Kolkata Gears Up For The 74th Dover Lane Music Conference

The 74th edition of the Dover Lane Music Conference will bring together a distinguished mix of legendary maestros, emerging talents and a celebrated Bollywood star, organisers announced on Friday. The iconic Indian classical music festival will be held in Kolkata from January 22 to 25.

Among the highlights is the return of sitar virtuoso Pt Budhaditya Mukherjee, who will perform at Dover Lane after nearly two decades. Recalling his long association with the conference, Mukherjee said he first performed there at the age of 23 and appeared regularly between 1979 and 2000. “I am delighted to return to the Dover Lane stage once again,” he said.

Patron Sanjay Budhia praised the commitment of senior musicians in preserving the legacy of the conference and its standing on the global classical music map. He also announced that the Carring Minds International Young Talent Award will be conferred on 20-year-old sarangi exponent Amaan Hussain, a seventh-generation musician and grandson of the legendary Ustad Abdul Latif Khan.

Chairman Bratin Mustafi said the Sangeet Samman will be presented to Pt Ajay Pohankar. A special attraction this year will be a Bharatnatyam performance by Bollywood actor Meenakshi Seshadri on January 24. Secretary Monotosh Mukherjee said she was invited to present a classical dance recital as part of the festival’s diverse programming.

Academic sponsor Satyam Roychowdhury highlighted the festival’s role in expanding the reach of classical arts through a shared commitment to knowledge and culture.

Several eminent artistes spoke about the cultural significance of Dover Lane. Pt Subhen Chatterjee described the conference as both a “temple” and a lifelong habit for Indian classical musicians, while expressing hope that Unesco would recognise it as a Heritage Music Festival at its 75th edition. Tabla maestro Pt Anindo Chatterjee, a regular performer since 1977, spoke of the festival’s global appeal, noting the enthusiasm it generates even in distant parts of Europe and small towns in the US. His son, Anubrata Chatterjee, called Dover Lane a “national occasion,” comparing the honour of performing there to playing at Eden Gardens or Lord’s for a cricketer.

Kathak dancer Sinjini Kulkarni, granddaughter of Pandit Birju Maharaj, described the festival as aspirational, recalling watching her grandfather and uncle perform on the same stage. Vocalist Ruchira Kedar termed her opening-day performance at this year’s conference a “milestone” in her career.