A New Cultural Platform for All

Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation launched its Special Monthly Programmes as “Kala Poshakam”, on 15th February, 2006, 5.30 pm at Narada Gana Sabha, Mini Hall,
T.T.K. Road, Alwarpet, Chennai – 18. Smt. Leela Shekar – “Chairperson – IDA” inaugurated the programme by lighting the Kuthuvilakku, & Smt. Anitha Guha – Director, Bharathanjali presided over the function. The Doyens appreciated the efforts taken by the Mylapore Trio in perpetuating values & by promoting culture among the younger generation.

“Sathya Kala Poshaka Sundaram” was the title conferred on the Trio by the Bharathanjali Trust recently, for being the youngest promoters of art & culture. According to the Trio “Kala Poshakam” is dedicated for the same cause and it is a platform for children, youth & elders to exhibit their talents not only in Classical Dance, Music & Instrument but also in various other art forms. For the first time in the history of the foundation seniors & elders above the age of 22 are given an opportunity to showcase their talents under the banner of “Kala Poshakam”. Surendranath says that the response has been tremendously good & even artists from other states have registered themselves for the subsequent months.

The Foundation has been identifying and honoring Children & Youth in the Cultural Spectrum and celebrates the Balar Chithirai Kalai Vizha and Margazhi Bala Utsavam and they award titles like Sangeetha Bala Brahamam, Natya Bala Brahamam to deserving children.
Here is what happened at their program this year...

2nd Year - “Visesha Kala Poshakam Utsav

Inauguration - Wednesday - 2 – 1 – 2008

Chief Guest – “Padmashri” Smt. Chitra Visweswaran

“Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts”.

Time: 5.30pm – “Kutrala Kuravanji” – A Thematic presentation by

Smt. Sasirekha Raammohan, Smt. Radhika Vairavelavan,

Smt. Anjana Anand, Kum. Lavanya,

Kum. Divya & Kum. Nivetha.

Time: 6.30pm – Inauguration

Time: 7.30pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. V.M. Supriya (Chennai)

Disciple of “Padmashri” Smt. Chitra Visweswaran.

Thursday - 3 – 1 – 2008

Chief Guest – “Kalaimamani” Narthaki Nataraj

“Narthaki Nruthya Kalalaya”.

Time: 5.30pm – “Swati Tirunal Samarpanam” – A Thematic presentation by

Smt. Sujatha Mohan & Smt. Sardha Sethuraman.

Time: 6.00pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. Nithya S. Ramamurthy (USA)

Disciple of Smt. Sudha Chandrasekhar.

Time: 7.00pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. J. Janet (Trichy)

Disciple of Smt. Vijaya Mukundan.

Time: 8.00pm – Felicitation Function

Friday - 4 – 1 – 2008

Chief Guest – Smt. Sumathi Sriram

Faculty at “Bharata Kalanjali”.

Time: 5.30pm – Sloka Chanting by Smt. Nalini Ramaprasad & Group

of “Sri Matha Samarpanam”.

Time: 6.00pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. Malavika Suresh (Botswana)

Disciple of Smt. Hema Rajaraman.

Time: 7.00pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. Maheetha Bharadwaj (USA)

Disciple of “Padmashri” Adyar K. Lakshman.

Time: 8.00pm – Felicitation Function

Saturday - 5 – 1 – 2008

Chief Guest – “Nrithya Kala Nipuna” Shri. V. Balagurunadhan

Faculty at “Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society”.

Time: 5.00pm – Special Concert

Carnatic Music - Vocal by Chi. A. Arvind (Karaikal)

Disciple of Shri. Thirukannapuram Shankar.

Time: 6.00pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. K. Niranthary (Chennai)

Disciple of Smt. Vijaya Mukundan.

Time: 7.00pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. Shraddha Nagaraj (Mumbai)

Disciple of Smt. Lata Rajesh.

Time: 8.00pm – Felicitation Function

Sunday - 6 – 1 – 2008

Chief Guest – Smt. Ambika Buch

Retd. Senior Professor of Dance “Kalakshetra”.

Time: 5.00pm – Special Concert

Keyboard by Kum. Maheetha Bharadwaj (USA)

Disciple of Shri. Vittal Ramamoorthi.

Time: 6.00pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. Srividvatha Sridhar (New Delhi)

Disciple of Smt. Saroja Vaidyanathan.

Time: 7.00pm – Special Concert

Bharatanatyam by Kum. Pooja Kumar (USA)

Disciple of Shri. A. Lakshman.

Time: 8.00pm – Felicitation Function

Audience to all Mylapore trios programs are welcome in Indian Traditional Attire…

S.Surendranath, S.Amarnath, S.Aparna & Members of the Foundation…

Address for communication:

New No. 5, Old No. 3, 1st Floor, Third Trust Link Street,

Mandavelipakkam, Chennai – 600028. Tamilnadu. India.

