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MADRAS MUSIC MELA 2001
WHAT'S UP IN THE HARIKATHA AND DANCE FIELDS?
The music and dance season has begun in earnest all over Chennai. Festivals were inaugurated one by one and titles conferred on various musicians and dancers. Kartik Fine Arts was one of the first to start their series, and their inauguration was marked by a fine Harikatha discourse on Maharaja Serfoji II by Revathy Sankkaran of TV-fame. Dressed in the grand 9-yards saree, nuth and other ornaments in the Marathi style, and calling herself Sakkubai, she made the show both interesting and informative and brought to light the golden regime of Serfoji II.
Raja Serfoji II was a great lover of art and patronised all art forms. One day a renowned musician of those times, Seetaramayya, who was a specialist in raga Todi hesitated to sing the same in the court as he had pledge the same for want of money. On hearing this, the Maharaja told him that he could sing it without any fear since he had released the same from the money-lender! The much-celebrated Tanjore plate of the present day is the gift of the inspiration of Serfoji II.
Interesting information from his life
history were well compiled and rendered by the artiste. The delegation of
authority was the essence of his administrative tactics. The art and
administration worked side by side, like two well-oiled machines. The
Saraswathi Mahal library in Tanjavur, which has a plethora of research
material and preserved publications of those days on topics pertaining to
all fields, stands as a live testimony of Maharaja Serfoji's quest for
knowledge. The different Khanas and Mahals of Serfoji's time were neatly
rendered by the artiste in a single stroke. Kudos to the memory power of
Revathy Sankkaran.
Raja S Babaji Raja Bhonsle Chatrapati, a descendant of Raja Serfoji, who
presided over the function was overwhelmed by her lively presentation. Her
grand stage presence, confidence, wit and command over several languages
shone through. These coupled with her sincerity, thorough research and
analysis of the subject makes her different from the others in her clan.
Padmasri late K N Dandayudhapani Pillai was an uncrowned empire in the domain of Indian classical dance. He was not only a good dance master and choreographer but a great lyricist-cum-music composer. A majority of today's dancers like to present at least one of his compositions in each programme. His choreographic genius needs no special introduction. The birth anniversary of this great man was celebrated at the Rani Seethai Hall, Chennai by the students of his better half, Chandra Dandayudhapani Pillai. Students and ex-students of Tamilnadu Government Music College, Chennai also offered their tributes to this legend by their active participation in this grand carnival. Many of his special compositions were staged with great care as a mark of reverence. Hon'ble Minister Jayakumar, violinist Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan and Sulochana Sampat added lustre to the show by their gracious presence. The orchestral ensemble included Chandra Dandayudhapani Pillai (Nattuvangam), Kaveri (Vocal), J Padmanabhan (Mridangam), Chandru (Voilin), Krishnan (Clarionet) and Subbu (Keyboard).
