Chami to popularize Carnatic music in Mauritius
Sri Tirumale Srinivas, or ‘Chami’ as many fondly call him, is a much sought-after musician, a versatile vocalist in Carnatic music, a mridanga vidwan, a composer and music director. He has been selected by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to teach and popularize Carnatic music in Mauritius. He is proceeding to Port Louis, to teach and popularize Carnatic music in Mauritius. He is proceeding to Port Louis, during the first week of February 2004, on an assignment under the Indian High Commission at Mauritius, for a period of three years.
Yusuf Arakkal Wins Award at the Florence International Biennale of Contemporary Art
This year’s Biennale was the fourth edition in the last eight years since its inception. The biennale opened on 6th Dec and concluded on the 15 Dec 2003. Eight hundred and ninety-one artists from seventy-two countries all over the world participated.
There were awards in five categories: Painting, Sculpture, Drawings & Graphics, Digital Art & Photography, Installation & New Media.
Each category had a gold, silver & bronze medal in memorial to Lorenzo-de-Medici. Yusuf Arakkal was awarded the silver medal in the category of Installation & New Media on 13th December, 2003 by the President of the Biennale, Professor Pasquale Celona. Yusuf adds, “I was the first Indian artist to be invited and probably the first Indian artist to win a major award for contemporary art in Europe after the late Mr. Janakiram who won an award for his sculpture at the Budapest International Biennale in the sixties.“
H.art
Promoted by Heritage, a non-profit organization, h.art is an exclusive and select circle of art and culture aficianados, dedicated to the study, research, support, and spread of the arts. To incorporate and draw valuable information from our roots, and enhance the quality of our present day lives – through music, dance, the visual arts, discussion forums, groups, lectures, and society’s participation.
h.art invites you to its inaugural programme “Tirtha Yatra” on the 6th of March, 2004, in Bangalore. This will serve to set in motion the activities of the h.art club and simultaneously introduce the gathering to its objectives and mission.
For more details, call 9845077999 / 26525623 (Mrs. V. Vijayalakshmi) or write to heritage@yes2yoga.com.
‘Padma’ awards from Govt. of India
11 artists representing South Indian classical music and dance have been honoured in 2004 with the ‘Padma’ awards by the Govt. of India
Padma Bhushan – T.N. Seshagopalan (Carnatic vocalist), Alarmel Valli (Bharatanatyam danseuse).
Padma Shri – A.K. Palanivel, Thavil artist Sikkil Sisters (Neela and Kunjumani), flautists Kadri Gopinath, Saxophone artist Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, Carnatic vocalist Sudha Raghunathan, Carnatic vocalist Bharati Shivaji, Mohiniattam dancer Jayaram Rao, Kuchipudi exponent K.R. Kumaran Nair, Kathakali artist.
13th Lakshminarayana – global music festival
“Turn up the lights in the auditorium. Main sabki aankhon ki roshni dekhna chahta hoon,” said Pandit Jasraj. But at the end of the remarkable jugalbandi between him and Dr. L. Subramaniam that had moved the audience deeply, the compere had to ask, “Panditji, aap to sabki aankhon ki roshni dekhna chahte the. Lekin ab aap kin aankhon mein roshni dekhenge, sabki aankhen to aansoo se bhari hui hain?”
It was concluding the crowning event of the 13th Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival (LGMF), the annual event in memory of the renowned violinist, late Shri V. Lakshminarayana, father of Dr. L. Subramaniam.
This year’s LGMF was organised by Pancham Nishaad and Viji Global Arts. The response was overwhelming. The organisers had to take special permission to put extra rows of chairs in the aisles to accomodate the enthusiasts. In addition to that they also had to obtain special permission to accomodate about 50 more on the stage – something unprecedented in such events.
Not a single mobile phone rang! We applaud the people of Bangalore for a remarkable change – this year the artists could perform without being distracted by the ringing of cell phones, unlike last year when incessant ringing interrupted even the piece LS was playing as a tribute to his father.
This year the tickets were also very reasonably priced, ranging from Rs.125 to Rs.250. The festival was within the reach of many more compared to last year when the prices ranged from Rs.500 to Rs.1500. Cultural events should not become a luxury that only a few can afford.
The festival began with a santoor recital by Satish Vyas, followed by a Hindustani vocal recital by Ulhas Kashalkar. On the 18th, there was a Hindustani vocal recital by Ajoy Chakraborti. This was followed by a scintillating-as-always flute rendition by Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia. On the 20th, the jugalbandi between Pandit Jasraj and Dr. L. Subramaniam marked the conclusion of the festival on a high note.