Ph.: 9382698811 / 9381038385 / +91-44-24935521

Upcoming Contests and Events

6th Year - MARGAZHI BALA UTSAVAM

Competitions & Participation - Registration from 25th December, 2007 onwards

SRI SUMUKHI RAJASEKHARAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

The “ MYLAPORE TRIO ” proudly presents the Mylapore Tradition & Culture.

Calling all Individuals, Groups, Organisations & Institutions to showcase their talents in this festival.

Age Category: (Sub.Jr. / Jr. & Sr. – has been divided as two Categories each, as Section A & Section B)

(Sub.Jr. – UKG, I Std. Sec. – A & II, III Std. Sec. - B), (Jr. – IV, V Std. Sec. – A & VI, VII Std. Sec. – B),

(Sr. – VIII, IX Std. Sec. – A & X, XI Std. Sec. – B), (Sup. Sr. – XII to UG, Sec. – A)

Selection tests only for Bharatanatyam, Keerthanai & Instrument, at the Foundation Premises

on 30th Dec. 2007, & 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 14th & 16th Jan. 08 ( Time: 10 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. ) (Choose your Date)

Registration for other Competitions begins from 25th Dec. 2007.

1. COMPETITION :-

a) Solo :- * Keerthanai * Thirupaavai * Thiruvempaavai * Bhajan * Bharatanatyam

* Maa Kolam * Flower Kolam * Junk Art * Mehandi * Hand Writing

Common Topic for the following :– “Pancha Bhoothas”

* Painting (5 elements of Nature) * Eassy Writing (Religious, Scientific, Ecological aspects etc…)

* Oratorical (Uses & Hazards) * Story Telling (Sthala Puranas) * Fancy Dress (History & Mythology)

b) Group :- * Devotional Music (Min. 5 to Max 10 Participants, including Two Instruments)

2. PARTICIPATION :- (Solo / Group) * Slokam * Instrument * Music Cutchery

3. PRIZES :-

* Mementos for all Participants / The best 3 & Consolation prizes with Certificates only for the Winners.

4. SPECIAL PRIZES :-

* Multi Talent / Talent Prize for the best Boy & Girl who bags the maximum number of Prizes

under each Age Category, for this, one must take part in atleast 5 Competitions to win this Special Prize.

5. TITLES & AWARDS – Bushan / Vibushan & Brahmam :- (for Balas, Yuvas & Guru) :-

Talented children & youth will be conferred Titles in the field of Dance, Music & Instumental. *Conditions Apply.

ROLLING TROPHY (Gold Coated “Swarna Kalas”- Temple Golden Kalasam) :-

* Is awarded to the institution whose students get selected for the Final Event (Participation & Competition)

in large numbers. ‘Smt. R. Nagammal “SWARNA KALAS” Rolling Trophy”. *Conditions Apply.

Competition Dates – 19th, 20th, 26th & 27th Jan.’08 at Lady Sivaswamy Girls Hr. Sec. School, Mylapore.

Prize distribution & Award Function on 2nd Feb.’08 – Sri Dakshinamurthy Auditorium, Mylapore.

A Registration Fee of Rs. 50/- is charged per individual, for the Final Event in each category (Solo & Group)

for both Competition & Participation. (Selection Test - No Entry Fee)

Contact:- S. Surendranath, Ph: 9382698811 / 9381038385 / 24935521. Website: www.srimylaporetrio.in

New No.5, Old No.3, (Ist Floor)Third Trust Link Street, Mandavelipakkam, Chennai – 600 028.

(Near HDFC Bank, Santhome High Road) EMail: sri_srmf@yahoo.com , srimylaporetrio@gmail.com

Visit: www.narthaki.com , www.kutcheribuzz.com/ebrochures/sumukhi

P.N: Traditional Attire is mandatory on all days, for all Participants & Others – for Prelims, Finals & Valediction…

Boys: Kurtha, Pyjama, Dhoti, Shirt. (No Shorts, Pants, Jeans, T. Shirt)

Girls: No sleeveless - (Sub.Jr./Jr.) – Paavaadai, Chokka. (Sr./Sup.Sr.) – Paavaadai, Dhaavani, Saree.

Common for all Girls - Hair Style: Single Plait (no lose hair). No Fancy Bindhis.

Pottu – only in Red colour / Min. Size: 8mm Round or Thilakam.

Parents, Relatives, Friends & Rasikas will be entertained only in Traditional Attire – both for Prelims & Finals.

(Women – Only in Saree / Men – Only in Dhoti, Pant, Shirt, Pyjama, Kurtha - No Jeans, T. Shirt)

5th Foundation Anniversary

To commemorate the occasion, Aacharya Awards presented to Stalwarts in Dance & Music.

& Thyagarajar's Pancharatna Kritis are rendered, on 3rd February 2008.

