Thanks for your feedback on Guide

We want to say 'thank you' to dozens of rasikas who shared their feedback on our first publication for the Sri Ramanavami Music Fest - the KutcheriBuzz Guide - brought out this year.

Some key suggestions that came from you -
- Cover the concerts from the eve of Ugadi till mid-May of this season.
- Feature biopics of leading local artistes
- Enlarge biopics of top mandalis
- Circulate Guide as early as possible

Many rasikas found the Guide ' handy', 'timely', 'well designed', 'useful'.
We received feedback from rasikas on the spot at the Vani Academy venue in Basaweswaranagar.
Said one lady, "I was hoping there would be a handybooklet and here comes one!"

You can still mail your comments - to - kutcheribuzz@gmail.com

Thank you, once again from the KB team.

The man who drives ideas at Jayarama Seva Mandali

There are many key people who do lots of work for their mandalis at Sri Ramanavami time.

I met Gopalakrishna, the quiet but ambitious secretary of Jayarama Seva Mandali in Jayanagar a fortnight ago. 

Gopalakrishna, who retired from HAL devotes most of his time to this organization and the temple it manages. On early evening we chat at the hall where cooks have just finished making laddoos that will be given as prasadams later.

He tells us how a substantial amount of money has to be raised to run the Sri Ramanavami celebrations and the concerts.

And he pulls out a thick, nicely bound 2013-2014 Diary that is his baby. Well designed with lots of topical notes and captions and backed by multicolor adverts, the Diary is to be given to all their member ( some 300 of them) and it has helped to raise about Rs.6 lakhs.

"We have to think of news ideas to raise funds," he tells us. His colleagues who come up give him all the credit.

He gifts us a Diary and a small box of laddoos. And we appreciate the hospitality that this team offers to guests.

Warm reception for Abhishek Raghuram at Seshadripuram

This is the first time Abhishek Raghuram is performing at the Seshadripuram Rama Seva Samithi, says Revathi Tarakaram, the treasurer of the Samithi.

The Seshadripuram college auditorium is already full when we reach the venue. The organisers bring in more carpets to accommodate the rasikas standing at the fringes.

The community around this place takes in the cultural activities very well. The public holiday on May 1 draws people from the nearby neighbourhoods Malleswaram and Vasanth nagar. Ramakrishna and family with two young children sitting beside us tell us that they drive from Vidyaranyapura to this place whenever they can during the season.


Abhishek plunges deep into the main raga of the evening, Kalyani. Many sancharas in the raga alapana invite spontaneous applause. Bangalore violinist Charulatha Ramanujam enjoys every phrase of it and reproduces them with a smile on her face.

'Nidhi chala sukhama', the kriti emanates from Abhishek. The neraval, kalpanaswara at an unusual phrase creates curiosity among the rasikas. They follow it closely. Abhishek ends every swara phrase at the lyrics 'sumati  tyagaraja nutuni keertana sukhama' and the finale gets a huge round of appreciation.

The seasoned percussionists Neyveli Narayanan on the mridangam and Guru Prasanna on the Kanjira present a lively session in Misra Chapu tala.

Abhishek presents a short item in Brindavana Saranga and moves on to Sindhu Bhairavi. The audience reluctantly prepares to pack up for the day!

National awards ceremony postponed at Sree Rama Seva Mandali

The evening is scheduled to have a string of events at the Fort High School grounds.

The annual S.V. Narayanaswamy Rao memorial National awards are to be presented to the senior vocalist T.N. Seshagopalan and flutist N. Ramani.

The mangala vadyam recital scheduled at 4.15 p.m. is not on till 6 p.m. as we reach the venue. We see the senior nadaswaram vidwan Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman just arriving along with his team.

After a while, the arti is performed to the Sri Rama image and the nadaswaram recital begins.
No signs of the guests and awardees at the pandal.

S.N. Varadaraj, the general secretary of the mandali informs us that both the awardees of the evening, N.Ramani and T.N. Seshagopalan are unwell and undergoing treatment at different places. The award ceremony is postponed to another day, yet to be decided.

Vyasarpadi Kodandaraman begins with a varnam and moves on to Mayamalavagowla. It is time for us to catch up with a young artiste at Seshadripuram. We moved.

Rakesh Chaurasia at Basaveshwara Nagar

Vani Education Centre has many Hindustani recitals in its list this season.
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia's Bansuri concert is scheduled for the Monday evening.

We are told that  the maestro is advised rest by his doctors and so his nephew and disciple Rakesh Chaurasia would be in concert.

Sree Vani School auditorium always has a full house for the concerts. And it is so this evening too.

After playing the Hindustani flute for more than an hour and a half, young Rakesh announces that his 'quota' is over for the day and invites requests from the audience.
And requests pour in. Bhairavi, Bilaval, a Tulsidas Bhajan ...

