Carnatic Vocal Concert By Sankaran Namboodiri: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR CARNATIC VOCAL CONCERT BY...

The South India Cultural Association (SICA), one of the oldest cultural associations of the twin cities, is organising its 51st Annual Festival Of Music & Dance, from 9th to 17th March, at the Ravindra Bharathi auditorium. The 9-day festival will feature several renowned performers - T M Krishna, P Unnikrishnan, Ravi Kiran, Sankaran Namboodiri, Priya Sisters, M Chandrasekharan and danseuse Anita Guha.

Sankaran Namboodiri will be performing a Carnatic vocal recital on the 4th day of the festival. Renowned as a child prodigy, Sankaran started learning music at the tender age of 10 under the tutelage of C S Narayanan Namboodiri. He went on to pursue his training under the able guidance of T V Gopalakrishnan, Prof. Mavelikkara R Prabhakara Varma, and Palakkad V Narayana Swamy.

Sankaran began performing at the age of 11. His inaugural concert at the Music Academy was packed. He also gave a concert for the then Indian President Giani Zail Singh. He has not only performed in all the major centers in India but has also given concerts outside, in USA, France, Germany, UK, Switzerland and Holland.

Sankaran lives in Kochi, and is also a playback singer in Malayalam cinema. Within a span of 23 years, he has received many honors and titles that include Yuva Kala Bharathi by Bharat Kalachar (Chennai), and Ganamrutha Surabhi by Sree Vidya Peetam (Kallidaikurichi, Thirunelveli).

SICA was founded in the year 1959, by Dewan Bahadur Aramuda Iyengar, patron of Carnatic music and Finance Minister of Hyderabad's Nizam. The association has since organised more than 1,000 concerts. It has provided a basic platform for upcoming artistes amongst whom are U P Raju and 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 to 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 / Rs. 300 per head and are valid for for all the 9 days of the festival. Daily passes cost Rs. 100 / Rs. 50 / Rs. 30 per head. Please contact R Chakrapani at 98491-24675 for further details.