Bengaluru-Chennai express . . .then USA?

Vocalist Padma Sugavanam lives a two-cities kind of life. Chennai and Bengaluru.

Perhaps the Brindavan Express, like for many artistes is the lifeline. Or the Bangalore Mail.

Artistes like her are busy performing in both cities, and doing so with ease.

On Friday evening ( March 31), Padma who has been topping the music festival circuit for sometime now will perform for the Vyalikaval community at 6.45 p.m.

And then take a flight out to the USA.

This is the season for artistes to travel West. To the USA. Scores of them, more from Chennai start with concerts at the famed Cleveland Aradhana fest and log on elsewhere.

It saves them the rising summer heat, gets them new fans and welcome dollars and challenges their skills.

Ranjani-Gayatri sisters on Day One at Sri Vani Kala Kendra

Ugadi is always the first day of the Sri Ramanavami Sangeetotsava at Sri Vani Kala Kendra in Basaveshvara Nagar. 

Vani School, as known by the people of the neighbourhood, has a covered auditorium with a seating capacity of at least 300 people. But, the inaugural concert of Ranjani - Gayatri sisters had rasikas sitting on the floor, on the steps to the upper floors and on the side-benches.

The sisters did not disappoint the huge turnout of music lovers. Accompanied by young Vittal Rangan on the violin, Delhi Sairam on the mridangam and S.N. Narayanamurthy on the ghatam, Ranjani & Gayatri presented a lively concert.

Beginning with a composition 'Vallabha nayakasya' Dikshitar on Lord Vinayaka, the sisters presented kritis of various composers, Thyagaraja, Kanakadasa, Mysore Vasudevachar and Sant Tukaram.

The audience received the elaborate rendering of compositions in Pantuvarali and Mohanam with huge applause. The highlight of the day was the Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi in Keeravani with the Pallavi lyrics  Dhayanidhe Dasarathe Sri Rama Badhrachalavasa maáampahi' rendered with ragamalika swarams. 

A request from the audience for an Abhang came in and the sisters presented one in Bhairagi.

The packed auditorium remained here until the end.

One notable feature was that there were a lot of children and young people at this concert. 

- Report and pictures by R. Revathi

Music Guide to concerts posted online; do use it!

The annual Guide to the Sri Ramanavami Concerts Guide is out.

It is being packed!

But we could post online the entire copy - some 24 pages of concerts at leading venues across one month. 

We clipped off a few recitals by the juniors - we feel bad doing that by funds are also think for such ventures and we have to cut out coat accordingly.

Someday, we hope to feature all the mandalis across Bengaluru and all their concerts.

We made half a dozen calls to the mandali in Malleswaram, which has a huge history behind it; but failed to get their schedule.Can someone help get a copy and mail it to us please? We could still insert the key recitals in our Guide.

Appreciate such community efforts! Thanks!

Where are the funds, sponsors?

If there was one issue that kept coming up since January this year as mandalis and samithis drew their music fest plans, it was all about getting funds.

Demonetisation had put the squeeze and that knot was still tight.

So hosts fell back on the faithful funders and seem to have curated their festivals.

But clearly, they have cut down on the number of concerts and some, chosen to not invite the big big names among artistes.

Some mandalis are pushing online donations - from supporters living abroad.

Would this work if the fest is branded well?

Tell us what you think.

Mail - kutcheribuzz@gmail.com

Weloome to Festival 2017

Welcome to yet another Sri Ramanavami season of music. And dance.

2017.

Over the past few years we at KutcheriBuzz ( www.kutcheribuzz.com) based in Chennai have been in Bengaluru to cover the festival; for we think it is a good arts festival to report on, and is an event that now drives more patrons, from rasikas and artistes.

So, we hope to tell you the stories, post pictures and share the buzz from this evening.

We cannot claim to do a 100% coverage by ourselves; so we always invite people like you to share pictures and reportage. Just one picture of a concert you attend; 5 lines on the mood there.

The mail ID to use is - kutcheribuzz@gmail.com

Join us / tag us too - #RN2017fest.

Let us make this coverage a community driven one.

Do share this web link with friends here and around the world.

Welcome to the festival.