Rakesh chooses to begin with Bhairavi and moves on making a garland of ragas as a ragamalika and ends with Desh. That fulfills most requests from the audience.
Happy listeners. Happy Rakesh. Happy organisers!

Evening of young musicians at Chamarajpet

Rama Seva Mandali holds its concerts in the sprawling Fort High School grounds.

The enclosures on all the sides make the ground appear like an indoor auditorium. They also prevent the traffic noise from entering the concert hall. The vehicles are allowed inside the grounds for parking, but the music inside the pandal is not affected.

When we enter the pandal on Monday early evening, Sandeep Narayan is elaborating the main raga Todi. With a stamp of Sanjay Subrahmanyam's voice and style, Sandeep lets the music flow. Yes, a disciple of Sanjay he is! Audience appreciate his gliding Sruti bhedam with a round of applause.

Sandeep ends his concert with a composition in Tamil.

Hosts of students of vidwan R.K. Padmanabha enter the auditorium. Also the senior accompanists, violinist S. Hemalatha, mridangam vidwan C. Cheluvaraju and ghatam vidushi Sukanya Ramgopal.

Bangalore's popular duo S.R. Vinay and K.V. Krishnaprasad are going to be in the  main concert.
Both are disciples of the senior vocalist - guru R.K. Padmanabha. Guests keep coming in and occupying the front seats at the pandal.

Bright and strong voices of the young vocalists fill the auditorium and the percussionists enliven up the concert with their trademark sparklers!

Snapshots of Ramanavami Music festivals

Rasikas lokking at the schedule of concerts outside Sri Jayaramaseva Mandali, Jayanagar

Entrance to the Fort High School grounds, Rama Seva Mandali, Chamrajpet

Prasadams just made and waiting for distribution at Sri Jayarama Seva Mandali hall

Houseful pandal at N R Colony Rama Seva Mandali

Vidvan R.K. Padmanabha along with his disciples at the N.R. Colony concert

The image of Rama at the Fort High School grounds

Seshadripuram college auditorium, houses five hundred rasikas every day

A section of audience at the Sri Vani Education Centre, Basaveshwara Nagar 

The nicely decorated entrance to the Rajarajeswari Nagar Welfare Association's festival venue 

K J Yesudoss still a big draw?

The Hyderabad Sisters stood in this evening for Nityashree's absence at the Sree Ramaseva Mandali and they had a decent crowd in the tent. (photo above)

But even as late as 7.30 p.m. rasikas at the box office were keen to know if Nityashree was performing, unaware of her cancellation.

Sanjay's concert sold well but we are told that the biggest crowd may well be for K J Yesudoss' concert. He still seems to be a great draw. As he is in Chennai.
Why is that?, can anyone tell us.

Missing the canteen culture of Madras!

The canteen culture has not taken root at the mandalis in Bangalore.
Much unlike those in Madras during the December season where sabhas compete even on the standards of their canteens!

The only one we noticed was the one at Fort High School for the Sree Ramaseva Mandali's fest.
But this year's food joint is just not good.

The large family which has set up shop isn't even ready with the snacks when rasikas check into the campus. All they can offer is biscuits and chips, some dry food and watery tea/coffee.

Last evening, a dozen people grabbed the hot bondas before running off to catch Sanjay Subrahmanyam. "At least these are hot!", said one rasika who made a grab.

The cooks take their time to get a bajji or a Mangalore bonda ready. The family seems to exist in its own, cool world. But rasikas seem to want better snacks here.
On Sunday night, the hosts lined up dinner for Founder's Day. Was it special? We'd like to hear from you!

Nalina Mohan among awardees

There are a few formal events that are built into some of the music tests.
Founders Day at Sree Ramaseva Mandali is one. And it was held this evening.

A small Sunday crowd sat through the formalities. Mandal boss Varadarajulu later said that every year, they honour a mix of city personalities.

There was a mix alright - former Income Tax boss T K Subramaniam, now a Chennaite, V Sathyamurthy of the Ozone group who also takes care of a 125 year old Kasi Vishwanatha Temple in the city, Karnataka Admin Services' Dr Manu P Baliga and violinist Nalina Mohan ( seen in the photo above) . A few others listed in the invite did not turn up.

Justice N Kumar was the chief guest and Dr C S Kedar, a senior IAS officer presided.

But the more important part of the event slipped by - Chennai-based music guru P S Narayanaswamy who was to be decorated with the first Rama Gana Kalacharya award could not make it since he was indisposed.

We are told he will make it next Sunday when his sishyas, Ranjani and Gayathri perform here.
That should be a good double bill.

Sunday morn specials

Two Sunday  (April 28) events, not concerts really but in keeping with the season.

Sr Rama Pattabhisheka is on at Sr Jayarama Seva Mandali in Jayanagar from 8.30 a.m. onwards while a Thyagaraja aradhana will take place from 10.30 a.m. onwards at the mandali in Rajarajeswari Nagar, off the Mysore Road.

