Pune, Dec. 21 : Sharad Dandge of Aurangabad in Maharashtra State has developed a unique ability to generate 20 types of sounds of different musical instruments while playing various Tablas, the percussion instrument.

To the listener it feels as if Dandge is playing various types of musical instruments native to differing States or regions of the country. But he is in fact playing on a group of Tablas around him.

Sharad Dandge plays jugalbandi (fusion) of regional instruments like Pakhawaj and Dholaks (horizontal drums) of north India, Mridangam of south India and Daph of Maharashtra, and Bihu of Assam on the Tabla by his innovative style of creating sounds on Tabla.

He says that his talent reflects unity in diversity and spreads this message among all.

"Instead of taking original instruments used in various States, the sound has been created on the Tabla. Everybody today is describing me as a Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarati or Hindu or Muslim. I say, if one person can play instruments of all States of Tabla, how can we( the people of the country) be different," said Sharad Dandge after a performance in Pune.

Dandge started generating different sounds from Tabla during his college days in Aurangabad, when once a concert was cancelled because the artists playing different musical instruments could not turn up for the function.

Dandge''s concept was well acknowledged by the music lovers.

"I used to think that Tabla could only play one type of music. But after listening to this programme I feel that a lot can be done on Tabla. And, many instruments can be played on it at the same time," said Manofj Parwar, one of the audience in Pune.

Dandge learnt music under the guidance of his late Guru Baburao Gurav.

Dandge gained popularity for creating a rhythm for the Indian cricket team during the last World Cup. He has also registered his name in Limca Book of Records in 2006 for his special and unique talent. (ANI)