Login to our website to know more about us: www.srimylaporetrio.in
· Visit us at www.narthaki.com / www.kutcheribuzz.com/ebrochures/sumukhi
· Email: sri_srmf@yahoo.com / srimylaporetrio@yahoo.com

Mailing Address:
S. Surendranath, New No. 5, Old No. 3, Third Trust Link Street,
1st Floor, Mandavelipakkam, Chennai – 600028. Tamilnadu. India.
For more Details contact us at 9382698811 / 9381038385 / +91-44-24935521

So what’s new?

What exactly makes a presentation novel? Three young dancers share their views with Gowri Narayanan in their interview featured in the Hindu.

" Except for the stars with assured audiences, dancers know that the margam, however well-honed, and in the best style, has few takers, unless framed differently. Apart from the natural changes that come in with the times, and personal growth in life and art, dancers are compelled to recognise that the tag of novelty is vital. ‘Mammudha,’ not ‘Manmatha’. Packaging is all.

How do artists satisfy their own urge to create without forcing themselves to do something offbeat for novelty’s sake? Bharatanatyam artists Sheejith Krishna and Gayathri Balagurunathan from Kalakshetra have been recognised for their group and individual choreography. Gayathri has also worked with the innovative Sarabhais at Darpana Academy, Ahmedabad.

Both have premiering works this season: in ‘Masquerade’ at Kalakshetra, Sheejith transforms Alexandre Dumas’ novel into Tamil dance drama, while Gayathri’s ‘Aran Adal’ is her take on the eternal theme at Hamsadhwani. After ‘Mammudha’ premiered this season, lawyer K.S.Anirudha is best known as the lyricist and mastermind behind the dance drama.

All three snatch time between their rehearsals and shows to share their personal take on that eternal conundrum: so what’s new?

Sheejith begins, “Bharatanatyam is as much my language as my spoken tongue, to interact with students, audiences, and myself. As I try to communicate better with it, the ‘new’ happens, naturally. But this ‘new’ has to fascinate me first.”

For K.S.Anirudha novelty is variety in presentation and brevity in content. “Today if someone narrates the whole Ramayana in two hours for ‘En Pallikondirayya,’ the audience will either sleep or exit.”Less depth and layers, but how many viewers are knowledgeable enough to regret that?

“Whether people understand or not, I like to stay within the classical, the aesthetic,” Sheejith interpolates. “But what’s classical? Once they called Therukoothu folk, now it’s classical,” Anirudha argues. “Be truthful to the grammar of the form, and do everything you like within it,” Sheejith counters. Gayathri laughs, “You need sound foundation in the grammar for such new take offs! Trying new things is not just to please others, it’s to learn so much more.”

Familiar but unperceived

A new world opens when alphabets are combined to make words, sentences and paragraphs. “Finding the language makes you identify its spirit and pull it out into light,” says Sheejith. ‘New’ can be something familiar, but hitherto unperceived.

Sheejith believes that Bharatanatyam is not confined to Hindu thought, mythology and epics alone. Any ambience or culture can be depicted by this universal genre. Anirudha who has used multi-arts and multi-genres in his work warns, “Not unless it sheds Carnatic music.” Sheejith has to agree. Has he not used an orchestra for his ‘Masquerade’? Its Mohanam is something else.

With greater exposure to the global world, novelty is an elusive, even illusive concept. Fusions, blends, blurring borders are all natural corollaries of widening frontiers. From her Darpana days Gayathri knows that even old wine in new bottles will have different flavours. “In Mrinalini and Mallika Sarabhai’s choreography, Kurukshetra echoed female foeticide, dalit oppression and terrorism. We found our identity as individual dancers from different stylistic backgrounds as we drew our feelings within that boundary.” All three agree that media support is essential for survival.

Think different and you instigate change and progress. A Thota Tharani Ganesha is a splash of colour, unlike anything from temple wall or Thanjavur painting. “But it makes you think, you can’t take it for granted,” agrees Anirudha. This demands an open mind. “For any experiment I expect sympathy, tolerance and ‘biaslessness’ from audiences,” he insists.

Adds Gayathri, “And the patience to watch!” She believes that clarity in thought and getting that thought in the body will find its target. “Do it for yourself first,” warns Sheejith. “Work hard,” comments Anirudha, and muses, “But mediocre work is also practised hard. So who’s to say what’s good?”

Sheejith answers at once, “Definitely I’m doing good work. I trust my intuition. I’ve to be clever like a journalist or politician to communicate my message, can’t cheat. The audience — lay or informed — has to take something back: values.”

“Aha!” exults Anirudha. “You’re coming to my side: make it accessible, lokadharmi.” Gayathri laughs, “I believe in spirituality, meditative spirituality beyond creeds. It will touch hearts, unfailingly.”

Upcoming Artist Intro

This is the thread for talented upcoming artist introduction.