Mysore Nagaraj and Manjunath perform this evening at Seshadripuram.

Tejas and Pranav; brothers on violins

On Saturday, brothers Tejas and Pranav Manjunath were on the side stage at the Sree  Ramaseva Mandali at Chamarajpet. On their violins.

The early evening slot is for juniors and though the attendance is made up of family, relatives and well wishers, the early rasikas to the big concert also get a feel of the young artistes on stage.

The brothers got a big hug after their concert. One well-wisher even had a little wrapped gift and a nice gesture too.

The brothers, one in college and the other in school - though the latter looks elder! - seem to have enjoyed the stage. They said they had just relocated to Bangalore from the USA, the family having lived in the West for 20 years.

"And we did it for their music!" said a lady, armed with a camera. But before we could chat further with the lady, more wellwishers swept her attention.

Like in Chennai, relocating for the sake of music, here in Bangalore is a good thing.

Big attendance for Sanjay's concert

Top ranking artistes seem to command solid support at the Festival.
And Saturday's concert of Sanjay Subrahmanyam was one such.

Started on the dot at 6.30 p.m. after a short puja behind the main stage and rasikas rushing in through all the gates of this massive pandal, Sanjay did not linger and break. His pace is astonishing, more so in the rather stifling atmosphere inside the pandal which does not have cross ventilation.

There must have been close to 2000 people at this concert and many stayed back to the end, which came at about 9.30 p.m.

The applause was big not only for Sanjay but also for violinist S. Varadarajan, a Sanjay regular.
Rasikas sighed when the emcee told them that Nityashree had cancelled her Sunday concert because of a bad throat.

Award for guru P S Narayanaswamy

The Sunday event of Sree Ramaseva Mandali will be special. The group celebrates Founder's Day in its 75th year. Many VIPs of Bangalore are expected to participate.

It is also an occasion to honor guru P S Narayanaswamy from Chennai.

Justice N Kumar is the chief guest.

The well known guru who has a legion of sishyas who are on the performing circuit will be decorated with a title - this is an annual feature of the Mandali at the festival.

The evening concert follows after this event.

Nityashree cancel's concert

There isn't good news for rasikas here in Bangalore attending the concerts at Sree Rama Seva Mandali's panda in Chamarajpet.

Nityashree Mahadevan's concert on Sunday is not happening.

The artiste çalled to say she had a throat infection.

A notice at the gate of the Fort School carries a signed note that Nityashree sent.

Perhaps, a confirmation for diehard rasikas.

In her place, the Hyderabad Sisters will perform.

This weekend; Sanjay Subrahmanyam, T M Krishna and Nityashree Mahadevan

The big concert this evening is of Chennai-based Sanjay Subrahmanyam at the Sree Ramaseva Mandali at the Fort School in Chamarajapet. It is at 6.30 p.m.

Accompanying the vocalist are S Varadarajan, Neyveli Venkatesh and B Rajashekar.

At the same time, T M Krishna is performing for the Sree Seshadripuram Ramaseva Mandali at the local college campus.

Tomorrow, Nityashree Mahadevan is to perform at Charamarajpet venue at 7.30 p.m. She has been drawing huge audience after she returned to the stage in January following a tragedy in her personal life.

Seven-stringed violin at theme concert

News came in from 'The Hindu'  that a unique concert was held under the banner of the Kaaranji Anjenayaswamy Temple near Gandhi Bazaar.
The theme here for this year's fest is saptha ( seven).

This violin - veena concert featured N Venkatesh on a seven stringed violin and Prashant Iyengar on the veena, a seven stringed instrument.

The ensemble was seven in number -  D S Prsahant on mridangam, Dayanand Mohite on ghatam, Karthik on tabla, Nagendra Prasad on rhythm pad and kanjira and Prasanna Kumar on morsing.

Post-bombed Malleswaram; rasikas stay put

As Malleswaram is still recovering from the bomb blast that happened this morning ( April 17), I reached the Malleswaram Ramamandira with apprehensions about audience turn out. 

But seeing some of the senior artistes and knowledgeable rasikas in the audience, I went on stage to perform with the reassuring thought that certain things about Malleswaram will not change come what may. 

Veteran Vid M S Govindaswamy on violin along with Vid M K Bhaskar on mridangam, and a good feedback system, and I am a happy musician today! Here is also photo  from the concert   

- Report and photo Srimatha Ramanand

Blackout in Jayanagar, Sowmya excuses and dinner at the mandali

We made a pit stop in Koramangala - at the Indian Heritage Society space to check out a concert here and a quick exit too. We had lost time and were headed to Jayanagar where S Sowmya was to perform this evening.

Then the area went black. Power tripped and a blackout reigned. But Bangalore knows how to live with power cuts and break downs.


The hall of Sri Jayarama Seva Mandali in Jayanagar's 8th Block was lit up and music flowed on to the road. But this was not Sowmya's voice surely. We heard male voices here.

