The Hindu (Bangalore)

Ramanavami music fest harmonises with youth

This year, the Ramanavami music festival by the Seshadripu­ram Ramaseva Samithi, has a special focus on young artistes — both newcomers and those with a musical legacy

- Ranjani Govind

After its year-long platinum jubilee celebratio­ns, the Seshadripu­ram Ramaseva Samithi’s 76th Ramanavami music festival is all set to usher in a new chapter. This time round, the Samithi has roped in a galaxy of youth performers for its Yuva Sangeethot­hsava from April 17 to May 10.

To be held in the open at Seshadripu­ram College, the event will witness more than two dozen performanc­es.

“Our committee decided to veer away from the usual senior and junior concerts and opened up the evenings entirely to fresher, younger voices on the classical Ramothsava platform,” says Sri Ramakrishn­an, secretary, Seshadripu­ram Ramaseva Samithi. “The classical world today has youngsters brimming with talent, deserving the main slot. This segment helps us showcase their prodigious expertise.”

The late V Tarakaram, a senior advocate who served as the secretary of the Seshadripu­ram Samithi for nearly 15 years until 2018, writes in the history of the Samithi that while south Bengaluru already had the Ramaseva Mandali helmed by SVN Rao from the late 1930s, delighting music connoisseu­rs in Chamarajpe­t, CD Gopala Iyengar (of the erstwhile stationers, Gopalan & Co) from Seshadripu­ram with public-spirited citizens wanted to meet the need for Ramanavami music concerts in North-West Bengaluru.

Iyengar with support from G Narasimham­urthy (of Kalyan Cafe), Narasinga Rao Mane, a businessma­n, Sripadacha­r, a teacher at the Arya Vaidya Shala and V Krishnamur­thi, a lawyer, visited people and sourced funds to begin the Seshadripu­ram Samithi.

Justice E S Venkataram­aiah, a Chief Justice of India, was also associated with the Samithi. “From the year 1948, star musicians in classical music have graced the Samithi which functioned with funds generated from patrons,” Ramakrishn­an

says.

Stars of this year’s show

There will be 25 performanc­es this year, opening with a nadaswara recital by Mylai Karthikeya­n. “We have consciousl­y included both individual achievers chasing their passion such as

Rahul Vellal, Suryagayat­ri, Dhanya Dinesh Rudrapatna and Rithvik Raja, as well as youngsters taking forward their family legacy.”

The musical heirs include Ramani Shankar, son of Carnatic vocalist Bangalore S Shankar; Omkarnath Havaldar, son of Hindustani maestro Nagaraj Rao Havaldar; Medha Vidyabhush­ana, daughter of Carnatic vocalist Vidyabhush­ana; violinists Sumanth and Malavi Manjunath, children of Mysore Manjunath; Kruthi Vittal, wife of violinist Vittal Rangan; Lavanya Krishnamur­thy, daughter of violinist TS Krishnamur­thy, violinist G Pranavi, daughter of percussion­ist Guruprasan­na; Varijashre­e

Venugopal daughter of £autist Venugopal; Sindhu R, daughter of ghata vidwan Raghavendr­a Prakash; Medha Manjunath wife of percussion­ist Vinodh Shyam; JK Yoga Kirtana daughter of veena vidushi Yoga Vandana; Ranjani Vasuki, daughter of Nagavalli Nagaraj; and £autists Heramba and Hemantha, children of mridangist Ambale Satyaprasa­d.

“Ramanavami is an auspicious festival celebrated across the country and music is linked to our mythology, philosophy and culture. Our Samithi is among the pioneers who establishe­d this tradition in the city. The young brigade is here to take this forward in creative ways,” says Ramakrishn­an, adding that other events will include a discourse by Dushyanth Sridhar, a unique story-telling and music presentati­on by Vinay Varanasi and Vivek Sadasivam and an instrument­al ensemble by the students of percussion­ist Anoor Ananthakri­shna Sharma.

Forging the path ahead

Ramani Shankar, who will be performing at the Samithi on April 19, says, beyond musical ideologies, it is his father, S Shankar’s discipline and values instilled in him over the years that has become intrinsic to his lifestyle.

“I have been performing with him for 15 years now, and every concert has been a learning experience — from performanc­e requiremen­ts to training oneself to be seated on the platform for three hours. My father believes that apart from one’s upbringing, it is also one’s assimilati­on, feel, perceptive abilities and dogged passion that helps enhance a recital. Performanc­es have to be incidental to gratifying your musical experience­s, and not the goal.”

There are many aspects of learning that he cherishes, Ramani says. “From food choices, the focus required in understand­ing the padhati (tradition) of presentati­on, the lucidity and perfection of handling lyrics or even concert packaging, all are required for a balanced o¦ering. My father, who recently received the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, has been my guru and inspiratio­n. He did not lay out any rules. I grew up in an atmosphere of music with performers and teachers.”

“From my paternal grandmothe­r, Rajamma Sastry in Shimoga, a vocalist who initiated my father into music, to my mother, Swarna Shankar and sister Ranjani, we were all immersed in classical music and are training students now.”

The Ramanavami Music Fest will be held at Seshadripu­ram College premises, Nagappa Road from April 17 to May 10. Entry free. For details visit ssrss.org

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SPECIAL ARRANGEMEN­T
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 ?? ?? In tune with the times (Clockwise from left) Violinists Ganesh and Kumaresh performing as children, Malavi Manjunath, daughter of Mysore Manjunath, Ramani Shankar with his father Bangalore S Shankar and solo (below).
In tune with the times (Clockwise from left) Violinists Ganesh and Kumaresh performing as children, Malavi Manjunath, daughter of Mysore Manjunath, Ramani Shankar with his father Bangalore S Shankar and solo (below).

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