Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi Aradhana in Minneapolis, Oct30,2010

[Singer_USA]

Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi Aradhana in Minneapolis at The Hindu Mandir, Nath Auditorium on Saturday October 30, 2010.

Several music enthusiasts from the twin cities participated and the event also drew performers from the cities Chicago, Austin and Dallas.

The aradhana was wonderfully organised by Vidya Raman and Jaya Sridhar through IFCM-USA, an organisation founded by Chitravina N Ravikiran, who also made it to Minneapolis and presented a special lec-dem, sharing wonderful facets of Venkata Kavi.

The event started off at 9 am with the welcome address by emcee Jayashree Ramanujam, followed by the rendition of "Pranavakaram Siddhivinayakam" in Arabi, by guru Smt.Veena Sitaram along with her students followed by a Kamakshi Navavarana krti "Santatam aham seve" in the rare raga Deshakshi.

There were several group performances led by the gurus of the twin cities followed by Individual performances. Arthi from chicago brought out
a beautiful Shankarabharanam through her Veena in the krti "Sathyam Param Dhimahi". Nandini Sridhar, a fifth grade student presented a crisp rendition of "Senapathe Namosthuthe". Smt. Seetha Chandrashekhar (Dallas) presented Uma Maheshwarathmajam (Umabharanam) in which the composer has effortlessly transitioned from Tishra gati to Chaturashra Gati, followed by "Sundara Natarajam" (Kharaharapriya)

Morning session ended with renditions by Needamangalam Krishnamurthy Bhagavathar's disciple Smt.Leela Ramanathan and Smt.Pallavi.
Smt.Leela Ramanathan performed two Navavarana krtis, Yoga Yogeshwari (Anandabhairavi) Shankari Shree Raja Rajeshwari (Madhyamavati).
Smt.Pallavi peformed another complext Navavarana krti "Neela lohitha Ramani" (Balahamsa), set to Khanda Dhruvam.

Events in the evening started with the concert by Aditya Kanukurthy (Austin, TX) whose Pantuvarali was fabulous in the krti Nirupama Sundarakara and his rendition of Venkata Kavi's masterpiece, Rasakeli (Kharaharapriya) won him a grand applause. His melodious voice was a plus in his soothing alapanas.

Ganesh Raman (a singer with a growing reputation in Minneapolis), who sang the other main concert, delivered the Saptaratna krti "Madhava hrdi khelini" in Kalyani, and a Navavarana krti in Hidolam set to the complex 20-beat Sankeerna Mathyam followed by a detailed Ramayana piece "Shri Rama Jayme Jayam" (Ragamalika). Ganesh had a resonant voice and his main piece was "Pavanakumara" in Vasanta which had a wonderful alapana and was rounded off with brisk kalpana swarams.

It is fascinating to witness highly talented young students perform what even seasoned artistes may term as complex compositions of Venkata Kavi, as they are adorned by madhyamakala phrases, rich sahitya, gati transitions and complex talas. But the beauty that the composer has brought out effortlessly speaks volumes about his genius.

The event was capped off with several dance presentations by students of Twin cities led by various dance Gurus. All in all, a great beginning for the first ever such tribute to Venkata Kavi in this part of the world, with very healthy audience turn out, esp in the evening.

[rajeshnat]

a Navavarana krti in Hidolam set to the complex 20-beat Sankeerna Mathyam

Tx for the write up, as always one gets a feel there are so many gems of OVK yet untouched by many.This navaavarnA krithi in hindOlam is sadAnanda mayI