Caption: Sri Krishnaprasad receiving the award
Caption: A family of performers and doers!
• The Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy conferred the Karnataka Kalashree award for a lifetime of contribution by Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira recently.
• Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira has seen 60 glorious years of music. Behind the institution’s success are the selfless efforts of an entire family. Sri Vedantam Iyengar's children, Late Smt. Ranganayakamma, Smt. Neela, and Sri Krishnaprasad.
• SRLKM is an institution known for its commitment to music in ways that are transparent and honest. They manage to put together all the finances on their own, with some help from patrons. Top musicians hold the institution in great esteem, connoisseurs are not far behind.
• They recently conducted their 1500th concert. Their Sankranti festival is just round the corner. All details can be seen at http://www.srlkmandira.org
• Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira was founded in 1955.
• Dedicated to the cause of the promotion of Carnatic classical music, SRLKM is among the leading music sabhas which has earned a fine reputation among musicians and connoisseurs alike.
• Father Sri. Vedanta Iyengar was a middle school headmaster in Mysore, struggling to bring up the family on the meagere earnings.
• In 1949, he won a Public Service medal from His Highness Maharaja of Mysore. Vedanta Iyengar was not only a respected teacher and scholar, but played a significant role in building orphanages, hostels, maternity homes, child welfare centres.
• Smt. Ranganayakamma worked as a music teacher in a girl’s high school in Davanagere before being transferred to Bangalore.
• SRLKM came into existence on January 15, 1955 on Sannidhi Road, in Bangalore. Veena, violin and vocal classes began.
• Sri Krishnaprasad was a qualified engineer, and worked in the Town Planning department. He was also the Secretary of the Bangalore Gayana Samaja for many years.
• Based on the family's contribution to the cultural scene of Karnataka, in 1972 they allotted the site of the present premises in Banashankari locality.
• Whether it is a leading artiste or an upcoming one, SRLKM keeps all its concerts free.
• Ranganayakamma-Neela, and Krishnaprasad have put all their earnings to run the institute.
• They bring leading artistes for music workshops but don’t charge the participants.
• They bring out a magazine dedicated to music every quarter.
• Many people come on their own and make contributions.
• Smt. Ranganayakamma had been allotted a Housing Board house, they sold that house recently to keep a corpus fund for the festivals and awards.
Best Wishes to this great institution!