MUMBAI: The 57th Sawai Gandharva Music Festival is back starting from 7 January 2010.

However, this year it's not just about music as the fetival will features photography exhibitions, a film festival and special listening session. Last year, the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal had posponed the 57th edition due to the H1N1 scare.

A photography exhibition is part of the programme as a tribute to Kirana gharana vocalists Gangubai Hangal who passed away six months ago and Pt Firoz Dastur. It will showcase the various moods of the two legendary music maestros not just while singing but in candid moments. The captions to these photographs is given by Shubhada Mulgund, daughter of Pt Bhimsen Joshi. Close to 75 photographs will be put on a display. Another interesting event is called 'Antarang' where music connoisseurs will conduct sessions for keen listeners of Indian classical music. This will be held at Sawai Gandharva Samarak near Rahul Cinema from January 7 to 9 between noon and 1 pm.

Other programmes include interviews of Satyasheel Deshpande and Padma Talwalkar and a special programme designed by Shivanand and Yojana Patil to pay tribute to Gangubai Hangal. There will be a film festival too at Sawai Gandharva Smarak where rare films on music maestros will be screened from 10 am to noon from January 7 to 9.

Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav was started by Bharat Ratna Kirana gharana maestro Bhimsen Joshi in 1952 as a tribute to his guru Sawai Gandharva and remains one of the most sought-after Indian classical music festivals in India.