E-Paper
Amjad Ali Khan’s London hosts hope to resolve visa issue
Hectic efforts were on to resolve the issue related to the refusal of a UK visa to sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, with organisers of the music festival where he is scheduled to perform in September hopeful that he will be able to appear.
Hectic efforts were on to resolve the issue related to the refusal of a UK visa to sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, with organisers of the music festival where he is scheduled to perform in September hopeful that he will be able to appear.
Khan, who has performed in Britain many times, tweeted his disappointment on Friday after his visa application was refused. He was due to appear at the Darbar Festival at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, on September 17 and 18. Tickets have been sold for the events.
A spokesman for the Southbank Centre told Hindustan Times: “It is extremely unfortunate that Amjad Ali Khan has been refused a short-term visa to come and perform at Southbank Centre, which we understand is due to a recent change in the visa’s guidelines.
“We are working closely with the high commission to try to rectify this situation and are hopeful that he will be able to perform on September 17 at the Royal Festival Hall as planned.”
The spokesman said Khan is one of many international artists that Southbank Centre prides itself on bringing to London in partnership with the Darbar Festival.
According to the programme, Khan was due to reflect on his 50-year career during the festival. His wife, Subhalakshmi Barua Khan, is scheduled to join in the programme billed as a “candid conversation”.
Several prominent Indian artistes are due to perform at the festival, including Shubha Mudgal.
The Darbar Festival is dedicated to Bhai Gurmit Singh Ji Virdee (1937-2005), a tabla teacher who was born in India and in whose memory the event was launched in 2006.
