Of devotion, classical music

Of devotion, classical music
Deccan Herald

Every year during April and May during Rama navami, the three acre Fort High School ground in Chamarajpet becomes a centre of devotion and classical music.

Every year during April and May during Rama navami, the three acre Fort High School ground in Chamarajpet becomes a centre of devotion and classical music.

The Rama Seva Mandali Trust, established in 1939 by late S V Narayana Swamy Rao, has been annually celebrating the festival for the past 68 years without a single break. The music festival has become one of the most awaited event in the musical calendar of Bangalore. It is perhaps one of the oldest and most noted in the country. This year, the Mandali is celebrating its 68h year of Ramotsava.

The celebrations

Spread over a month and a half, it is the largest Ramanavami celebration in the country with over 150 celebrated musicians from all over India performing at the festival. Many of the musicians in the country have come into limelight at this festival.

The legend of Carnatic music, late Dr M S Subbulakshmi, has enthralled the audience here with her devotional rendition for 35 years continuously. Begum Parveen Sultana, Flute T R Mahalingam, violinist Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and A Chandrasekariah are some of the big names who have performed here.

Musical bounty

The 68th Sree Ramanavami celebrations is being held from March 31 to May 14 at the special pandal at Government Junior College, Fort High School Grounds. The Sree Ramanavami function will be inaugurated on Friday (April 7) at 6 pm with the inaugural concert by saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath and there after for over 37 days there will concerts galore by seasoned artistes, upcoming and budding artistes.

Some of the major concerts scheduled for this year are: Special Carnatic and Hindustani jugalbandhi by Seshachary of Hyderabad brothers and Sanjeev Abhayankar (April 8). Flute trio comprising Dr N Ramani, Athul Kumar, Thyagrajan will perform on April 9.

M S Sheela (April 10), Bombay Jayashree (April 11), Malladi Brothers (April 12), Dr R K Srikantan (April 13), Bombay Sisters - C Saroja and C Lalitha (April 14) Rudrapatnam Brothers (April 18), Saralaya Sisters (April 20), Kasarvalli Sister (April 26) are some of the major performers at the festival.

Mandolin duet by U Srinivas and U Rajesh are also scheduled to perform on April 15. K J Yesudas will perform on May 7. He has performed many times in the past.

Felicitation

On April 16 on the occasion of the Founder’s Day senior musicians and musicologists will be felicitated at a special function between 9 am to 1 pm. On the same evening there will be a special Carnatic and Hindustani jugalbandhi by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Dr Mysore Manjunath.

Award function

The S V Narayanswamy Rao Memorial national award function will be held on May 12. This years recipient is Lalgudi G Jayaram, one of the senior most violinist of the country. This is the sixth year that the Mandali is conferring this award instituted in memory of S V Naryanaswamy, the founder of the Mandali.

Highlight

Another highlight of this years programme is sarod performance by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

He will be accompanied by his sons Aman Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash om May 13. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has also performed here earlier.

The dance programme has been re-introduced this year and the last day of this festival will conclude with a Bharatanatyam dance programme by Vyjayanthimala Bali on May 14.

M K Bhaskar Rao