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Guide to circulate today

April 20, 2013, 12:32 am
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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).
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Mellow feel under the pandal

April 20, 2013, 6:47 am
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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!
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Hop into Seshadripuram!

April 20, 2013, 8:46 am
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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 does 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.
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Catching up with Anoor

April 20, 2013, 9:55 pm
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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.
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On, and off the Mysore Road

April 21, 2013, 6:23 am
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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.
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Whistles to applaud these violinists!

April 21, 2013, 9:57 pm
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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!
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Over to Sriramapuram

April 22, 2013, 11:09 am
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The skies began 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 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 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!
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Anantaram and Amit in Malleswaram on a wet evening

April 22, 2013, 11:17 am
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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.
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Blackout in Jayanagar, Sowmya excuses and dinner at the mandali

April 22, 2013, 11:30 am
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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.

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Post-bombed Malleswaram; rasikas stay put

April 23, 2013, 2:41 am
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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
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Seven-stringed violin at theme concert

April 23, 2013, 9:46 pm
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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.
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This weekend; Sanjay Subrahmanyam, T M Krishna and Nityashree Mahadevan

April 27, 2013, 12:09 am
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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.


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Nityashree cancel's concert

April 27, 2013, 11:24 am
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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.
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Award for guru P S Narayanaswamy

April 27, 2013, 11:26 am
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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.
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Big attendance for Sanjay's concert

April 27, 2013, 11:34 am
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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.
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Tejas and Pranav; brothers on violins

April 27, 2013, 9:38 pm
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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.
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Sunday morn specials

April 27, 2013, 9:44 pm
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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.
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Nalina Mohan among awardees

April 28, 2013, 9:35 am
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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.


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Missing the canteen culture of Madras!

April 28, 2013, 9:56 am
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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!
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K J Yesudoss still a big draw?

April 28, 2013, 10:01 am
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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.
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