Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122755390600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Music transcends barriers

Special Correspondent

Sikkil sisters honoured with ‘Rasika Kala Bharathi’

— Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

MOMENT OF HONOUR: Sikkil sisters Kunjumani and Neela receiving the Rasika Kala Bharathi award from Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes S. Ratnavel Pandian in Chennai on Thursday. T. Pichandi, Special Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, is in the picture.

CHENNAI: Understanding and appreciating music requires knowledge just as enjoying food requires a knowledge of what goes into making a dish tasty, said T. Pitchandi, Special Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the fifth annual music festival, organised by Rasika Fine Arts and Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya here on Thursday.

Unlike food, music never satiates the appetite completely and one can continue to listen to music forever, he said.

Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes and former judge of Supreme Court S. Ratnavel Pandian conferred the title of ‘Rasika Kala Bharathi’ on flautists Sikkil Kunjumani and Neela.

He said music cuts across language, religion and regional barriers and is a unifying factor of all cultures and civilisations.

The award included a purse, plaque and a gold medallion to each of the sisters.

A. Subramaniam, district governor of Rotary International District 3230 said the organisation would help to build a concert hall in the western part of the city with the support of the rasikas if they needed one.

Cultural wing

Rotary, a service organisation, had set up a cultural promotion wing to carry forward the rich cultural tradition of the city. It was involved in the promotion of the arts because it endorsed the discipline required to master the fine arts, he said.

Souvenir

A souvenir was released on the occasion. Artist Maniam Selvan was honoured for his life-like portrait of M.S. Subbulakshmi on the cover of the souvenir.

C.V. Ravindranath, president of Vishwa Hindu Vidya Kendra, said the Jai Gopal Garodia Vidyalaya students were taught music as part of the curriculum to encourage them to appreciate the culture and tradition of the State.

Cleveland V.V. Sundaram, S.V. Ramani, Rotary district chairman of Culture Promotion and T. Gunasekar, president, Rotary Club of Chennai Golden Star, also participated.