For many years, the vibrant cultural scene of Chennai has revolved predominantly around the bustling localities of South Chennai, namely Mylapore and T. Nagar. These areas have emerged as the cultural heartbeats of the city, thriving with a dense concentration of sabhas. However, this geographical focus has often left residents in the suburbs yearning for opportunities to engage with live performances by renowned artists. Kartik Fine Arts, one of the leading sabhas in Chennai, has responded to this demand with an ambitious new initiative aimed at reaching rasikas, or connoisseurs of the arts, in the city’s suburban areas.
“There is an immense interest among rasikas residing in distant areas of Chennai, but they often find it challenging to attend performances by eminent artistes,” commented S.N. Srikanth, the president of Kartik Fine Arts. Recognizing the passion for cultural arts that flourishes beyond the traditional epicenters, Srikanth shared that this initiative will extend its efforts to include North Chennai and other locales following the initial roll-out.
The sabha kicked off its outreach program in a meaningful collaboration with Babaji Vidhyashram in Sholinganallur, presenting a captivating Carnatic vocal recital by the distinguished artiste K. Gayatri. Gayatri, renowned for her vocal prowess and emotive depth, was accompanied by the talented B. Ananthakrishnan on the violin and the skilled Praveen Sparsh on the mridangam, together delivering an evening of exquisite music on the concluding day of Navaratri.
The event commenced with enthusiasm as Gayatri delivered a vibrant rendition of the ragamalika varnam ‘Gananayakane thunai varuvaay’ in Adi tala, a composition by her mentor, Suguna Purushothaman.
. This was followed by a sequence of five Devi kritis, each imbued with rich cultural and spiritual significance. The concert’s highlight included ‘Amba vaani nannu,’ a Muthiah Bhagavathar composition in Keeravani (Adi), where Gayatri’s expansive niraval and kalpanaswara presentation impressed and engaged the audience. Ananthakrishnan’s seamless responses on the violin beautifully complemented Gayatri’s vocal execution.
A serene exploration of the raga Sriranjani set the stage for ‘Maatha innum vaadha’ by Papanasam Sivan, a heartfelt appeal to the goddess of Thirumayilai. The emotive delivery mirrored the lyrical plea, resulting in a profound listener experience. Further enhancing the evening’s performance, Gayatri offered a stirring rendition of ‘Brovavamma taamasamele’ by Syama Sastri, executed with precise tempo and effect.
The diversity of the performance was further exemplified with Periyasami Thooran’s ‘Thaye Tripurasundari’ in Suddha Saveri-Khanda Chapu, which energized the audience with its brisk pace and vibrant energy, expertly executed by Praveen on the mridangam. The main piece, Swati Tirunal’s ‘Pahi Jagajjanani’ in Vachaspathi (Adi tala), was delivered with finesse, offering an expert portrayal of the raga. The seamless integration of kalpanaswaras at ‘Mohanadaragaatri’ was commendably executed before Praveen’s energetic tani, marking an impressive display of rhythmic prowess.
An exceptional team dynamics between Gayatri, Ananthakrishnan, and Praveen was evident throughout the recital, with each artist contributing to the overall aesthetic experience. Ananthakrishnan’s detailed exploration of Sriranjani and Vachaspathi was in perfect harmony with Gayatri’s leading vocals, while Praveen’s style and energy filled the Adi tala also, maintaining the concert’s vibrant flow.
A thoughtful conclusion to the concert featured two compositions: Tyagaraja’s ‘Hecharikaga rara’ in Yadukula Kambhoji and Veena Seshanna’s Senchurutti thillana, both echoing the phrase ‘Sugunasaandra’ as an homage to Gayatri’s guru, eight songs touched upon a wide spectrum of composers, adding depth and variety to the recital.
Kartik Fine Arts’ innovative outreach marks a promising start in extending the reach of Chennai’s rich cultural heritage to the suburbs. Though the initial turnout was modest, the sabha anticipates growing interest as the initiative takes root, promising wider accessibility and engagement with the vibrant tapestry of Chennai’s artistic offerings.
