Balasaraswati style of natyam, a presentation

Art @ Edge, a group that facilitates interaction between artistes and art lovers, is organising a presentation by Aniruddha M Knight, grandson of the legendary dancer T. Balasaraswati.
The event will focus on Bala's style and will include padams and javalis as presented by her.
On Dec. 15. Between 5 and 7 p.m.
The venue is New no. 26, (Old 32), Kasturba Nagar 5th Main Road, Adyar.
Open only to limited audience on first come first served basis. A token donation of Rs. 100 is solicited.

Kalakshetra screens Ray's 'Pather Panchali'; tribute to Ravi Shankar

Kalakshetra is paying a special tribute to Pandit Ravi Shankar who passed away some days ago.

It is screening Satyajit Ray's iconic film, Pather Panchali at its auditorium on Dec.15, Saturday at 10 am - the music for this film was scored by the pandit.

Writer Girish Karnad will speak.

Open to all. 

Tributes to Ravi Shankar at concerts

This was natural. The day news broke out of Pandit Ravi Shankar's death in USA, some artistes who were performing that day paid tributes to the famed musician at the season concerts.

We were told that Aruna Sairam paid tribute with a song in honour of the pandit. Violinists Ganesh and Kumaresh, at their evening concert also paid tributes.

Ravi Shankar was featured at the Music Academy at the December 31 late evening concert and these were packed.

Menu goes sans onion

It was Amavasya on Thursday and the Meenambiga Caterers at the Mylapore Fine Arts Club canteen decided to do away with onions in their menu. Vazhaipoo vadai replaced the onion vada and their sambar too had more vegetables in it, in place of the onions.

"Oh, Amavasai? But the menu looks like a concert without thukkada!" exclaimed a rasika.  But his friend who came to the canteen just for a cup of coffee ordered for sevai and vadai too once he knew that they did not use onions that day.

The Thanjajur special Ashoka Halwa was hot on sale that evening. Yet, a rasika ordered for a plate of Kasi Halwa, which the canteen manager said will be in the menu on Friday!

Narada Gana Sabha fest starts Dec.14

This is one of the big ones of the season. 

The curtains go up tomorrow ( Dec.14) for Narada Gana Sabha's fest at its hall on TTK Road, Alwarpet. 

Awards are to be given to the feted dance couple, the Dhananjayans, music guru Rukmini Ramani and to nadaswaram senior Injikudi E R Lakshmanan.

The event starts at 4.30 with a magala isai concert.

Later, as is the NGS tradition, Kadri Gopalnath and A Kanyakumari present a concert.

NGS is selling daily tickets at its counter - the cheapest - Rs.50 - are for balcony seats.

KutcheriBuzz Music Guide out; pick up your copy

The annual KutcheriBuzz Music Guide for the 2012 Season is now being circulated for rasikas and artistes.

The color Guide is handy for sabha hopping rasikas. It lists all the leading concerts at all leading sabhas, even listing the bright young talent rasikas must check out.

It also has a section on top 40 artistes, senior ands young listing their leading concerts for the season.

The Guide is free to have and copies may be had at the KutcheriBuzz office at Shop 22, 2nd Floor, Corporation Shopping Complex, 77, C P Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 600 018.
(Landmark - south side of Alwarpet flyover, near Kirtilal Jewellers).

Open from 9.45 am to 7.30 pm, open till 1 pm only on Sunday.

Comment on artiste's clothes . .

Picked up at the launch of a photography exhibition from  a senior dancer.

A sabha manager mentions a popular woman artiste, a vocalist and raises his eyebrows about the nature and style of the way she attires herself. The man shows his disapproval.

And the dancer says - sexism continues to exist in sabhas and on the concert circuit.

Ashok Ramani's exhibition of photos

Artistes also have their pet hobbies, close passions.
Cricket, cinema, photography . . .
And there are occasions when they demonstrate it.

Vocalist Papanasam Ashok Ramani collects vintage pictures.
Now, he has raised an exhibition of what are some fantastic pictures of Carnatic music greats in the lobby of Narada Gana Sabha's hall, TTK Road, Alwarpet. Open through the day.

Ramani has been collecting photos of the masters from various sources.
We like the photo of young MS in a dance costume.

More info at - http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/fringe-events

TV teams need some education please!

Last week, Vijay TV telecast a special program dedicated to Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi.  

One song “Jo Achutananda” was sung by Shravan and it was in KHANDA CHAPU TALAM. 

A close up shot was shown of a rasika who was blissfully nodding her head and keeping the ADI TALAM!  The camera specially focused on the hand as the rasika kept the eight counts of Adi talam! 

Wish those who edit such TV programs at least equip themselves on some of the basics of Karnatic music or take the help of some knowledgeable person!

- Reported by Radha Bhaskar

Violinist Jyotsna with Balamuralikrishna, Zakir Hussain

Violinist Jyotsna Srikanth mailed in to share photos of her concert alongside Dr Balamuralikrishna and ustad Zakir Hussain held last week at the BVB-TAG hall in Kilpauk, Chennai.
The show ran to a packed auditorium and she says she hopes to do more such shows in future.

A ragamalika on the 'season'; from Ganesh-Kumaresh

Ganesh  (of violin duo Ganesh & Kumaresh) sang in praise of Chennai Margazhi Season at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore on 10.12.12.  

The song, composed by Usha Ramkumar (mother of Abhishek) gives a vivid description of the specialties of the season. That there is scope for all, like veterans, seniors and budding artistes.  That there is variety in the form of vocal, veena, violin, flute, dance etc.

The rasikas come in pattu sarees with matching accessories.

The season starts from mid Karthgai and goes throughout Margazhi.  The Sabhas conducting the festival are many in number. 

The song is a ragamalika starting with Hindolam, then Nattai, Dharmavathy and finally Atana.

Ganesh & Kumaresh gave a scintillating performance. Mohana Rama in raga Mohanam was the main piece.  The kalpana swaras were flowing like a fierce river.

The kutchery concluded with a medley of Bhagyada Lakshmi, followed by Harivarasanam, then Nagumomu galavani.

The video link of the song Pride of Chennai is given below.

http://youtu.be/-oyPzv4RdXw 

- Report and photo by V. Vasantha

Pandit Ravi Shankar passes away

Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has passed away in the USA. He was ill and was in hospital in San Diego.

News broke out on Indian TV channels this morning and tributes are being aired.

The maestro had performed in Chennai off and on. He was the President of the sadas of The Music Academy event in 1987, the finale of the December season of the Academy. He had also performed here.

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