Music Academy to confer Sangita Kalanidhi award for Bombay Sisters

Bombay Sisters C. Saroja and C. Lalitha have been chosen for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award of the Music Academy this year. They will preside over the 84th annual conference of the Academy to be held from December 15, 2010 to January 1, 2011, says a release.

The annual conference and concerts will be inaugurated by Mr. Shiv Nadar, Chairman, HCL group. The awards will be conferred on the day of the sadas (January 1), which will be presided over by Nobel laureate Venkataraman Ramakrishnan.

The committee also has decided to confer the Sangita Kala Acharya awards on Suguna Varadachari, vocalist, and Rhadha, dance guru. Vocalists Manakkal S. Rangarajan and Parassala Ponnammal will receive the T.T.K. award.

The musicologist award will be conferred upon R. Sathyanarayana. The Pappa Venkataramiah award will be given to violinist Radha Narayanan. This is for the second time in its history that the Sangita Kalanidhi award is being given to a duo. It may be recalled that the 2002 award was conferred on the Sikkil sisters.

Bharathi Ramasubban performs at Powai Fine Arts - 5.6.2010

The Carnatic Vocal concert by this young artiste from Chennai was hosted on the evening of June 5 by Powai Fine Arts. Welcoming the guests and audience, G Ramakrishnan, president and promoter of Powai Fine Arts expressed his dream and desire to take Powai Fine Arts to great heights.


Quoting the example of the Tambura artiste Raghu who had to commute a long distance from Matunga to Powai, spending near two hours in the traffic, Ramakrishnan said that it has become the need of the time to host cultural programs closer to home to enable the interested to attend the same. He also expressed appreciation towards the audience who had come in large numbers to grace the evening.

Sri Kavi of Jaya Tv channel fame, chief guest of the evening and Dr Ganesh Kumar, President of The Fine Arts Society, Chembur were honoured. Kalyani Sharma, senior guru and performer from Powai was present in the audience.

Bharathi Ramasubban took training in music from her mother Sank ari Ramasubban and from her grandmother Sharada Krishnan, direct disciple of Muthiah Bhagavathar. She furthered her learning under Seetha Rajan and then under Pl S Narayanaswamy in Chennai.

She has performed in prestigious venues in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. An active member of Youth Assoication of Classical Music she is the editor of their newsletter ‘Dhwani’. On the academic front, Bharathi is a postgraduate in Biotechnology and law from University of Sheffield UK.

She began her concert with a Sriraga Varnam followed by Raga Alapana in Reetigowla and Tyagaraja’s “Cheraravade”. Shyama Sastri’s composition, Thalli Ninnu in Kalyani ragam set to Misra Chapu thalam and Hiranmayeem in Lalitha ragam followed next.

She took Kamboji for the main piece with neraval, swarams followed by thani avarthanam. A Padam in Dwajawanti, a composition by Bharathiyar and concluding abhang in Marathi completed the repertoire. “She is a very promising artiste and upcoming,” opines Narayan Parasuram, one of the coordinators of Powai Fine Arts.

“She has a very sweet voice and her sense of shruti and rhythm is very good. She also follows a good paddathi in music and blessed with good gurus,” says Bala Swaminathan, singer from Powai.Bharathi was accompanied by B Anantharaman on the Violin, Shyam Balasubramaniam on Mridangam, Sriram Rajan on ghatam and Raghu on the Tambura. The program proved a needed sequel to the summer vacation.

Sources: The Times of Mulund-Powai
Article by Bhanu Kumar

Gokul Chandramouli-Essar Hall-17.7.2010- Images of artists

Gokul Chandramouli-Essar Hall-17.7.2010- Thillai Ambalathanai-Suruti

Gokul Chandramouli-Essar Hall-17.7.2010-Varugalamo Ayya-Maanji

Another great composition of Shri Gopalakrishna Bharathi , part of the Nandanar Charithiram. Here he enquires whether he can enter the temple ( due to the caste restrictions prevailed then )

Gokul Chandramouli-Essar Hall-17.7.2010-Maraithirukudhe - Nataikurinji

This is a Shri Gopalakrishna Bharathi composition. This is part of the Nandanar Charithiram. In thi song, he requests the Nandi to move by the side so that he can have the dharshan of Lord Shiva.




