Jugalbandi

In Hindustani music, the term refers to a duet — two musicians perform on same stage, but in a different way from normal duets. The two sing common or similar ragas in their distinct ways separately one after the other. It is a sparring between two talents.

Jugalbandis are organised between persons of equal stature who could be both vocalists or both dancers or both instrumentalists. The combination are also a vocalist and an instrumentalist or a vocalist and a dancer or a dancer and an instrumentalist.

Last Sunday, Samraat Club Panaji organised a poetic ‘jugalbandi’ between two well-known Konkani poets, Ramesh Ghadi and Shashikant Punaji. Due to the pandemic, the event was held online. It was a success and it is interesting to know why.

Ramesh and Shashikant were well matched and had some commonalities. They came from socially active lives, rustic wisdom, rural vocabulary and an exposure to diversity of thought and experience. Each had a distinct identity but was this enough? No!

What worked was that both had respect for the other’s body of work. Without this mutual sentiment, their jugalbandi would have been will be a battle not a doubly enhanced performance. Jugalbandis are not competition. They are collaborations.

We know that collaborations require self-assurance as well as belief in the other’s capacity. It is a partnership that thrives on genuine regard for each other. Jugalbandis between the best of performers will not succeed without this shared sentiment.

Confidence in self is good, not detriment

But Jugalbandis need mutual sentiment!

~ Pravin K Sabnis