And then we find young singers S R Vinay and K V Krishna Prasad in concert on stage. And on the floor, not far rows of young people. And in the first row guru R K Padmanabha.

Then things fall in place. Sowmya has excused herself since she isn't well and the duo, sishyas of Padmanabha take her place. There over 100 people in the hall though it is past 9.20 p.m.

The hosts invite us for dinner with the artistes. We say yes, the thought of having to dine in darkness at the back of this 'yes'! Rasam and curd with rice and boondhi ladoo is a simple, nice dinner.

We are home just in time to catch the final push of CSK in Chennai. The Kings beat Rajasthan Royals with one ball to spare. The rain has made Bangalore nice and cool.

Anantaram and Amit in Malleswaram on a wet evening

Our second stop this Monday evening was Malleswaram. We turn into Sampige Road, the busiest and are surprised - the road is empty and the pavements dull as are the shops.
Did the rain drive away people tonight?

We squeeze into a backstreet that leads to the market. And greeted by lightning, enter a massive building for yet another concert venue here in Malleswaram.

B K Anantaram and Amit Nadig, flutists are in concert. A veena, a violin, mirdangam and ghatam around this well known duo.

Its a sparse crowd of rasikas here but the images of the gods, decorated and in well lit spaces are stunning here.

We are told that this plot was a donation of the Mysore Maharajah and this is not the first time that we hear of a donation from that quarter!

A break in the rain and we move on. News comes in of the passing away of violin maestro Lalgudi Jayaraman in Chennai - he had been ailing for many years but had managed to attend a few functions despite his handicap and ill-health. The news spreads across Bangalore.

Over to Sriramapuram

The skies began to turn from orange red to grey black as evening gave way to dusk. Rain was in the air in Bangalore as we hit the road this Monday, April 22 on our beat of the Sri Ramanavami Music Fest.

Sriramapuram was our destination. Google maps our road guide. It began to rain as we turned into a narrow road in a middle class area and sighted the Sri Rama Temple at the junction.

The team at this mandali was at its effusive best, welcoming us to the hall and sharing their experiences.

They said that the Sri Ramanavami celebration dates back to the late 1920s since the time the temple came up. A pandal would be put across the road and concerts/bhajans held here.

Soon thereafter one Pillay who was dewan to the Mysore maharaja and later a local councillor, built the community hall here and the pujas and concerts began to be held here.

We took in this old world building, the teak beams still in place, windows all across the top to let air flow in, wooden pillars to hold the beams and small windows on the sides.
Would they preserve the place with its old world charm? Pillay's grand daughter was around and she says there is a  proposal to widen the road so that plan may force them to re-build this place.

This evening it was to be a harikatha recital by Sitaram Munikoti and a small crowd had gathered. The rain slowed but traffic on two sides of the hall was overpowering. But life inside the hall went on - a harmonium, tabla and the story teller on song!

Whistles to applaud these violinists!

The impressive feature of this Sri Ramanavami Music Fest series is the strong presence of neighborhood rasikas at the local mandali/hall where concerts are on.

On Sunday evening, crossing over from the BEML Layout to Basaveshwaranagar took time. Mysore Road was packed with traffic at some junctions and then, a large procession diverted us.

When we arrived at the Vani School, the venue for the festival concerts the open air place was packed to the walls. And the streets around filled with parked cars and bikes.

This was the evening of the violinists - Mysore Manjunath and Nagaraj - and their music zipped through the neighbourhood on this quiet Sunday.

Rasikas sat through the concert till 9.30 p.m. and the big applause was for the percussionists as they juggled with the 'tani' at the fag end of the concert and the violinist-brothers displayed their wizardry.

Young rasikas even whistled in approval - one has never heard rasikas whistling to applaud. It only happens in the movie halls!

On, and off the Mysore Road

Sunday. April 21 evening.

We hit the Mysore Road and get out of the city centre, safe in the knowledge that the Sunday traffic will  be thin. It is.

Our destination is the BEML Layout. 

The Rajarajeshwari Nagar Cultural Association is hosting its own Sri Ramanavami Sangeethotsava under a pandal set up in an open ground.

We are greeted by the music of the flute. 

Inside, in his own confident self Sameer J Sharma plays to a small early evening audience. He introduces the songs and sets off. And gets a warm applause for his effort.

Secretary R Shiva Swamy tells us that every evening, from 5.30 p.m. onwards the one hour slots on stage are for young artistes.

He goes into raptures about last evening's junior slot concert by Prithvi and Prajwal, violinists.

Every morning, 10.30 a.m. onwards bhajan groups perform at the pandal.

It is 6.45 pm and time for the Bangalore Brothers, M D Hariharan and S. Ashok to take the stage. This evening is theirs. Srinidhi is on the violin and V Krishna on the mridangam and Omkar on ghatam.

