Carnatic Vocal By Sudha Raghunathan: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR CARNATIC VOCAL BY SUDHA...

The South India Cultural Association (SICA) is presenting the 52nd Annual Festival of Music and Dance from 18th to 22nd March, and Drama on 28th & 29th March, at the Ravindra Bharathi auditorium. As a part of the festival, a senior vocalist from Chennai, Sudha Raghunathan, will perform a Carnatic vocal concert on the 5th day.

Raghunathan inherited her interest in music from her mother, Choodamani, and began her formal training at the age of 9. Later, she learnt from T V Viswanathan and B V Lakshman for a brief period. She came under the tutelage of the illustrious Padmavibushan Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. M L Vasanthakumari in 1977, when she won a Central Government Scholarship given to young artistes for advanced training in music. With her encouragement, Raghunathan pursued music as a career, and also provided vocal support to Dr. M L V for a decade. She is considered Dr. M L V's 'vaaris' by music lovers.

Sudha Raghunathan is a top-ranking artiste of the All India Radio, Chennai, and performs regularly for AIR and Doordharshan. She has performed at concerts in all the major cities of India, besides undertaking concert tours all over the world. She has won more than 250 awards and prizes, with the Kalaimamani from the Govt. Of Tamil Nadu in 1993, the Padmasri from the Govt. Of India in 2004, the Sangeetha Kalasagara in 2003, the Sangeetha Choodamani from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in 1997, the Isai Peroli and the VST Award for excellence from Karthik Fine Arts, being her best ones.

SICA was founded in the year 1959 by Dewan Bahadur Aramuda Iyengar, a patron of Carnatic music and the Finance Minister of Hyderabad's Nizam. The association has organised more than a 1,000 concerts. It has provided a basic platform for upcoming artistes amongst whom are U P Raju, Nagamani, Mandolin Srinivas and the Malladi Brothers. It conducts workshops, felicitates artistes, and provides both moral and financial support to upcoming artistes. Dr. S Chakravarthy, IAS, former Chief Secretary in Govt. Of AP, is the present President of the association, and R Chakrapani is the General Secretary.

Entry is by donor passes. Season passes cost Rs. 400/250 for 2 persons for music & dance fest from 18th to 22nd March, and Rs. 500/300 for all the 7 days of the festival. Daily passes cost Rs. 100/50/30 per head.

Please contact R Chakrapani at 98491-24675 for further details.