It was 545am on this chilly margazhi morning. It was still dark.
The flower decoration at the chess square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore welcomed the young M. Sruthi Ranjani, the 14 year old student of The Hindu Senior Secondary School, who arrived with her parents all excited ahead of her first mikeless Kutcheri.
It was also a milestone at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park series. Sruthi Ranjani’s lively mikeless Kutcheri marked the completion of four years of Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance.
Over 250 Participants
Launched in the first week of February 2006 with a Group Kutcheri by over 10 Vishwa Vidyalaya Students from Vandalur, Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park has served as a platform for over 250 children aged below 15 years to display their musical talent. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. Several children for whom the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park was the first Kutcheri have gone on to greater heights during these four years.
There have also been a few overseas children who have participated in this series. In addition to vocal carnatic music kutcheri, one has also seen solo violin performances, keyboard presentations and Veena recital as well in these four years.
Accompanied by G. Karthikeyan on the Violin and T.R.S. Manikandan on the Mridangam, Sruthi Ranjani began with Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar’s Vanajaakshi( Kalyani-Aadhi).
Sruthi's Presentation
Sruthi Ranjani’s presentation of songs such as Deekshidhar’s MahaGanapathim( Nattai- Eka), Thyagarajar’s Aadda Modi Galade (Chaarukesi –Aadhi), Papanasam Sivam’s Idathu Padam (Kamas-Aadhi) and Chidambara Deekshithar’s Kandavarku (Kunthala Varali - Aadhi) drew much appreciation from early morning audience that had gathered around the Chess Square.
Her presentation of MuthuSwamy Deekshithar’s Venkatachalapathe (Karnataka Kapi- Aadhi ) had the audience tapping in to her music.
Sruthi finished her first mikeless Kutcheri with Purandara Dasa’s Tamboori Meeti Thara (Revathi-Aadhi).
Sruthi Ranjani is learning music from Smt. Vimala Parthasarathy.
TT Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd., was present on the occasion and handed over mementos and certificates to the performing artistes.
Sundaram Finance audition committee conducts an audition to select the artistes to perform at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.
For audition, email sundaykutcheri@gmail.com
