Date:13/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/13/stories/2008121359911000.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“December season, a hallmark of Chennai”

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The 53rd art and dance festival, 28th natya kala conference and the 21st Pongal Nagaswara Isai vizha of the Krishna Gana Sabha was inaugurated here on Friday.

Inaugurating the programmes, G. Srinivasan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, United India Insurance Co. Ltd., said the December season has become a hallmark of Chennai. City’s music season tops the chart, he said.

The season was like a mega mall, which catered for the varied requirements and tastes of rasikas. They could choose their favourite artists, the time and the venue of the events. Music and dance were the gifts of God, he said. More and more people should come forward to enjoy music, which should also be taught to children.

P.V. Krishnamoorthy, former Director General, Doordarshan, said the art form of kathak had not found a place in Chennai sabhas.

An active local patronage was needed for the art form in the State, where art and culture thrived.

On the occasion the Sabha conferred the title ‘Nritya Choodamani’ on Kathak exponent Jayant Kastuar and ‘Acharya Choodamani’ on Krishnakumari Narendran, Bharatanatyam exponent.

The award carried a shawl, a medal, a citation besides a cash prize.

Felicitating the awardees, dancer Padma Subrahmanyam said both the artists had certain common characteristics; they had an open mind and received good artistic vibrations from any source.

Programmes of Ms. Krishnakumari Narendran were very attractive. She used the technology in her programmes in a sensible manner. Similarly, the title conferred on Mr. Jayant, which he deserved, was for an individual.

Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, president of the Sabha, C.V.Chandrasekar, dance exponent, and Ananda Shankar Jayant, were among those who spoke.