Catching up with Anoor

The music fest allows us to catch up with musicians.
Last night, we met percussionist Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma at Vyalikaval.
He was performing for Gayatri Venkatraghavan here and it was 9.30 p.m. when the concert ended.

Anoor is well known as a lead percussionist and in recent times, taken his large ensemble band to many places, with loads of percussionists in tow.

Just now Anoor's thoughts are with his Jayanagar neighborhood where he has lived for over four decades. For, he may have to move on in life soon.

Anoor tells us that he prefers to focus on teaching and promoting his ensemble group. "We get paid far better as an ensemble, " he tells us, before dashing off home.

This is a busy season fro Anoor. He has 15 concerts on his list.

Hop into Seshadripuram!

8 p.m. and three songs of Unnikrishnan at the Fort later, we drive down to Seshadripuram this evening. 

Sisters Gayathri and Ranjani are in concert here.

And the house is full.

One can see that the hosts make a lot of effort to cultivate the local rasika community. And it pays. In Bangalore, distances do not encourage rasikas to do the sabha-hop exercise. They prefer the neighborhood stage. 

And here is Seshadripuram, the community looks strong. And with this patronage comes better stage decor, lighting and listening pleasure.

The Seshadripuram fest is a good example of a neighbourhood celebrating music that way it prefers it.

Mellow feel under the pandal

We are at Sree Rama Seva Mandali tent this evening.

Most people were headed to the cricket stadium for the IPL match featuring RCB. But a steady stream led to the Fort High School on Chamarajpet.

This evening it is P. Unnikrishnan's concert.

While he and his team tune up, they await colleague Arjun Kumar, the mridangist, caught in a traffic jam.

A giant arch across K R Road greets rasikas to the venue. Inside the campus, the facade is flashy too. Inside the mantapam, the atmosphere is different from last year. Soft, yellow lighting creates a mellow feel that can heighten the experience if the music is good. Obviously, a lot of effort now goes into creating the atmosphere for the fest concerts. And to please rasikas.

The canteen outside allows you to have a quick bite or a hot cup of coffee. A giant billboard advertises the 75-veena ensemble concert led by Suma Sudhindra.

It is 6.55 p.m.and to recorded music, the arathi is performed to the Lord just behind the stage. Concert time!

Guide to circulate today

The KutcheriBuzz Guide to the Sri Ramanavami Music Festival will be circulated this evening at a few mandalis.

The 24-pages color Guide ( free ) lists all key concerts at leading venues here.

The Guide should have been released at the Seshadripuram mandali's opening evening on Friday.

But the books sent by courier got delayed after police began checks on all vans and goods-carrying vehicles at Hosur, we were told. Obviously, checks were carried out following the Malleswaram bomb blast.

The info in the Guide is also available on the blog ( see the link on the top right of the home page).

Seshadripuram Music Festival begins

Bathed in colourful bright lights, the Seshadripuram College premises is ready for a three week music festival beginning on April 19.

Sree Seshadripuram Ramaseva Samithi celebrates its 65th year of Sri Ramanavami music festival this year.

Senior Carnatic vocalist Neela Ramgopal and N. Raghu, exective producer, All India radio Bangalore are chief guests on the inaugural day. Hailing from Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu Neela has made Bangalore her home for many years now and has a host of sishyas here. Young Nithya, one of her sishyas sang the invocation.

The function was kept simple and cozy. Women of the neighbourhood taking care of the back stage, led by Revathi Tarakaram, treasurer of the Samithi, the event was presented by Chandrika Puranik, principal of the evening college at Seshadripuram College.

V. Tarakaram, a senior advocate and secretary of the Samithi thanks the local police for their support to this festival in the days of election mood in the city.

Nadaswaram recital by Nachiarkoil N.R.P. Ravichandran followed and the songs in praise of Rama began. It was a surprise to listen to 'O Rama nee naamam, entha richira' in Purvi kalyani, a long forgotten composition of Bhadrachala Ramadas immortalised by Madurai Somu.

The rasikas were also offered prasadams - a packet of Kharaboondi and a laddu!

Concerts are on till May 9 at 6.30 p.m. with special one hour sessions of talent promotion for young artistes from 5.15 to 6.15 p.m. every day.

IPL, elections, fesivals

If you are the sort of rasika who hops from one venue to another, then negotiating Bangalore's traffic streams is a huge effort.

We, as reporters of the Sri Ramanavami Music Fest bear it with patience!

This season, in addition to the normal peak hour traffic jams, you have the jams caused by fans heading to the IPL cricket matches ( Royal Challengers Bangalore has a huge fan base here and are playing against Rajasthan Royals tonight), diversions due to the Metro rail work and minor election bandwagons on the move.

The Malleswaram bomb blast has called for stronger security measures on the road - though there aren't too many checks.