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Gokul Chandramouli-Essar Hall-17.7.2010-Aadadhu asangadhu vaa

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Gokul Chandramouli- Essar Hall-17.7.10- Aadadhu asangadhu vaa Musicians Available

Gokul Chandramouli-Essar Hall-17.7.2010-Singaravelavan vandhan-Ananda Bhairavi

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Malladi brothers - M.S.Subbulakshmi Hall- Mumbai-10.7.2010- Saveri

Malladi brothers -M.S.Subbulakshmi Hall-Mumbai-10.7.2010- Images

Shri Sriramprasad and Shri Ravikumar, more popularly known as MALLADI BROTHERS performed a concert in M.S.Subbulakshmi Hall, Matunga, Mumbai on 10th July 2010 evening. The 200 plus seater capacity hall was full on expected lines . The evening commenced with award announcement and prize distribution for budding talent sponsored by Shanmukananda Fine Arts. Shri Sriram Prasad advised the children not to learn carnatic music for the sake of getting into to join the cinema music ( as this is being looked at as a pre-requisite by Judges ) but instead learn wholeheartedly to serve Shastriya sangeetham. He clearly cautioned those gathered that one should not get swayed by the charm of cinema music and instead learn to protect the classical music . Besides, he advocated the need to learn to sing kritis of great composers prior to the Trinity . He also stressed on the need to follow notations for any Kriti as many veterans have followed this path to perfection and success. He further emphasized that aspiring children should regularly attend concerts to get an idea on how different singers perform .

Starting with a Varnam on Kambodhi, the duo picked up pace with Boopalam , Asaveri, Reedhi Gowlai , Kumudakriya and other ragas. The brothers compensated well for the absence of their revered Guru Shri. Nedunuri Krishnamurthy who was absent due to illness.

Malladi brothers -M.S.Subbulakshmi Hall-Mumbai-10.7.2010- Kumudakriya

Malladi brothers -M.S.Subbulakshmi Hall-Mumbai-10.7.2010- Dwaithamu Sukhama - Reedhi Gowlai

Malladi brothers -M.S.Subbulakshmi Hall-Mumbai-10.7.2010- Boopalam

Malladi brothers -M.S.Subbulakshmi Hall-Mumbai-10.7.2010- Boopalam

Malladi brothers -M.S.Subbulakshmi Hall-Mumbai-10.7.2010- Kambodhi varnam

27th Annual Pratisthan Day celebrations at Ayyappa Mandir - Goregaon West

http://www.afternoondc.in/film-review/a-feast-of-classical-dance-and-music/article_3723


A feast of classical dance and music
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
By VIJAY SHANKER
AS part of the 27th Annual Pratisthan Day celebrations, the Ayyappa Seva Sangham, Bangur Nagar, Goregoan (W) organised a series of music and dance recitals at the premises of the Ayyappa Temple. Every day visitors would throng to have a feast of classical dance, light and classical music as well. Different dance styles like Bharatanatyam and Kathakali were presented. The artists were felicitated by the temple officials but no remuneration was given to the artists. Since the temple is quite affluent, one wonders why.

Coming to the performances, Sneha Sunil, an ardent disciple of Guru Hema Malini Chari of Nrityangan, was a standout. Sneha is a 9th standard student of Lok Puram Public School in Thane. Blessed with a pleasing personality, Sneha performed selected items from the Bharatanatyam repertoire with ease and precision, commencing with a number in praise of Lord Nataraja. In the Durge number, varied virile and benevolent aspects of the goddess were revealed. In the Dhanyasi Varnam, the composition of Kalasadan Guru Mani, the dancer portrayed the frolics and pranks of the naughty Krishna. Sneha has a natural grasp over expressions. Hence it was a treat to watch her. In the Keertanam, various episodes of Ramayana were depicted incorporating Lord Hanuman. Besides the folk Kavidu Chindu, the attraction of the evening was the special number on the life of Lord Ayyapan, Thulasi Mani Maalai. Here is a dancer one can look out for as she has lot of potential.

On the last day of the festival, the audience was eagerly waiting for the Tala Vadya Kacheri musical programme, led by acclaimed mridangist Satish Krishnamurthy. Satish holds the distinction of participating in several prestigious festivals, both in India and abroad. As a soloist and as an accompanist, he has performed in different countries.

The special guest performer of the musical troupe was the renowned violinist S.V. Ramachandran, who mesmerised the audience with the stringed instrument. Satish has team of percussion musicians, including the mridangam, tabla and the ghatam; the added attraction being the moorsing. Besides carnatic musical compositions being played on the violin, it was exciting for the young musicians to have a rhythmic dialogue between the mridangam, the tabla, the ghatam and the moorsing. The youngest mridangist also recited some of the rhythmic patterns that won instant applause from the audience.

Accomplished Bharatanatyam and Kathak exponent Bhupali Sawant presented her students in different items in the Bharatanatyam style. Guru Bhupali Swant established the Jhanak Nritya Academy with branches in Pune and Mumbai. It was quite exciting for the children to perform as most of them were performing for the first time. The students performed traditional and choreographic numbers that were appreciated by the audience.

On the whole, it was quite a pleasing programme.

Mulund Fine Arts performance during May 10

An article by Bhanu Kumar in Mumbai Mirror :

Celebrations galore


Bhanu Kumar MULUND

Posted On Saturday, June 05, 2010 at 12:13:06 PM


Just five months after the mega annual festival it was time again for a mini festival at the Mulund Fine Arts Society, (MFAS).“We have made it a practice to arrange for three or four days of mini festival in early June every year at Mahakavi Kalidas auditorium. Last year the rains came early, so this year we decided to hold the festival in end May. Our members look forward to this festival as we host quality concerts,” says N Rajgopal, president of MFAS.





