After running to packed houses in Mumbai and Delhi, Citi India with The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), for the first time ever, entered Bangalore for a stirring journey through an innovative Festival of Indian Music Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant: From Here to Eternity on February 10 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall.
The Bengaluru edition featured two back to back performances by celebrated Indian musicians on the same day. Kaushiki Chakrabarty Desikan’s (vocal solo) performance will be followed by Talavadya Kacheri. Anindo Chatterji (tabla), Kaaraikkudi Mani (mridangam) and V Suresh (ghatam) and N Amrith (kanjira) at Chowdiah
Memorial Hall. Presenting works that were deeply embedded in tradition, yet seeking to reach out into the infinite realms of creativity, fostered by the contemporary socio-cultural milieu, Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant Festival of Indian Music explored and celebrated the vitality with which artistic traditions keep redefining and rejuvenating themselves.
Dr Suvarnalata Rao, head of programming (Indian Music), NCPA, said “The NCPA is happy to partner with the Citi India in creating this unique festival that aligns with our common vision of nurturing traditions with innovations. It took us considerable time and involvement to work out the concept. We needed a theme that had sustainability — not one that would lose potency after one edition. For any idea to survive and flourish, it needs to be fuelled by inherent strength
and artistic potential.”
The festival was based on the juxtaposition of the concepts of eternity and those that are bound by time, and how the two co-exist in our lives. The concept of eternity anant denotes that which has neither a beginning aadi nor an end (anth). It is inherent in Indian philosophy, where time is viewed as being not linear, but cyclical.
Pramit Jhaveri, CEO, Citi India, too added, “Citi is a patron of the arts worldwide and in India in particular. Through our long-standing relationship with the NCPA, either as Chief Patron of the much acclaimed Symphony Orchestra of India, or through the Citi-NCPA Guru Shishya Scholarship programme for deserving musicians, Citi has reinforced its passion and commitment to preserving and nurturing the culture and heritage of India. Moving into a new century, we are dedicated to taking this deep-rooted partnership and mission a step further and are delighted to announce the Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant Festival
of Indian Music.
A unique property, it will showcase music that has emerged from the traditional, yet keeps evolving — a philosophy that has been essential for us as an institution to grow, improvise and innovate over the last 200 years, and one that will build and strengthen a legacy for future generations.”