However, the nice thing about concert going is that most neighbourhoods now have their own sabhas/mandalis which host concerts and some feature the very best and the talents of Bangalore.

A dash of politics . . .

There is music alright. But there is also a lot of politics in Bangalore now.
Karnataka state goes to the polls to elect people to the Assembly in early May and the campaigns have begun.

You don't see much of the visual barrage of posters and banners just now but the temp will slowly increase.

Politicians being politicians, the Sri Ramanavami celebrations on Friday provided just the stage to say hello to local people at temples and indulge in soft canvassing.

The candidates got up early and met people at the local temples. Be it in Malleswaram or in Basavangudi.

Later, in the evening music took over at and near these temples.

Seshadripuram fest opens on April 19 evening

Vidushi Neela Ramgopal and All India Radio executive, Dr N Raghu will be the chief guests at the opening of the 65th Sri Ramanavami Music Fest of Sree Seshadripuram Ramaseva Samithi (R) in Bangalore on April 19 evening.

The venue is the open air space at Seshadripuram College on Nagappa Street in Seshadripuram.
The formal event will be followed by a nadaswaram by Nachiyar Koil N R P Ravichandran and party.

Concerts run till May 10 and are open to all but donations are also invited by the hosts.

Call 2226 3530.

C.K.Pavandeep's good concert at Malleswaram

I had been to a concert on the April 12 by C.K.Pavandeep, disciple of Vid TVG  along with M S Govindaswamy on violin and Cheluvaraj on mirdangam at Sri Kanteshwara Bhavana, No.74, 5th Cross, Malleswaram

He gave an amazing performance for a full hall.

He started off with a brisk madhyama kala Shri raga Varnam follwed by Tulasidala along with shower of neraval and swarams, Nalinakanthi expantion with swarams for Manvyala was a special thing which drew a lot of attention followed by a dasar pada elle vaituntha with speed swara patterns. Mohanam Nannupalimpa was the main for the day.

A very good concert which adhered to tradition.

- Report and pic ; M Narasimha.

Chitravina Ravikiran's concert at Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Chamarajpet

It is rare to see a ticket counter busy for an instrumental music concert. But rasikas come by a little early to buy tickets for N. Ravikiran's chitravina concert on Monday.

On the dais is a group of seasoned artistes accompanying Ravikiran. Charumathi Raghuram on the violin, K.V. Prasad on the mridanga and Karthick on the ghata.

The Chennai based Chitravina artiste Ravikiran greets the rasikas and offers to play their requests at the beginning of the concert. He says this in Kannada and receives a huge round of applause. And a number of requests written in bits of paper pour in.

Beginning with 'Tulasi dalamulache' in Mayamalavagowla, he moves on to render another Thyagaraja's composition 'Manusolini marmamulu' in Shuddha Hindolam. Chennai or Bangalore, Ravikiran interacts well with the audience and shares valuable information of the ragas and songs with them. He refers to another kriti 'Samaja vara gamana' that is also sung rarely in Shuddha Hindolam instead of the popular Hindola raga version, especially by the Walajahpet school.

Ravikiran never fails to include a composition by Uthukkadu Venkatakavi whenever he could. And here he chooses 'Sharanam yami Santhana Ramaswamy' in Sahana. He sings the verses and gives information of the compositions on Rama by this composer known more for his compositions on Krishna.

He then plays 'Mara vairi ramani', a Nasikabhooshani raga kriti, one of the rasikas' requests.

"What are the ragas covered as main ragas so far here?" he asks the audience. "Kalyani, Mohanam are 'covered' already, so please 'cover' Kambhodhi today," says a rasika. Ravikiran asks, "Should I 'cover' or 'uncover' the raga today?" he asks with a smile and begins Kambhodhi.

A classical music concert on a Monday evening having 300 people seated in tells you that it is Bangalore's music season and rasikas want to be at the concerts.

Music fest in the quiet Vyalikaval neighbourhood

The Sunday shopping frenzy was on along the Sampige Road in Malleswaram. Not far away from the 11th cross is the Vyalikaval extension, a quiet residential locality.

The neighbourhood embraces the music festival hosted during the Ramanavami gently. The trees along the 13th cross road leading to the small but beautiful Rama temple is colourfully lit up for the occasion. The temple and the adjacent hall also reflect the mood with bright decorations.

This Sunday evening, when we walked towards the temple hall, Modumudi Sudhakar from Vijayawada was elaborating Mohana raga. Joined him at the concert were the seniors. Violinist M.S. Govindaswamy, Bangalore's own C. Cheluvaraju on the mridanga and the well known Sukanya Ramgopal on the ghata. It was a sparkling tani avarthana by the percussionists that the hall stayed houseful till the end.

This festival hosted by Vyalikaval Extension Association has only Carnatic music to offer to the rasikas, says B.R. Purushotham, secretary of the association, who mailed the schedule of concerts to us end of March itself.

