Mysore/Mysuru: Actor and environmentalist Suresh Heblikar paid tribute to late Mysuru-based sarod maestro Pandit Rajeev Taranath, underscoring his unparalleled talent and captivating performances that held audiences spellbound till the end.

He spoke on the topic ‘fond memories of a sarod maestro’ last evening at the Mysore Literature Festival at Hotel Southern Star. Heblikar highlighted Pandit Rajeev Taranath’s stature alongside musical legends such as Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Mallikarjun Mansoor, all from Hubballi-Dharwad, a region known for producing literary and musical giants.

Heblikar recounted Taranath’s journey from an English professor to a Sarod virtuoso under the tutelage of Ali Akbar Khan in Kolkata, followed by training under Pt. Ravishankar, Annapoorna Devi, Nikhil Banerjee, and Asish Khan. Taranath’s mastery earned him numerous national and international accolades, including Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Academy awards.

Rumi Harish, a disciple of Pt. Taranath, reflected on her training under the maestro, acknowledging her ongoing commitment to music. She shared her experiences learning from Taranath during musical concerts, noting the challenges of teaching music to others despite its learnable nature. The panel session was hosted by Krishna Manavalli.