Homage to a skilled composer

THROUGH HIS compositions of a classically exalted genre, Neelakanta Sivan (1839-1900) secured for himself a place of glory in the world of Carnatic music. Celebrating his 101st samadhi anniversary, Neelakanta Dasanjali organised a session of musical homage to him at the Narada Gana Sabha. The session included recitals of Neelakanta Sivan's compositions.

Accompanied by Suresh (violin) and Jayakumar (mridangam), Pramila Gurumoorthy rendered the songs, Siddhi Arul (Nattai), Kannarakandene (Mukhari) and Navasiddhi Petraalum (Kharaharapriya) of the composer in versions carrying classical weight.

There was a group rendition of the kritis and verses of Neelakanta Sivan by a team of young students of Neelakanta Dasanjali conducted by P. L. Saraswathy Ram, a great- granddaughter of Neelakanta Sivan. The girls' unified rendition of the sahityas drawn from the manifold musical works of the composer was aligned perfectly on the sruthi and was delightful.

The session concluded with a concert of P. Unnikrishnan. He sang the pieces, Velayudhane (Kambodi), Umaikkuriya (Panthuvarali), Sambho Mahadeva (Kanada) and Vava Kalaimaate (Sankarabharanam) with an awareness of the excellence of the musical output of Neelakanta Sivan. Unnikrishnan's sketch of Sankarabharanam was relaxed and refreshing. S. Varadarajan (violin) and Mannargudi Eswaran (mridangam) followed the vocalist dutifully.

Tirupugazh festival

Praising Lord Muruga profusely through the large number of his metrical songs collectively known as Tirupugazh, Saint Arunagirinathar propagated bhakthi extensively in the South. Paying homage to this prolific composer, Vadapalani Tirupugazh Sabhai celebrated its 30th annual Arunagirinathar music festival at the temple of Muruga in Vadapalani for three days from August 14 by featuring series of bhajans and classical recitals of Tirupugazh. At a function held on August 14, the sabhai's birudu, Tirupugazh Mamani instituted by Mrs. Lakshmi Natarajan was conferred on Rukmini Ramani (musician), G. Harishankar (kanjira) and Mahalinga Sivachariar (vedic scholar).

Anniversary of a Music Trust

Completing its fifth year of service to music by featuring free periodical recitals of a ``Chamber type'', Rukmini Arts and Music Trust celebrated its fifth anniversary at Raga Sudha Hall in Mylapore on August 18. At a function presided over by Justice Mr. K. S. Bhaktavatsalam, the Trust honoured Sri T. S. Balakrishna Sastrigal (Harikatha), Sethalapathi R. Balasubramaniam (musician), Parur M. S. Anantharaman (violin) and Sri N. Ramachandran (Secretary, Indian Fine Arts Society) for their contribution to the field of Harikatha and Carnatic music.

The function included a melodious violin recital by M. A. Krishnaswamy and M. A. Sundareswaran accompanied by Madirimangalam Swaminathan (mridangam) and G. Harishankar (kanjira).

- R.V.

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