The first day, May 27 was a Bharatnatyam presentation by the disciples of Asha Sunilkumar from Thane. Asha, a senior disciple of Late Guru T K Mahalingam Pillai, went on to do her graduation in Bharatnatyam at Nalanda, Mumbai University and stood first. An efficient dancer herself, she trains many students at Sanskriti, an institution imparting training in Carnatic and Hindustani Music, Mridangam, Kathak, Keyboard etc.



“We have over 600 students who are enthusiastically pursuing learning of fine arts. It is the blessing of my guru who inaugurated my institution,” says Asha.The dance items presented by six senior disciples were devotion oriented. Titled Parikrama, the dance repertoire was a spiritual journey to seek the divine through the medium of dance.

The highlight of the program was Dasavataram, a quick run on the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The crisp thillana in Kathanakuthukalam composed by Dr Balamurali Krishna was the crowning glory. The poses and formations besides the well choreographed movements were proof of the pristine and precise training of the guru.

The second day featured Gayathri Girish, Carnatic vocalist from Chennai. Beginning with a brisk varnam in Panthuvarali, Gayathri went on to sing Sreevaralakshmi in Sreeragam and Nannu Brova in Abogi. A devotional rendition on His Holiness Jagatguru Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal in Sahana had popular appeal. Kamalambam Bajare in Kalyani was followed by Telisirama in Poornachandrika.

Gayathri took Reeti Gowlai for Ragam Tanam Pallavi. The next was a virutham followed by Gana Mazhai in ragamalika and the concluding Ponnar Meniyane.Endowed with a melodious voice, Gayathri was ably supported by the accompanying artistes Raghavendra Rao on violin and Poongulam Subramaniam on the mridangam. Rajesh Sreenivasan, senior mridangam artiste from Mumbai rendered percussion support on the Kanjira.

The concluding day had a scintillating instrument ensemble by Embar Kannan on the Violin and Sathyanarayanan on the Keyboard.
Speed and accuracy were the keynotes of the concert. A varnam in Nattaikurunji, followed by Srimahaganapati in Gowlai, Sogasujudatharama in Kannada Gowlai, Paripalayamam in Reeti Gowlai added to the pace for the concert.

Embar Kannan then took on Charukesi followed by Sumanesa Ranjani Ragam Tanam Pallavi with ragamalika swarams.
A bhajan, Eppo Varuvaro in Jaunpuri, an English note, Tamburi Meetithava in Sindhubhairavi and thillana in Kapi composed by the legendary violin maestro Lalgudi G Jayaraman completed the fare for the evening.

Young Sathyanarayan who has just finished his IX standard could give able support to the violin rendition of the senior Kannan. Percussion session by Poongulam Subramaniam and Rajesh Sreenivasan took the audience to a higher plane of appreciation and listening pleasure.

“It is an honour and pleasure to play for senior artistes from Chennai. My comfort level is better with mridangam but I play other percussion too on special occasions,” says Rajesh.“I have always admired his mridangam. It is amazing that he could bring out such fast rhythm in Kanjira and play with extreme skill and ease,” says K Kumar from Mulund.
“We wanted our members to have a series of good programs at the close of the summer vacation,” says M Sankaran, secretary of MFAS.
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=CITY - Briefs§id=35&contentid=2010060520100603121306369b9873387

Carnatic Concerts in Mumbai - July 2010

10th July 2010
6 pm
M.S. Subbulakshmi Hall- Shanmukananda
Shri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy – Prize distribution to talented artists and followed by concert with Malladi brothers support
H.N.Bhaskar – Violin
M.Lakshminarayana raju – Mridangam

11th July
Madurai T.N.S.Krishnan - Vocal

10th July

NCPA Bandish Festival Bombay Jayashri In Theatres on: [ Book Tickets ]
Synopsis:
Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775-1835), the youngest of the Trinity associated with Carnatic music, and Papanasam Sivan (1890 - 1973) are celebrated composers whose works will be presented by Bombay Jayashri. Having trained in both Hindustani and Carnatic music, she will present Dikshitar’s kritis, mainly composed in Sanskrit and Papanasam’s padams in Tamil. NCPA Bandish: Festival of Legendary Composers This three-day festival will showcase some of the most treasured works of the great composers, presented by eminent artistes from north and south India.

At Jasubhai Convention Hall

24/7/10 - Vocal K.S.Harishankar ( 6 pm )

25/7/10 - Vocal Jayakrishnan ( 6 pm )

At Essar Hall

17/7/10 - GKB , Papanasam Sivan and Oothukadu Day ( 6.30 pm )- Vocal by Gokul Chandramouli