A grand musical celebration “Ajivasan Fest 2016”

(L-R) Ashok Patki, Shailendra Singh, Anup Jalota, Nitin Mukesh

Ajivasan Music Academy organised its annual musical extravaganza “Ajivasan Fest 2016” on Saturday in Mumbai. Top 30 students from different branches of Suresh Wadkar’s music academy came together for a musical evening of super hit Bollywood songs.

This was the third edition of the grand festival. Joining the students were esteemed guests including Nitin Mukesh, Javed Ali, Suresh Wadkar, Kavita Seth, Sadhna Sargam, Shailendra Singh, Ashok Patki, Anup Jalota and others.

Ajivasan, earlier known as Vasant Sangeet Vidyalay was founded in 1932 in Srinagar by Acharya Jialal Vasant under the patronage of Smt. Rameshwari Nehru. With about twenty-five students under his tutelage, Guruji started out on the musical journey of Sangeet Sandhana. The Institute had repute for providing scientific training in Hindustani Classical Music, and the students had the opportunity to perform with the master himself on several occasions.

After his demise, his daughter Prem Vasant, along with his disciple Suresh Wadkar, decided to fulfill Guruji’s dream of establishing a Gurukul, a place where the music aspirants get the benefit of residing and learning music. Thus, was born Suresh Wadkar’s Ajivasan Music Academy (the term Ajivasan was coined from ACHARYA JIALAL VASANT SANGEET NIKETAN in fond memory of Guruji).

Beside the main academy in Juhu, the institute today has 06 branches in Mumbai and one in Dubai. The Mumbai branches include Thane, Kandivali, Prabhadevi, Kemps Corner, Powai and Bandra. Over 400 students are provided training in Hindustani & Western Classical Vocals, Instrumental as well as in popular classical dance forms like Kathak and Bharatnatyam under the guidance of experienced teachers.