Kuchipudi Dance Ballet on 18th July 2010

South Indian Cultural Association (SICA), Hyderabad cordially invites you to a grand "Kuchipudi Dance Ballet" on 18th July 2010 by Guru Smt. Maddali Usha Gayathri and her disciple from Nrithya Kinnera. The venue of the program is Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad. The program starts at 6:30 PM. Donor passes will be availble before the program at the venue. The details of the program are given below.

Nrithya Kinnera presents "Rukmini Satya"

Smt. Maddali Usha Gayathri: She was introduced to the stage at the age of four as a child dance prodigy under the tutelage of Sri Dayal Saran, who was a disciple of world famous Dance Maestro, Uday Shankar and has ever since performed all dance forms and has finally settled down to master the skills of Kuchipudi Dance form with the inspiration of Padmasri Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma.

She underwent training in Kathak dance under Sri Yadagiri, a disciple of the famous fold and Kathak exponent Sri Gopalraj Bhatt. She started takign basic training and formal introduction to the Kuchipudi Art form from Guri Sri Yeleswarapu Suryaprakasa Sarma.

She underwent specialized training in Nattuvangam from the well known Nattuvangam expert Smt. Kamal Rani of the famous dance institute Kalakshetra, Chennai. She was honoured for the best Nattuvangam by the college of Defence Manager in 2008. Presently she is a Research Scholar at the Hyderabad Central University working on 'Kalpas'.

As a well trained and talented artiste she has been presenting hundereds of performances of for the last three decades in different centeres in India and abroad. Many mythological themes like: Shivabhakta Markandeya, Rukmini Satya, Sri Alivelu Manga Charitham, Sir Goda Kalyanam, Yasoda Krishna, Alokaye Sri Balkrishnam are some of them.

"Rukmini Satya" is an absorbing and colourful Kuchipudi Dance Ballet on the comparitive charactereistics in the nature, emotion and devotion of Rukmini of Narayana Theertha and Satya of Siddendra Yogi. The concept, theme and choreography are by "Hamsa Awardee" Guri Smt. Maddali Usha Gayathri.

Though both Rukmini and Satya are true devotees of Lord Krishna, one's path is moulded by devotion while the other's is by desire. Though their parth is different, their goal is the same. This is the basic and main theme of the Dance Ballet "Rukmini Satya".

51st Annual Festival Of Music And Dance By SICA - 2010

SICA, Hyderabad is organizing its 51st annual festival of music and dance at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad from 9th March to 17th March, 2010. Everyday the program starts at 6:30 PM. Season passes will be available for Rs. 400 and Rs. 300. Daily passes can also be purchased at the venue before the program for Rs. 100, Rs. 50 and Rs. 30. Contact numbers are 9849124675, 9246161420 and 27425374. I strongly urge everyone to become members of SICA and patronage them. Membership can be taken at the venue on any of the days of the programs. The program is given below.

• 9th March, 2010: Vocal Concert By T M Krishna
• 10th March 2010: Vocal Concert By P Unnikrishnan
• 11th March 2010: Chitra Veena By Ravi Kiran
• 12th March 2010: Vocal Concert By Sankaran Namboodiri
• 13th March 2010: Carnatic Vocal Duet By Priya Sisters
• 14th March 2010: Srinivasa Vybhavam - Dance Ballet By Anitha Guha
• 17th March 2010: Violin Recital By M Chandrasekaran

Carnatic Vocal Concert by Smt. Gayatri Girish

I had the good fortune of attending the Carnatic vocal concert by Smt. Gayatri Girish at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad on 25th June 2009. The program was organized by SICA, Hyderabad. It was a brilliant concert which presented the Carnatic music in its purest form. Violin support was given by Sri Mysore Srikanth, mridangam by Sri Neyveli Skandasubhramanyum and morsing by Sri Srinivasa Gopalan. Here is the entry of the concert on Gayatri Girish's blog.

Photo Courtesy: The Hindu

I am very thankful to Smt. Gayatri Girish for graciously gaving permission to host the MP3s of the concert on this blog. Please note the disclaimer below.

