Kaleesha and Bombay Jayashri; sharing time backstage

Sheik Mahaboob Shubani and Kaleeshabi Mahaboob and their artiste-colleagues performed the nagaswaram to open the festival of Sree Rama Seva Mandali at the Fort High School grounds, Chamarajpet on March 28 evening.

This husband-wife couple who hail from Andhra Pradesh and have made Srirangam their home are among the senormost nagaswaram vidwans and have performed on many stages and venues.

They still maintain a busy schedule. " I was in Chennai for social functions twice in a week recently," said Sheik Mahaboob who got his first big break at Thiruvaiyaru aradhana in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu when seniors invited him to perform at the aradhana, out of turn since the scheduled artiste could not be present.

Here at the mandali's white room for artistes, Kaleesha got the time to chat with Bombay Jayashri who was to present the evening's concert.

" She is special, " said Jayashri as the two artistes posed for the photo posted here.