June 2008... a bridge to the rich South Indian cultural heritage...

keertanakeertana

7 PM – 10:30 PM, Saturday, 14 June 2008Kel Watson Theatre, Forest Hill College, Mahoneys Road, Burwood East 3151, Melway Ref: 62C5

EditorialThis is CMC's first newsletter of the year, - Smt Aruna Sairam's being the first feature concert for 2008; however, we have already had a concert by a local artiste and another one featuring young, emerging talents in Melbourne. So here's a belated 'welcome' to new and old members.

It is our good fortune to present Smt Aruna Sairam once again to Melbourne audiences, as she is arguably one of the living legends of Carnatic Music. She commands a large, loyal and passionate group of fans around the world, and there are people who trudge miles for an opportunity to hear her perform - such is the power of her music.

Those who have heard her will know why - and those who haven't, - will understand after the concert this Saturday. Her powerful voice, grasp of musical nuances and the unique delivery style all set her apart from the rank of performing carnatic vocalists today. Her brief biography on this website gives Rasikas a window into hermusical greatness.

ARUNA SAIRAMARUNA SAIRAM is the most sought after vocalist of Carnatic Music today. During the December 2004 Chennai Music festival, Aruna’s concerts were sell-outs, drawing unprecedented numbers of audiences. In the past few years, Aruna’s concerts in various cities, - be it Narada Gana Sabha in Chennai or Le Theatre de la Ville in Paris - have attracted record crowds that created “traffic jams around the auditorium” She straddles the national and international music world with equal ease and popularity. Her panache for innovation has brought her accolades as a trail blazer in Carnatic Music.

Recently the Outlook magazine made the following observation : “M S Subbulakshmi is no more. But if there is any singer who comes close to matching such purity of voice, diction, impeccable sruti alignment and frill-free singing, it is Aruna Sairam”

Aruna Sairam was born in Bombay - a city whose rich cultural life embraces the majority of India’s artistic fields - into a family with a deep love for music. Her mother, the singer Smt. Rajalakshmi Sethuraman, was her first teacher in the art of Carnatic music, while her father, a fine and knowledgeable connoisseur, established their house in Bombay as a favourite guest home for the greatest musicians and dancers from both Northern and Southern India, such as the dancer Smt. T. Balaraswati, the Khayal singer Ustad Amir Khan and the Carnatic flutist Sri. T. R. Mahalingam and Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi. It was in this propitious atmosphere, which was fundamental to the development of her art, that Aruna Sairam met Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. T. Brinda, who taught her for the next several years, training her in the style of her own mentor, the great Veena Dhanammal, one of the most outstanding figures in Carnatic music, still today a source of profound inspiration for Southern India’s leading musicians.

Drawing on her long concert career and a number of significant encounters with other great musicians, Aruna Sairam is known for her own style. Aruna’s voice is a beautiful blend of resonance and range. It has an unusual timbre which gives it a special quality. Add to this the musical legacy rooted in the traditional classicism of her guru, as well as her own openness, you have Aruna Sairam.

She has created a large audience for Carnatic Music among the European listeners through her concerts. She also has the distinction of performing Carnatic Music in dialogue with internationally renowned artists of European and African countries. The deep emotional impact of Aruna’s music intensely moves her listeners and has deservedly made her the favourite of pundits and the public alike.

Mysore SrikanthSrikanth is a senior disciple of Vidwan Sri. H.K. Narasimha Murthy of Mysore. He started learning Violin at a very young age and has undergone rigorous training for more than eighteen years.

Srikanth has been giving performances from the age of fifteen. He has gained rich experience by accompanying top artists like Sri. R. K. Srikantan, Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna, Sri. T. N. Seshagopalan, Sri. T.V Sankaranarayanan, Sri. O. S. Thiagarajan, Sri. Trichur V. Ramachandran, Hyderabad Brothers, Flute Sri. K. S. Gopalakrishnan, Rudrapatnam Brothers, Bombay Sisters, Smt. Sudha Raghunathan , Smt. Bombay Jayashri & others. He has received their blessings & appreciation. He has also performed with great Mrdangam stalwarts like Palghat Sri. Raghu, Sri. T. K. Murthy, Sri. Karaikudi R. Mani, Sri. Umayalpuram Sivaraman , Sri. Guruvayur Dorai, Sri. Vellore Ramabhadran and many others. Srikanth has been featured in all prestegious Music Sabhas & organisations throughout India.

