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MADRAS MUSIC MELA 2001

     

KARTHIK FINE ARTS FESTIVAL OFF TO A FLYING START

      
The 27th year Art festival and Dance seminar of Karthik Fine Arts was off to a flying start on December 1, 2001 at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai. The highlight of the inaugural function was the conferment of Isai Peroli on young vocalist Nithyasree Mahadevan, and Natanamamani on dancers Uma Muralikrishna and Rama Vaidyanathan. The function also saw the release of the first day special cover on Raja Serfoji II by Dr. U Srinivasaraghavan, Chief Postmaster General. The cover was received by Raja S Babuji Raja Bhonsle Chatrapati, a descendant of Raja Serfoji II. The Secretary of Karthik Fine Arts, R Rajagopal, was also honoured for his 50 years of service to performing arts through the organisation. Vaijayantimala Bali, danseuse, inaugurated an exhibition on Raja Serfoji II. The star-studded function started with a prayer by Lakshmi Rangarajan.

    

The Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, P Shankar who inaugurated the festival, said in his speech that a lot of youngsters attend music concerts nowadays, thanks to young musicians like Nithyasree and Unnikrishnan, who in their own ways have made Carnatic music attractive for youngsters. This wasn't the case 50 years ago, he added. He also felt that Tamil compositions and composers are being given more importance in present day concerts, which was a thing to be appreciated. He particularly mentioned the contributions of great composer Papanasam Sivan and musicians like D K Pattammal in this context.
    
The Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. A R Lakshmanan, who presided over the function appreciated Karthik Fine Arts for taking a special interest in conferring titles upon young artistes. He also mentioned his long relationship with the family of Raja Serfoji and expressed his happiness at being present during the special cover release function.
   
Isai Peroli Nithyasree in her thanking speech said that receiving award from a reputed Sabha was a great encouragement for young artistes like her, while at the same time it increased her responsibility as a musician. She assured that she would always try to live up to the expectations of her rasikas. She donated a cheque for Rs. 20,000/- and wanted Karthik Fine Arts to institute an award in the name of her grandmother D K Pattammal, for the best young vocalist every year.

   

Uma Muralikrishna and Rama Vaidyanathan expressed their gratitude on being conferred the Natanamamani. They thanked their parents, in-laws and all others who had stood behind them all these years.

Sudharani Raghupati, the Convener of the Dance Festival this year, while felicitating the awardees said that Karthik Fine Arts was honouring itself by conferring the titles on the beautiful young artistes. The other dignitaries included Mrs. Meenakshi Lakshmanan, Mr. L Sabaratnam, Mr. A V S Raja, M R Krishnamurti and Mr. Murali of Krishna Sweets.

    

Posted on December 3, 2001

   

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Madras Music Mela 2001

  

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