Tamil Nadu - Chennai

At parallel fest, artistry blends with confidence

CHENNAI: The audience had several lessons to learn from the artists who performed as part of the ‘Parallel music fest-a different music festival for the differently-abled’ held here on Wednesday.

The performers, an inspiring blend of artistry and confidence, were featured at the event organised by the Rotary Club of Madras Coromandel and Airtel, in association with the Rotaract clubs of Dr. M.G.R. Janaki College of Arts and Science and the Government College of Physiotherapy.

Half-hour programmes by upcoming and veteran artists with disability offered an interesting potpourri to listeners. The programme featured violinist M. Chandrasekharan, percussionist and vocalist H. Ramakrishnan, dancer Jayalakshmi Eashwar, flute exponent Shashidharan, vocalists Maruthiprasad and Ritvik Rajan, and students of St. Clarke’s School, each performing for nearly half-an-hour with their respective accompanists.

N. Murali, Managing Director, The Hindu, and president, The Music Academy, described the event as a “noble initiative” that served as a bridge between artists (with disability) and the mainstream performing space.

“Many of these artists, like Mr.Chandrasekharan, are already part of the mainstream and have been doing a yeoman service to the cause of arts. I salute the contribution of these artists,” he said.

Clarinet exponent A.K.C. Natarajan, this year’s ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ award (conferred by The Music Academy) designate, said it was always wise to chase wisdom rather than money, as wisdom or knowledge (of the arts) stayed with a person forever, unlike wealth that might come and go.

Speakers commended the organisers for the initiative.

Anirban Ghosh, COO, Mobility, Chennai and Tamil Nadu, Bharti Airtel; Rm. Arunachalam, president of the Rotary Club of Madras Coromandel; and member of the club and musician O.S. Arun were present.

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