Please note that the MP3s hosted here are only for personal and learning purposes. Please do not use them for commercial purpose. Please respect the artist by not violating the disclaimer.

1. Introduction (MP3)
2. Sami Ninne Koriyunnanu - Varnam - Sri - Adi - Garbhapuri (Lyrics, MP3)
3. Siddhi Vinayakam - Shanmukhapriya - Rupaka - Muththuswamy Dikshithar (S) (Lyrics, MP3)
4. Marivere Gati Evaramma - Anandabhairavi - Misra Chapu - Shyama Sastry (R, S) (Lyrics, MP3)
5. Lokavana Chatura Pahimaam - Begada - Adi - Thyagaraja (Lyrics, MP3)
6. Navaratna Vilasa Vaibhava - Navaratna Vilasam - Adi - Muththuswamy Dikshithar (MP3)
7. Idathu Padham Thookki - Khamas - Adi - Papanasam Sivan (Lyrics, MP3)
8. Kamalambam Bhajare - Kalyani - Adi - Dikshitar (R, N, S, T) (Lyrics, MP3)
9. Irakkam Varamal - Behag - Rupaka - Gopalakrishna Bharathi (Lyrics, MP3)
10. Indhira Naamamu - Kalyana Vasantham - Adi - Annamacharya (Lyrics, MP3)
11. Gopigopala - Gamanasrama - Adi - Surdas (MP3)
12. Anjanavannani - Kapi - Adi - Pasuram (MP3)
13. "Shantakarma Bhujagashayanam" Slokam - Saveri, Jog, Dhanyasi, Surati
    Sri Venkata Girisham - Surati - Adi - Dikshitar (Lyrics, MP3)
14. Thillana - Sindubhairavi - Adi - Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaier (MP3)
15. Bhavamana - Mangalam - Sourashtra - Adi - Thyagaraja (MP3)

You can download the entire concert into two zip files: File 1, File 2.

[Update: 3rd July 2009] Article about the concert in Hindu Friday Review.

SICA Programs: 25th and 26th June

Organized by: SICA, Hyderabad
Venue: Ravindra Bharathi
Time: 6:30 PM

25th June: Carnatic vocal concert by Gayatri Girish.
26th June: Mandolin concert by Arvind Bhargav

Entry is free for SICA members. Tickets will be available for the non-members at the venue before the concert.

SICA Hyderabad - Kalyani Balakrishna Iyer Memorial Concert on 11th Feb 2009

SICA Hyderabad is organizing Grand Carnatic Vocal Concert (Kalyani Balakrishna Iyer Memorial Concert) by "Carnatica Brothers" Sri K.N. Sashikiran & P. Ganesh (Vocal Duet) on 11th Feb 2009 at 6:30 PM at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad. Violin support by Sri V.L. Kumar, Mridangam by Sri M.L.N. Raju and Morsing by Sri P. Srinivasagopalan.

Carnatica Brothers: Grandsons of legendary Gottuvadhyam Narayana Iyengar, Sashikiran and Ganesh are cousins who sing as the vocal duo "Carnatic Brothers". The duo have stormed the carnatic music world at the age of two as child prodigies and have since emerged as front-ranking musicians. They had their advanced training under "Sangita Kalanidhi" Brida and also from T. Viswanathan and Calcutta K. S. Krishna Murthy. They have performed extensively in India and in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia & UAE. They now have a vast experience of over 3500 concerts, lecture demonstrations, jugal bandis and fusion concerts. They have garnered critical acclaim and popularity with their emotive style of singing and their strict adherence to classicism.

In Sept. 2006, Shashikiran and Ganesh performed a marathon 24 hours concerts - a stupendous task considering the fact that they did not take a single break during the entire 24 hours. The concert was dedicated to all those who lost their lives in various natural calamities and terrorist strikes and to mark the World Peace Day.

