Carnatic Vocal By Sikkil Gurucharan

The best way to not believe Sikkil's age is to read his achievements first. And after you do, you will not want to.

The 17th Annual Cultural Festival and the 160th aradhana of Sri Thyagaraja Swamy is being organised by Sharada Cultural Trust from 10th to 18th February at Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam. The 9-day music festival will feature kacheris of renowned artistes, like I S Thiyagarajan, Sikkil Gurucharan, Malladi Brothers, Chinmaya Sisters, Sudha Raghunathan and Lalgudi G J R Krishnan.

Today, the 2nd day, renowned Carnatic vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan, along with Mannarkoil Balaji on the mridangam and Ambika Prasad on the violin, will be performing. Born in a family of musicians, Gurucharan had his initial music lessons from his mother Mythili, and thereon from various other teachers like Vaigal S Gnanaskandan, grandparents Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sikkil Kunjumani and Neela, aunt Mala Chandrasekar, and Radha Viswanathan (daughter of late M S Subbalakshmi).

He worked as a Radio Jockey for Worldspace, but quit the job to devote himself full-time to music. A highly talented artiste, now just 25, he has gained a name for himself. He has a soft and malleable voice, with resourceful modulation, and is an A-grade artiste of the All India Radio.

Gurucharan has received innumerable awards, such as the Yuva Kala Bharathi from Bharat Kalachar, Isai Chudar from Karthik Fine Arts, Naada Oli from Naada Inbam, Kalki Memorial Award from Kalki Memorial Trust, Dharmatma Memorial Award from Raja Annamalaipuram Sabha, and Swarna Venkatesha Dikshitar award from Music Academy Conference.

Sharada Cultural Trust was formed in 2000 by a group of female musicians and music-loving housewives. The trust trains youngsters and housewives in Carnatic vocal and instrumental music. Every year during January-February, the trust conducts a grand Thyagaraja festival where renowned musicians participate, but gives utmost preference to youngsters. Without draining much expenditure on shamianas and garlands, the trust comes up with some of the best music festivals.

The entry to the festival is free of cost. For further details, please contact 2786-0680/2780-1662.