Carnatic music is a treasure that must be nurtured and protected, according to Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission chairman R Nataraj.
Delivering the keynote address at the 27th anniversary of Sarvani Sangeetha Sabha, organised by the Sarvani Sangeetha Trust at The Music Academy on Sunday, the former director general of police recalled that the Sabha was started in 1985 with the blessings of legendary Carnatic vocalist D K Pattammal, who had lit the traditional lamp at the inaugural function. “On that occasion, she had made a request that the kuthuvilakku for the sabha’s annual celebration must be lit by women,” he pointed out. “Till date, the tradition is being upheld by the sabha,” he said.
Praising the sabha’s efforts in encouraging young musicians and giving them a platform to showcase their talent, Nataraj said the sabha also organised musical sessions aimed at setting records.
The Sarvani Sangeetha Sabha’s dedication of its 27th anniversary to musical composer Saint Thyagaraja was entirely appropriate, as it coincided with the annual Thyagaraja Aradhana festival, which began at Thiruvaiyaru on Sunday, he added.
Saint Thyagaraja had composed around 600 kritis in 212 raagas, with some 66 little-known raagas used for the first time for any composition, Nataraj pointed out,“This (Carnatic music) is our treasure and tradition, which has be nurtured and protected and given to the next generation,” he said. Describing himself as a music lover – an ordinary rasika – he had a word of praise for the city. “Being in Chennai, we are able to listen to music. That itself is a great blessing.”
Earlier, the five-day music programme, sponsored in memory of P Obul Reddy and P Gnanambal by P Viajakumar Reddy and Preetha Reddy, started with a veena recital by mother-son duo N V S Radha and Sashank Mallya. Sashank, a class 10 student who has been playing the instrument for the last six years, was the cynosure of all eyes as he ably accompanied his mother on Thyagaraja’s Giri Raja Sudha and Samaja Varagamana, among the saint’s other compositions.
The highlight of the evening was the performance of noted vocalist Neyveli R Santhanagopalan. A violin panchakam by disciples of A Kanyakumari, is among the list of events scheduled till Thursday.