The upcoming concerts are Prof. Rudrapatnam Ramakantha (April 15), M.S. Vidya (April 16), Abhishek Raghuram (April 17), Prince Rama Varma (April 18), Gayathri Venkataraghavan (April 20)

The fest is on till April 23.

Big concerts lined up at Sri Rama Mandiram, Malleswaram

The 9th Cross, Malleswaram is almost invisible. Tucked in between the 8th and 10th cross as a small lane of market place, the pathway leads to Sri Rama Mandiram.

Established in 1922, this 92 year old temple with a huge hall hosts Vasantha Navarathri music festival every year beginning on the Ugadi day.
Renowned artistes like S. Sowmya, Mysore Nagamani Srinath, H.N. Meera, Srikantham Nagesdra Sastry, veena vidushi Suma Sudhindra, flutist B.K. Anantaram and Shyalama G Bhave, a well known Hindustani and Carnatic musician figure among the big names in this year's festival.

Singers Amrutha Venkatesh, Srimatha Ramanand, Vivek Sadasivam and Hemmige Prashanth are among the young talents featured at the fest. Concerts are held from 6.30 onwards in the evening.

Retired aeronautical engineer from HAL, Mr. Sathyanarayana has been the long time secretary in the organisation. He gathered the community in the neighbourhood and got back the administration from the Government who took over control of this old temple 10 years ago. "But, that was a brief period of 3 years and we got it back, so that our regular music festival could go on. This used to a prestigious venue in the past and M.S. Subbulakshmi  had performed here," says Sathyanarayana with pride.

On Sunday evening, young Vivek Sadasivam performed to a near full hall.
A glance at the schedule ahead -


April 16 - Amrutha Venkatesh - Vocal
April 17 - Srimatha Ramanand - Vocal
April 18 - Shyamala G. Bhave - Vocal
April 20 - Hemmige R. Prashanth - Vocal
April 21 - Mysore nagamani Srinath - Vocal
April 22 - B.K. Anantaram and Amrit Nadig - Flute duet
April 23 - S. Sowmya - Vocal
April 26 -Suma Sudhindra - Veena
May 3 - H.N. Meera - Vocal
May 4 - Srikantham nagesdra Sastry - Vocal

Sri Rama Mandiram is on the East Park Road, 9th Cross Malleswaram.
Contact Sathyanarayana, secretary at 97409 28627

Malleswaram hosts more music fests

In the music festivals hosted in various parts of Bangalore during Sri Ramanavami, Malleswaram neighbourhood has a major share.

Sri Rama Bhaktha Sabha has been been celebrating Sri Ramanavami since 1906 and is into 107th year this season. The festival is held at Sri Kanteshwara Bhavana, No.74, 5th Cross, Malleswaram.
The fest is on from April 11 and will be held till April 21. There are classical dance, yakshagana and pravachana apart from Carnatic music concerts.
The link to the festival schedule - http://sriramabhakthasabha.wordpress.com/ramotsava/

There is a music festival at Sri Rama Mandira located on the East Park Road, 9th Cross, Malleswaram.
The festival is on from April 11 and will go on till end of this month.

Not very far away from Malleswaram is Sriramapuram,
Sri Ramaseva Bhaktha mandali is celebrating its 84th year of Sri Ramotsava this year from April 11 onwards. The music festival has senior artistes like the Rudrapatnam Brothers, Dr. Srikantham Nagendra Sastry, Seetha Sathyanarayana and Harikathe by Sitaram Munikoti. The concerts are held at Sri Rama Kalyana Mandira, 3rd Cross, Sriramapuram.
Weblink to the schedule of concerts - http://sriramaseva.org/images/programs/2013programlistenglish.html

KutcheriBuzz Guide to the Sri Ramanavami season

A Guide to the Sri Ramanavami Music Fest is to be released by KutcheriBuzz.
This book will feature the concerts at all the prime venues in Bangalore where the concerts are held.

The Guide can help a rasika plan his schedule and choose the eoncerts in advance.
The book will be circulated at the venues from April 19 onwards. It is free.

KutcheriBuzz, is based in Chennai and covers the Sri Ramanavami Fest closely on the blog and its web site. The Guide is an additional utility for the Bangalore rasika.

If you wish to get a copy by post then please send a self-addressed long envelope with postage of Rs.4 and mail the pack to KutcheriBuzz at - 77, C P Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 600 018. Limited copies will be available this way.

Fest Invite; cover and invitation from Sree Ramaseva Mandali

Sree Ramaseva Mandali celebrates its platinum jubilee

Today is a big day at Sree Ramaseva Mandali. Not just the inauguration of the music festival of the year but a celebration of a landmark year too.

It has been a long journey since 1939, for this Mandali that hosts its festival at the special pandal put up at the Govt. Juinor college, Fort High School grounds in Chamarajapet.