Srikanth is a graded artist of All India Radio & Doordarshan. He performs regularly for All India Radio, Doordarshan and other TV Channels. He has also performed for National Program of Music of Doordarshan and other TV Channels. He has recorded many commercial CDs & cassettes with many great artists.

Srikanth was conferred with the title Kala Praveena in February 2002 at Bangalore. He was honoured with the prestigious award for talented young musicians - Ananya Yuva Puraskara - in 2004 by the organisation Ananya of Bangalore.

Srikanth has travelled abroad widely to U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Singapore and Qatar with Rudrapatnam Brothers, Sri. T.N Seshagopalan, Ranjani - Gayathri, Malladi Brothers & others.

The Mridangam artiste Tanjore K. Murugaboopathi, born in Madras, comes from a family of musicians of many generations. His father Thanjai Kalyanasundaram is a well-known actor, musician and poet. Murugaboopathi had his training under Sri. T. R. Srinivasan and Sri. Tanjore Upendran, and received the “Vadya Visharad” title with distinction in the Music College.

He accompanies all the leading artists like Dr. Sri. Balamurali Krishna, Sri. Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan, Sri. T. V. Sankaranarayanan, Mandolin Srinivas, Ganesh & Kumaresh, Smt. Sudha Ragunathan, Dr. N. Ramani and Sri. Kadri Gopalnath.

Murugabhoopathi has travelled for concerts extensively all over the world to several countries like Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Germany, Spain, England, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Australia, UAE, Belgium and Scotland.

Murugabhoopathi has received many awards such as Vadya Kalaimamani from Music College, Chennai; Laya Kala Ratna from Tiruppur Muruga Mandram; Best Artiste Award from Music Academy, Saiva Mandram (Sydney), South Indian Music Club (Andhra Pradesh); Talented Artiste from Krishna Gana Sabha; Nadha Oli from Nadha Inbam; Best Accompanying Artiste from Sruthi Laya Seva.

K. Murugaboopathi

S. V. RamaniRamani was trained by his father, late Sri. P. R. Seshamani (retired All India Radio staff artiste). He gave his first public performance at the age of eight years. He continued his training with the world renowned mrdangist Sri. Guruvayur Dorai.

Ramani plays both the mrdangam and ghatam with equal ease. He has accompanied all leading artists like Sri. Lalgudi Jayaraman, Sri. M. S. Gopalakrishnan, Sri. M. Chandrasekharan, Mandolin Srinivas, Ganesh – Kumaresh, Sri. Kadri Gopalnath and Sri. T. N. Seshagopalan on mrdangam and ghatam, both in India and overseas, for the last 28 years.

Ramani has traveled overseas to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, UAE, Australia, Europe, United Kingdom, USA and the Middle East. He has recorded many CDs and cassettes. He has been awarded many titles by leading sabhas in India.

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... a bridge to the rich South Indian cultural heritage...

AcknowledgementVenue ..................................... Staff at Kel Watson Theatre, Forest Hill CollegeAudio..................................... Charles Walker, Imperial AudioArtiste Hosting ...................... Shobha and Ramnath Iyer Family............................................... Subha and Sankaran Ramesh Family............................................... Yamauna and Gopal Narayanan FamilyDesign ................................... Oviam CreationsSponsors ................................ India Tourism............................................... Atech Solutions Pty Ltd............................................... Chandra Pharmacy............................................... Ram & AssociatesTour Sponsor ......................... Swara-Laya Fine Arts Society, Sydney

Concert ArrangementAnita DasArundathi and Sriram FamilyChitra and Soundarajan Iyer familyChitra and Sudarshan FamilyGayatri and Vijay Kandadai FamilyGita and Sub Subramanian FamilyJayashree and Gopinath Iyer FamilyMythili and Naga Nagasundaram FamilyPrabha and Shankar FamilyRamani and Venkat Bommakanti FamilyShobha and Ramnath Iyer FamilySriranjani and Chandramouli FamilySubhadra and Sankaran Ramesh FamilySudakshina and Girish Gopalakrishnan FamilySunitha and Shankar Raman FamilySunitha WarriorYogam and Ramanan FamilyYamuna and Gopal Narayanan Family