Introvert Baba let his voice do the talking: Son Shrinivas on Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

“He was an introvert and didn’t speak much. Though artists like to talk about themselves, baba never spoke about himself,” were the words of Shrinivas Joshi, son of legendary vocalist, late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Shrinivas was one of many people who paid tributes to the Bharat Ratna awardee on the occasion of his first death anniversary on Tuesday.

Family, friends and fans remembered the great music maestro by organising various programmes organised in his memory.

Shrinivas sung six bandish, written and composed by himself, at a concert titled ‘Sansmaran’ organised by Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal in Shivajinagar.

“I had written 12 bandishs on the facets of baba’s nature and music two years ago. Later I composed them in various taal,” he said.

“I had written a bandish Ajab Nirala, le maja maun ras akela and other bandishs. But, I was too embarrassed it to show it to him,” he added.

Bhimsen Joshi’s daughter, Subhada Mulgund, who used to accompany him on tambura in many concerts, said, “He was a very sharp and intelligent man. He created his voice by doing riyaaz for hours and used his own vision for beauty to present the songs.”

Upendra Bhat, Bhimsen Joshi’s disciple, recollected an incident when the audience was so spellbound with Panditji’s voice that they didn’t realise that the concert was over.