Founded by Late S.V. Narayanaswamy Rao, the mandali takes pride that this is perhaps the only organisation to have been inaugurated by three Indian presidents and a Governor General of India, C. Rajagopalachari, well known as Rajaji.

The mandali also remembers Rajaji who earlier advised to have the Sri Ramanavami festival in the open.

Sri Ramaseva Mandali hosts the longest festival beginning on the Ugadi day every year that runs for more than a month. This year the concerts go on till May 16.

Religious discourses draw a big audience in the mornings every day at this pandal. The main evening concerts are ticketed. The season tickets get sold out a month in advance. A few daily tickets are available at the counters though.

The festival begins with a Nadaswaram recital by Kasim and Babu at 4 p.m. today, followed by a mandolin duet concert by U. Srinivas and U. Rajesh at 6.45 p.m.

The chief guests of the occasion are the governors of two states. Hon. Governor of Karnataka H.R. Bharadwaj and Hon. Governor of Andhra Pradesh E.S.L. Narasimhan.

Ramapriya - an Internet Radio is also launched today.

Concerts schedules are at www.concertatmandali.com

State elections and music concerts

The organisers of the music festivals that run into May this year are working on rescheduling of a couple of music concerts.

The reason is the Karnataka state Assembly elections to be held on May 4 and 5 this year.
Since some of the venues are school and college compuses that are polling centres, the change in the concerts schedule has become inevitable for these hosts.

Senior advocate V. Tarakaram, secretary, Sree Seshadripuram Ramaseva Samithi says, "We begin co-ordinating with the artistes and accompanists from December and we were done much before March. But, both the artistes, senior vocalist O.S. Thiagarajan and the Harikatha exponent Seetharama Munikoti understood the situation and agreed to perform on May 9 and 10 respectively."

They chose to perform the traditional Sri Rama Pattabhisheka that is usually celebrated on the last day of the festival, on May 1, since it is a public holiday.

So, make sure you check the daily newspapers for change in schedules on May 4 and 5.

Music Fest begins with young talents at Sri Vani Kala Kendra

Much ahead of Sri Ramanavami, which falls on April 19 this year, an education centre in Basaveshwara Nagar, commenced its music festival today.
Sri Vani Kala Kendra functions under Sri Vani Education Centre that runs academic institutions in three different campuses in Rajaji Nagar and Basaveshvara Nagar. The Sangeetotsava is held in the school campus at Basaveshwara Nagar.

After the inauguration of the fest by Dr. Mahesh Joshi, Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Bangalore. K.R. Ramakrishna, Commissioner, Kannada & Culture, Govt. of Karnataka and Dr. B.N.V. Subrahmanya, founder, Jyoti Institutions, the young artistes took the stage.

Master Nishanth, who looked tiny on the dais is a bundle of huge talent. Accompanied by his violinist brother Master Satwik Tejaswi and young percussionists Raghu Bhagawat and Raghunandan B.S, the one hour concert by Nishanth was set in traditional pattern with a couple of kritis, a main item along with a tani avartanam and ended with a tukkada and slokam.

Aditi B.P is another very young talented singer. Her voice has a sharp tonal quality. She rolls out brighas and sangatis like a seasoned artiste. Set in a traditional concert pattern, she concluded with the popular kriti by Purandaradasa, 'Bhagyada Lakshmi baramma' adding rgamalika touch towards the end, which received huge applause.

Tanushree N performs Bharatanatyam with a vigour. Having had her Arangetram at the age of 9 and performed in many stages, dance comes to her naturally. People who sat back beyond 9 p.m. would be thankful to Mattur Lakshmi Keshava, who kept insisting that the audience stay back and watch her dance. Keshava is the man behind spotting these talents.

He says, "I go to almost all the concerts by young people wherever they perform in Bangalore. Sometimes friends refer young artistes to us. But we watch them perform before bringing them here."

"Until last year, the young artistes were featured before the main concerts during the weekends. From this year, we have decided to earmark a week for them for there are many budding talents and weekends are not just enough," says Sharadaprasad, secretary of the Sri Vani Education Centre. "Also, the summer vacation that has already begun in our schools makes it easy for the children to get ready to perform," he adds.

The young talents will be on stage till April 10. The main fest begins on Ugadi day, that is, April 11.

Welcome to Sri Ramanavami Music Fest 2013

Greetings from the KutcheriBuzz Team!
We are back for the 2013 edition of the Sri Ramanavami Music Fest in and around Bangalore, Karnataka, south India.

Last year, we  started this blog to cover as much as we could of this growing festival. And we were surprised at the spread the fest offered, the traffic the news generated here and the interaction with artistes, rasikas and this community.

We hope to do the same this year.

The schedules of the leading sabhas have come in and we will post some highlights here. With large neighborhoods developed on Bangalore's fringe, these places also have their own local music/dance events.

Much is related and grows on the local temples too.

We welcome you to share photos and notes on the festival. Mail to - kutcheribuzz@gmail.com