Little maestro Kaustubh makes Rajasthan proud on a global stage; wins Hindustan Zinc and Smritiyaan’s ‘Pratibha’ talent hunt

Udaipur : It was an evening that mesmerised listeners across parts of the world with a unique blend of Carnatic and Hindustani Music. Smritiyaan e-concert’s #UdaipurChapter had the audience enthralled by little maestro Kaustubh Manipushp Kunj. Winner of ‘Pratibha’ online talent hunt, the 15-year old prodigy from Ajmer mesmerised the audience with his soul-stirring performance.       

The ‘Pratibha’ talent hunt was initiated as a platform to give an opportunity to local artists from Rajasthan a chance to perform globally. Entries were invited from Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan to come and audition in front of an esteemed jury of personalities – Bhajan Samraat Anup Jalota, Kathak Guru Shovana Narayan, Tabla Maestro Pt. Charanjit Lal, and Flautist Pt. Ronu Majumdar. Among over 100 entries, six participants were shortlisted for the final round. Kaustubh Manipushp Kunj and Navdeep Singh Jhala from Ajmer; Neeraj Mistry, Vinay Kadel and Mohd. Tabriz & Ariz from Udaipur; and The Rajsamand Group comprising of Harshit Purbiya, Nimisha Pagaria, Raksha Pagaria & Komal Nagarchi from Rajsamand showcased their talent in the final round, where Kaustubh was declared the winner. Kaustubh is a Hindustani Classical Vocal and Instrumental Tabla artist who started his musical journey at the age of four. He has previously won a number of awards at district, state, national and international levels.

The evening also had performances by music maestros of India – Dr Mysore Manjunath, Pt. Gaurav Mazumdar, Vidwan B. C. Manjunath and Pranshu Chatur Lal presenting the much-awaited jugalbandi of Carnatic and Hindustani Ragas. The moments of soulful elegant fusion of North and South music were made complete with the Violin, the Sitar, the Mridangam and the Tabla.

Sharing the stage with such acclaimed Indian maestros Kaustabh said, “I congratulate Hindustan Zinc and Pandit Chaturlal Memorial Society for successfully organizing such a great event, especially during the pandemic situation. I am so grateful & honoured to have performed in front of such world-renowned artists during the auditions and the event as well. I thank them for their appreciation, blessings & guidance. It was like a dream come true for me”.

Hindustan Zinc has always been at the forefront of promoting local talent and supporting cultural endeavors as a part of their CSR initiatives. As a step further in this direction, the company partnered with ‘Smritiyaan’ to launch ‘Pratibha’ talent hunt in January 2021 to give an opportunity to Rajasthan’s local artists to perform globally.

“Indian classical folk music and dance have always been an important part of our culture and heritage. We at Hindustan Zinc have always encouraged and supported budding talent by providing them with different platforms to showcase their art, learn, and grow. Pratibha Talent Hunt is one such unique initiative we partnered on to unearth the hidden talents from the local villages and communities around us and it’s great to see amazing talents like Kaustubh perform. I wish this little maestro all the best for the future”, said Mr. Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc.

Marking 30 glorious years, Pandit Chatur Lal Festival organized the Smritiyaan edition in association with Hindustan Zinc. The concert series is co-sponsored by Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Limited and supported by Hospitality partner Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport, in collaboration with ICCR and IndianRaga as a digital partner.