(I am posting this on behalf of Sridevi Iyengar, a fellow forum member experiencing difficulty with login to the forum.
Sridevi avare,
Thanks for the report! I know how much hard work you and others have put into this event to recognize and celebrate your Guru's work)
April 14th 2010
The day began with all the students assembled at the iconic Chowdiah Memorial hall at around 8 am. Our guru had requested the event management team to make sure breakfast was available for the students who had to come in early. We could hardly have any since we were the first to be on stage, the first to sing to the guests and our beloved guru.
The curtains were raised as our guru and the chief guests were escorted into the auditorium to the chanting of the priests – Purna kumbha swagata. The invocation by thirty of her students began. The songs sung were
Shanmukhapriya sOdara – Shanmukhapriya , Adi tala
Sri vidya daayini – Hamsavinodini , khanda Adi
Tillana – Sindhu bhairavi , Mishra Chapu
The above krithis are all creations of vid. Nagamani Srinath. The last krithi was “ guru upadesha neravayithu “ in Hindola by purandara dasa.
This last song led to the felicitation function for our beloved teacher, mentor and guide by the students, led by Smt.P Ramaa and Smt. R chandrika. The felicitation was done by the secretary of Kannada and culture – Sri Jayarama raje Urs. Prof. R Visweswaran then released the CD “ Sunaada gaana Amrutha paana “ A CD that has about 30 of the compositions of Professor Nagamani sung by the leading artists of Karnataka.
The Chief guests for the function Dr. Gowri Kuppaswamy, a guru to Smt.Nagamani Srinath, Dr. Vimala Rangachar and Dr. Shyamala Bhave spoke fondly about their relationship with Vidushi Nagamani Srinath. Prof. Visweswaran and Sri Jayarama Raje Urs followed providing the audience insights into her music and her untiring efforts to share her knowledge with students here and elsewhere.
The morning session ended with a brief but enthralling concert by the vidushi herself. The items presented were Gajananayutham and a pallavi in Kalyani set to Adi tala.
A sumptuous lunch was arranged outside and artists, rasikas , students, connoisseurs were seen enjoying amongst other things, the famous bisi bele bath of our kannada nadu.
The post lunch session began with a brief speech by Sandesh – The elder son of Vid.Nagamani Srinath and Srinath Chakravarthy. He talked about Nagamani – My mother. This was followed by “ Sunaada Vaadya “ a very well orchestrated instrumental ensemble under the direction of Vidushi .Geeta Ramanand and Vidwan Anoor AnanthaKrishna Sharma. The veena, violin, flute, Sitar along with percussion troupe presented krithis of Vid.Nagamani Srinath.
Vid. R K Padmanabha took the stage next to speak about Nagamani as a person. He ended his speech with a krithi he composed on Vid. Nagamani – “ Nagamani nee naada mani” in Behag. I will try and get the lyrics and post it but it was a superb one nonetheless. Vid. Padmanabha told the audience about the positive energy that Vid.Nagamani brings with her wherever she goes.
Next the well known critic Mysore V subrahmanya took the stage and spoke about Nagamani as an artist. He spoke about how as an artist Nagamani makes sure the rasikas feel satiated at the end of the concert and ended his speech asking to be made the chief guest when a similar function will be held in 40 years when Nagamani turns 100.
Smt R. A Ramamani spoke about Nagamani as a composer. She spoke about the rich lyrics and the melodious music that Nagamani gives to her compositions. She spoke about the unique theme Nagamani choses for her compositions, using the Andholika varna – which is in praise of Kanaka dasa.
A long time friend of Nagamani, vid Suma Sudhindra spoke next about Nagamani as a friend. She spoke about their deep friendship which all started at Gana Kala Parishat when Dr.Suma was the youth secretary.
Vid V.S Rajagopal finally spoke about Nagamani as a child artist. He spoke about the time when Nagamani , a mere child of 10 yrs , would give 3 concerts in a day and compose complex pallavis for each of those concerts.
This was followed by the release of another CD by Prof.Nagamani Srinath and her students. This CD contains the compositions of Vidwan Veene Raja rao.
Following the speeches was a dance recital by Dr. Sanjay shantaram and another by Dr. Vasundhara doraiswamy – Both used krithis of Vid.Nagamani for their presentations.
The final presentation of the day was Sunaada gaana – a choral music by all the leading artistes of Karnataka. They presented a varna in Madhukauns – on Sri Jaya chamarajendra wodeyar followed by a krithi “ O jagadamba” in raga Hindola. Both these krithis are in the CD as well.
This is how our guru chose to celebrate her 60th birthday, her 50 years of music, 25 years of Sunaada cultural center’s inception, amidst music, music lovers, students, close family members. A memorable day, the memories of which, will be etched in my heart forever.
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