Date:01/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120161280900.htm

Tamil Nadu

Kala Kruthi’s music festival inaugurated

Special Correspondent

— Photo: S.S. Kumar

Honoured: Vocalist R. Vedavalli (second from left), being honoured by Devaki Santhanam, patron of Kala Kruthi, at the 2007-December Music Festival held in Chennai on Friday. (From left) Vocalist S.R. Janakiraman, Rajamma Venugopal, secretary of Kala Kruthi, and president, Shanthi Raghavan, are also in the picture.

CHENNAI: The 2007 December Music festival of Kala Kruthi was inaugurated by Sangeetha Siromani Vidwan S.R. Janakiraman at a function held here on Friday.

R. Vedavalli, carnatic vocalist, was honoured with a ponnadai and a memento to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the organisation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Janakiraman, musicologist, commended the efforts of Kala Kruthi (music wing) for promoting and preserving traditional music and honouring seasoned and up and coming artists during the annual music festival. Ms. Vedavalli, who was the guest of honour, said the efforts of Kala Kruthi had to be praised since it was one of the few organisations fulfilling the aspirations and wishes of music rasikas of North Chennai.

Early birds

Shanthi Raghavan, president of Kala Kruthi, said they were happy to be one of the early birds to start this year’s music season in Chennai with the music programme by Ms. Vedavalli. She said the four-day music festival was being held at Ananthabushanam Kalyana Mandapam on Gengu Reddy Road, Egmore.