The brothers have been accompanied by senior stalwards like "Sangita Kalanidhis" Umayalpuram Sivaraman, T.K. Murthy, Vellore Ramabadran and others. They are the Asthana Vidwans of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Recipients of numerous awards and titles: 'Best Vocalist" from CMANA, USA (1998), Bharath Nirman Excellence Award for meritorious achievements in diverse fields, "Outstanding Young Indian" by Jaycees Special Millennium Honour Award, Music Adacemy's "Best Ragam Tanam Pallavi" Award 2004, "Isai Chudar" from Sri Ragam Fine Arts, Barath Kalachar's Yuva Kala Bharathi Award (2002) etc.

South Indian Cultural Association Golden Jubilee Year Music & Dance Festival

SICA, Hyderabad is organizing its "Golden Jubilee Year Music & Dance Festival" from 2nd March 2009 to 6th March 2009, daily at 6:30 PM at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad. Season donor passes for members of SICA at Rs. 200 per member (admit two); for non-members at higher rates. Tickets available at the venue before the concert. Schedule for concert:

• 2nd March 2009: Sri Nedunuri Krishna Murthy (Carnatic Vocal)
• 3rd March 2009: Smt Ranjani & Smt Gayatri (Carnatic Vocal Duet)
  
• 4th March 2009: Sri GJR Krishnan & Sri Karthik Seshadri (Violin and Sitar; Carnatic - Hindustani Jugal Bandi)
• 5th March 2009: Smt. Vani Jayaram (Multilingual Devotional Music)
• 6th March 2009: Kum. Yamini Reddy (Kuchipudi Dance)
  

A Memorable Concert by Hyderabad Brothers

The familiar voices of Sri D. Raghavachary and D. Seshachary filled me with a feeling of sanctity and holiness as I was listening to them at Ravindra Bharathi. The carnatic concert by the duo popularly known as Hyderabad Brothers was organized by SICA on 2nd January 2009 as part of their Golden Jubilee celebrations. While their concert included popular krithis like 'Tarunam Idamma' (Gowli Panthu), 'Bagayennayya' (Chandrajyothi), 'Ennadu Joothuno' (Kalavathi), they also presented rare numbers like 'Neekela Dayaradu' (Sarasangi) and 'Ethanai Sonnalum' (Saveri). The main piece of the evening was in Thodi with Shyama Sastry's 'Ninne Namminanu'. The rendition of the raga was elaborate with a perfect neraval and swaram. Another noteworthy presentation was Dikshitar's 'Parandhamavathi Jayati' in 'Dharmavathi'. The neraval 'Paramjyothi Vikasini Paramatma Prakashini' was executed excellently. The concert ended with Papanasam Sivan's 'Ennatavam Seydanai Yasoda' in 'Kapi' and 'Krishna Nee Begane Baaro' in 'Yamuna Kalyani'. The violin support by Surya Deepthi was melodious and his response to the vocals was commendable. Kaliprasad on mridangam and Shyamkumar on kanjira provided perfect percussion support that got reflected especially in the Taniavarthanam. Sri Seshachary was very active and enthusiastic throughout the concert cheering the accompanists with an occasional encouraging remark.

Photo Courtesy: The Hindu

You can listen to the recording of the concert by following the links below. The entire concert can also be downloaded from file1 and file2.
If there are any copyright issues for putting the MP3s for free download, please let me know. I will remove the access to files in that case. I am hoping that the MP3s downloaded from here are ONLY for personal use and will NOT be used for commercial purposes.

