Culture park

Culture park
Cubbon Park offers a treat amidst nature every weekend, hosts Kannada music concerts
Dipannita Das | TNN

Bangalore: The idea of weekend fun for many Bangaloreans could still be a jaunt to the mall, multiplex or that favourite food joint. But for those who would like to be with nature while being treated to some good music, the bandstand at Cubbon Park is the place to be.
Every Sunday, between 5 pm and 7 pm, there is melodious music by eminent artistes — lush greenery around the bandstand, grass or benches to sit on and mesmerizing tunes to tap the feet to.
The bandstand performances are an initiative of Prakruthi, a trust that intends to take rich Kannada culture and heritage to more Bangaloreans. For the past 10 weeks, the bandstand has served as a stage to many artistes who have paid tribute to the masters. There is no entry fee and the shows offer a quality holiday experience for about two hours.
Many Bangaloreans are not aware of this programme, conducted every week. Families who come for a stroll in the park, stop for a while or settle down to listen to the music.
On Sunday, on show was artiste Raju Ananthaswamy and party, who paid tribute to G P Rajaratnam, with a performance of Ratnana Padagalu. The audience at the shows is a good mix of all age groups — families with children playing around, seniors on an evening walk and even youngsters form the crowd.
Manjunatha, a senior citizen, was with his regular group. “I had come in for a walk to the park, but stopped to listen to the music,’’ he says. Young Arnavi, who was accompanied by her father, says, “My father, who knew about this programme, insisted that I came along with him. I think the music amidst this natural setting is amazing.’’
Next week, singer Bhadri Prasad will treat the audience to a rendition of classics. So far, the artistes who have performed include Mangala and Ravi who paid tribute to professor Nisar Ahmed’s compositions, Shankar Shanbhogue who rendered kavya sangeet, M D Pallavi and Ravi Murur, C Ashwath, Divya Raghavan and Ajay Warrier, who performed songs of Uday Shankar and Puttur Narasimha Naik, among others.
According to M S Prasad of Prakruthi, the idea is to showcase the best of Kannada culture, especially poetry. It also brings in a group of people who are clued into literature and enjoys quality music.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com