Bismillah Khan (left) and Amjad Ali Khan pair perfectly

When two legends of the highest calibre and from conventional gharanas come together for a jugalbandi, expect the unexpected. Unlike modern-day duels that are farcical and only visually dramatic, there is real mixing and matching of wits and sur in Ru-Ba-Ru (Music Today), a live recording of jugalbandi between maestros Ustad Bismillah Khan (shehnai) and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (sarod), and Sangeet Sangam (Sony BMG), another live recording by Pandit Jasraj (vocal) and L. Subramaniam (violin), are jewels.

Both the albums are collectors' items because they present a perfect match of virtuosity and technical finesse. "It is a must that the musicians' chemistry matches, otherwise it is an exercise in futility," says Subramaniam.

Ru-Ba-Ru has Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan Vaishnav jana to in Raga Khammaj and Ram dhun in Raga Ghara. Vocal phrases are translated into instrumental notes in a wonderful "aadan pradaan". The tablas make an entry in Ram dhun. The second track is the evergreen raga Maru Bihag. In the alaap section, both Bismillah Khan and Amjad Ali unfold the raga note by note. The popular composition Rasiya, common among vocalists, is played to perfection. "It was mutual love and admiration that made this one of my most memorable joint ventures," says Amjad Ali.

If you are looking for spontaneity in jugalbundis then Sangeet Sangam is for you. The depth with which the musical visionaries were able to comprehend, complement and inspire one another has made the album phenomenal. With each artist bringing in his own colourful background, creative innovation and masterful technique, it is impossible to classify this album as just another north-south jugalbandi as it has gone far beyond conventional artistic collaborations. Subramaniam performs Ragam Sarasangi and Jasraj, Raga Nat Bhairav. The bhajan Govind Damodar Madhaveti is beautifully presented by the two artists, giving it their individual touch.

-By S. Sahaya Ranjit

Exhibition at Kala Ghoda.

MUMBAI The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is back. Bigger and better than ever before. With a panorama spanning dance, visual arts, cinema, theatre, literature, music, heritage and food, south Mumbai will be rocking to the beats of this fest from January 15 to 23.

Enjoy group shows and exhibits by Christopher Taylor, Navjot, Sri Lankan artist Senaka Senanayake in the visual arts section. There's a festival of classic cinema and shorts directed by the city's eminent photographers on "Music in Cinema" at Horniman Circle gardens on January 23. For children there is a variety from mixed media to drama to paper-making workshop. Something for everyone.

-By Kimi Dangor

Enduro3 racers rough it out

PUNE Adventurists have something to look forward to. The National Education Foundation is organising its third Enduro3 adventure race from February 4 and 6 near Pune. India's first multi-discipline adventure race is also possibly the most gruelling in the country, covering 250 sq km of mountain terrain, 150 km of dirt road cycling, 95 km of trekking, 2 km of water rafting and 100 m rappelling.

Amateurs don't have to shy away. There is a separate category for them, as is there for college students and corporates. So grab your gears and join the fun and action. If participants can catch their breath, they can take in the sights of the imposing Sahyadris near Pune and picturesque forts like Torna and Rajgad.

-By Sandeep Unnithan

Amrish Puri 1932-2005

An Actor with Character

Mogambo khush hua. In this age of manifest evil, it is difficult to convey the shiver that went down every spine when Amrish Puri uttered those immortal words in 1987's Mr India. After Amjad Khan's Gabbar Singh, Mogambo is probably Indian cinema's most memorable evil man. And deservedly so.

The one-time employee of the Ministry of Labour, who cut his teeth on the theatre of Satyadev Dubey (he would be the "safe guy" who would drop all the heroines home in his motorcycle with a side car), became a must-have for every film in search of a villain. It could be the maniacal Kali worshipper in Steven Spielberg's kitschy Temple of Doom in 1984 or the authoritarian father in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge in 1995.

The 72-year-old actor was seen little of late, a comment on cinema as much as society, where ends can triumph over means and what is villainous is debatable. Brother of actor Madan Puri, another celebrated villain, Puri's trademark hat and deep baritone marked him out as a character. But unlike other screen villains, he infused so much dignity to evil that the person was never confused with the part.

Subhash Ghai, who worked with him often in a 25-year career, remembers how he was upset when Puri could not keep his date with him for the first schedule of Kisna. It was only later that he found out that Puri, who would always stand up and be counted for the film industry, had blood cancer. "But even then the will to live and the will to work was very strong,'' he says. Govind Nihalani, whose association with Puri goes back to when he was lighting director and Puri the lead actor, recalls how he would stride across the stage, tall and imposing. "He was like my elder brother," says Nihalani. He will miss him. So will Indian cinema.

-By Kaveree Bamzai

Creeps lampoons popular shows

True Words in Jest

BANGALORE Just when talent hunts and item bomb searches have got youngsters in the country singing, dancing or trying weird antics to get on air comes Lutz Hubner's Creeps, produced by The Company Theatre and supported by Max Mueller Bhavan. A comedy, it deals with the invasion of the media into the lives of the young, the need to "make it" and the toll it takes on their lives. Directed by Atul Kumar, Creeps will show in Bangalore on January 21, 22 and 23 at Grasshopper and Ranga Shankara.

-By Nirmala Ravindran

Geeta Chandran

DELHI Apart from giving vent to their creativity through their performances, dancers occasionally write about the process. Bharatnatyam dancer Geeta Chandran is one such artist who has authored So Many Journeys (Niyogi Offset). It is an insider's view, says Chandran. The 220-page book is illustrated with glamorous images of dance. It is a commentary on the present dance scene in India, the role of gurus, critics, the different value systems and the ever-changing attitude of Generation Next towards dance. Some food for thought on dance.

-By S. Sahaya Ranjit

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