1. Valachi Vachchi - Navaragamalika Varnam - Adi - Patnam Subramanya Iyer (MP3, Lyrics)
2. Tarunam Idamma - Gowli Panthu - Adi - Shyama Shastri (MP3, Lyrics)
3. Sabapathikku Veru Devam Samanamaguma - Rupaka - Abhogi - Gopalakrishna Bharathi (MP3, Lyrics)
4. Bagayanayya Nee Maya Lentho - Adi - Chandrajyothi - Tyagaraja (MP3, Lyrics)
5. Nee Kela Dayaradu - Khanda Chapu - Sarasangi - Ramaswamy Sivan (MP3)
6. Ennadu Joothuno - Adi - Kalavathi - Tyagaraja (MP3, Lyrics)
7. Parandhamavathi Jayati - Rupaka - Dharmavathi - Muthuswami Dikshitar (MP3)
   Neraval & Swaras at "Paramjyothi Vikasini Paramatma Prakashini"
8. Ninne Nammi Nanu - Misra Chapu - Thodi - Shyama Shastri (MP3)
   Neraval & Swaras at "Kamakshi Kanjadalayatakshi"
   Thaniavartanam
9. Ethanai Sonnalum - Adi - Saveri - Vaidkeeswaram Koil Subbarayar (MP3)
10. Muttavaddu Ra Nannipudu (Javali) - Adi - Saveri - Chinniah (Tanjavur Quartette)* (MP3)
11. Ennatavam Seydanai Yasoda - Adi - Kapi - Papanasam Sivan (MP3, Lyrics)
12. Krishna Nee Begane Baaro - Chapu - Yamuna Kalyani - Vyasaraya (MP3, Lyrics)
    Bhavamana (Mangalam) - Adi - Sourashtra - Tyagaraja

* Courtesy : Meena (See comments)
Links: The review about the concert in 'The Hindu'.

Concert by Hyderabad Brothers

SICA Hyderabad is organizing carnatic concert by Hyderabad Brothers on 2nd January 2009 at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad. The concert starts at 6:30 PM. Tickets for non-members can be obtained at the venue.

Vinjamuri Memorial Concerts at Hyderabad

SICA, Hyderabad is organizing two day Vinjamuri Memorial Concerts at Hyderabad on 21s and 22nd October. On 21st October, it is carnatic vocal by Smt. R. Vedavalli and on 22nd October, carnatic vocal by Maharajapuram Srinivasan. The programs take place at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad and everyday it starts at 6:30 PM.
Vinjamuri Memorial Concerts are held every year in the honor of Dr. Vinjamuri Varadaja Iyengar (July 15, 1915 - August 16, 1991). He is a very renowned musican and composer. He has been awarded the titles Gana Kalanidhi, Gayaka Ratna, Sangeetha Jyothi, Sangeetha Ratnaakara, and Gana Vidya Visarada to mention a few. SICA, Hyderabad is organizing his memorial concerts to pay homage to him since 1992.

SICA, Hyderabad invitation gives the following excerpt about Dr. Vinjamuri:

Hailing from Guntur district in A.P. Sri Varadaraja Iyengar was a unique personality. He was a Musician, Musicologist and a composer. He belonged to the Sishyaparampara of Saint Thyagaraja.
His first Guru Sri Piratla Sankara Sastry belonged to Veena Kuppaier School, while his late Guru Sri Tiger Varadachary, belonged to Manambuchavadi Venkata Subramanya Iyer School. Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyenger imbibed the best of these traditions. He considered late Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar as another guru and in fact he was often called 'Kutti Ariyakkudi of A.P.'
Sri Vinjamuri Varadaraja Iyengar was with AIR, Chennai and Hydeabad for a long time and was mainly instrumental in propagating Bhakthi Music over AIR.
Among the numerous awards received by him 'Ganakalanidhi' conferred on him in 1958 is the most prestigious one. He was closely associated with the South Indian Cultural Association (SICA), Hyderabad and was its Vice President for some time.
Even since his demise in 1991, SICA has been organising the 'Vinjamuri Memorial Concerts' every year as a tribute to and in memory of this great Musician, Musicologist and Composer, jointly with the Vinjamuri Trust.

Carnatic Classical Week

I am really looking forward for the week ahead. SICA, Hyderabad is organizing five day event of carnatic music. The programs take place at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad and everyday it starts at 6:30 PM. The program is:

• September 15th: Carnatic Violin by A. Kanyakumari
• September 16th: Carnatic Vocal by TV Shankaranarayan
• September 17th: Carnatic Vocal by Neyveli Santanagopalan
• September 18th: Veena Fusion by Rajhesh Vaidhya
• September 19th: Carnatic Vocal by Bombay Jayashri

Hoping to have lot of fun!