N Ravikiran @ 'SAFE' : 08 Dec 2014

[Sivaramakrishnan]

‘SAFE’ Awards & Chitraveena N Ravikiran’s concert

Shanthi Arts Foundation & Endowments (SAFE), Chennai, headed by the venerable Ramabhadran felicitated eleven artists on the opening day of their music festival at the haloed Sastri hall, on 8 December 2014.
The star awardee was N Ravikiran who received the title ‘Sangita Saastra Virppannar’. Other ‘Birudus’ including Sangita Sapta Sagara and Life Time Achievement awards were presented to a galaxy of young artists : M A Sundareswaran, Gayatri Girish, Sikkil Maala Chandrasekhar, Patri Satish Kumar, Neyveli Venkatesh, R Hemalatha, Akkarai Subhalakshmi, Amrita Murali, Sumitra Vasudev and Charumathi Raghuram. (The ‘genext’ among awardees appeared rather too young for the ‘life time achievement’ honour! They do deserve recognition but the title could have been suitably coined)

The guests of honour were Y Prabhu (KGS) and R Sundar (Hamsadhwani) who also addressed the gathering. Awardees spoke briefly in acknowledgement. The respectable Ramabhadran was hailed by everyone as one who is a tireless promoter of arts in the metro.

The event was attended by many senior musicians, sabha organisers, young professionals and rasikas.

Ravikiran’s Chitraveena concert (traditional instrument; pitch- 5 kattai) that followed showcased his usual high standards in selection as well as quality rendition of popular as well as rare uruppadis. M A Sundareswaran, Neyveli Venkatesh and Vaikom Goplakrishnan were the accompanists.

The compositions were:

1. Begada: Vallabhanayakasya (MD)
2. Reetigoula: Cheraraavathe (T)
3. Kedaram: Gajamukhaanujam(OVK) on Nitya kalyaana subramaniar. Ravikiran explained the specialities of the composition featuring some rare swaraakshara prayogas and lyrical beauty. The mandrapanchamam which is characteristic of the raga found excellent expression in the vaadyam which can delve to the depths of sthaayis.
4. PurviKalyani: Ninnuvina(SS) –main item of the concert with aalaapana, niraval and swaras in the popularly known ‘Viloma Chaapu’ followed by Tani
5. Kaanada: Vanipondu-Jaavali
6. Surati : Jalajabandhuvum iha-Padam(ST)
7. Dwijavanti: Tillana( Ravikiran)

The accompanists lent amicable support to the concert that lasted for about an hour and half. But it gave a grand start to the festivities.

[arasi]

My miss, being late for the season...

[HarishankarK]

Yes it's rather silly, presenting life time achievement awards to so many young artistes. Like saying "Enough, you should probably choose some other career now".

[arasi]

Why not look upon it this way?: you have already achieved what one can achieve in a life time. May you be inspired to continue such work??

I think we should be happy for such awards because that means we won't complain about their waiting too long into old age to get recognition!

[gardabha_gana]

Lifetime award? I thought many of them advanced to the senior slots only recently!