperfect phrase sung by me and then sing the right phrase,” said Sanzgiri. “Very few teachers do that.” Sanzgiri is glad that he paid attention in class. The 49-year-old singer has been considered an authentic representative of Kirana gharana stylistics ever since he performed at the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Festival in Pune in 2004. His rendition of raga Multani won the appreciation of the city’s discerning classical music fans who closely associate his gharana with the legendary Bhimsen Joshi. We last heard Sanzgiri perform in Mumbai in July when his exposition of raga Kalavati stood out for his sensitive treatment of the note komal ni. At his concert this fortnight, he is likely to sing ragas Lalit and Bibhas.

The first artiste to take to the stage was Girish Sanzgiri, a senior student of Firoze Dastur of the Kirana Gharana. He started with Raag Multani, in Gokul gaon ka... set in Vilambit ektaal and Sakhi Airi Aari... in Drut teentaal. He was accompanied on the harmonium by Prakash Chitnis and on the tabla by Shrirang Chaskar. Incidentally, Vibhowari Bhandavkar, who performed on the opening day, sang the same raag and the same bandish or composition. As for Sanzgiri, his intense riyaz was evident as he took off with flourish. His audience included his guru Firoze Dastur. Sanzgiri concluded his recital with two popular Marathi bhajans, Dyaniyacha Guru Maharaj and Janvijon jhale Anta, much to the delight of the listeners.