Take classical music to masses: minister

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 15. The Information and Publicity Minister, Prof. B.K.Chandrashekhar, today urged the current crop of musicians to ensure Indian classical music reached the downtrodden. The musicians should take this up as a challenge.

Inaugurating the 32nd music conference organised by the Bangalore Gayana Samaja here, Prof. Chandrashekhar urged the Directorate of Kannada and Culture not to sanction funds to orchestras which played film hits instead of promoting classical music.

Later, the Kannada and Culture Director, Mr. K.C.Ramamurthy, clarified that his department had stopped funding orchestras.

Prof. Chandrashekhar stressed the importance of music as an art form which touched the hearts of the masses. Therefore, he said, it was all the more necessary to promote it in its various forms.

The Conference President, Ms. Seethalakshmi Venkatesan, urged the Prasar Bharati to review its decision not to audition new artistes for lack of funds. "Young music talents will not get an opportunity if this ban is continued. After all, it was the radio which promoted music talents from the times of Independence and even before," she said.

She called upon the Centre to promote the cause of promoting young talents. Professional courses, she said, could reserve a quota for talented and meritorious music students who completed their examinations with high marks, on the lines of NCC and Sports.

Artistes of the Year awards will be conferred on Mr. N.L.Cheluvaraj, Ms. T.Sharada, Ms. Sudha Vadiraj, Mr. K.P.Upadhyaya, Mr. Basavanagudi G.Nataraj, Mr. M.R.Krishnamurthy, Mr. M.Vasudeva Rao, Mr. M.Venkatagiriyappa, Mr. B.D.Venugopal and Mr. Hosahalli Keshava Murthy during the conference, scheduled to continue till October 22.

Ms. Venkateshan will be honoured with the title "Sangeetha Kalarathna" on the last day.

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