Srinivasaraghavan Lifetime Achievement Award

Unflinching Commitment to Society, a Record Breaking Mikeless Kutcheri and Phenomenal growth in business earns TT Srinivasaraghavan, MD, Sundaram Finance the Lifetime Achievement award at the Trinity Arts Festival

Dedicates the Award to 'Team Sundaram'

While commending his contribution to the business - Sundaram Finance under Srinivasaraghavan’s dynamic leadership saw phenomenal growth and earned the distinction as one of India’s most trusted NBFCs with best in class ratings in Fixed Deposits, Long Term and Short Term borrowings - the award Citation pointed to his commitment to the Society.                                  

It was a revolutionary never before heard concept on the Indian Music Scene. An open air kutcheri at a public park without mikes and speakers in an informal atmosphere with the audience seated around the artiste  - 'Mikeless Kutcheri in the Park' as it has now come to be called. Will artistes be interested to perform in such a Kutcheri sans mikes?

The Launch in February 2006

Just over 12 years ago, on the first Sunday of February 2006, Srinivasaraghavan launched the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park for children making it a monthly feature "We chose to focus on young children - ‘catch them young’ - and restricted it to children below 15 years as we believed it would help them shed their inhibitions and give them the confidence to move up to the next level. To us, the first Sunday of every month is their ‘Day’. The young children are the ‘stars’ of the show. For most children, this is their first Kutcheri." 

                                                 

A committee from Sundaram Finance conducts an audition to select the students. Certificate and memento are presented to the artistes.

While there were voices that pushed for mikes and speakers, Srinivasaraghavan stuck to his stated position "We did not want to disturb the peace of the morning walkers with loud music and hence consciously stayed away from mikes and speakers. We have to be conscious and mindful of the fact that we operate in a public place. It would be presumptuous on our part to assume that all of them are lovers of carnatic music. Therefore the first thing we decided was ‘No mikes No speakers’. We decided to do it in a confined space, whereby those who are interested can come seeking this but we will not impose this on someone who doesn’t necessarily want to be bothered by carnatic music. Also, being an open-air kutcheri, amidst falling leaves and curious birds chirping around the park, we believed that we would be able to bring out the best in the children if they performed without the help of mikes and speakers."

In the initial phase of the launch, "we wondered if the participants would really like this concept and if we would have enough interest in this ‘never before tried out mikeless open air format’."

But very soon and frankly quite unexpectedly, the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park encountered a happy problem. Applications poured in and there was a serious backlog that the children who had cleared the audition.In fact the demand from prospective artistes increased so dramatically that Sundaram Finance expanded the Kutcheri concept to include a three day Navarathri special every year.
       
Nostalgic memories                                 
10 years after she performed with her friend Sagarika in February 2008, Anjana Venkataramanan
(Photograph above) still cherishes the memento that she received from TT Srinivasaraghavan that morning at the Nageswara Rao Park.

Says her mother, Geetha Venkataramanan ( the Editor of The Hindu, Friday Review), "It has faded, almost tearing at the edges but Anjana would not remove it from her cupboard door. It has been stuck there for 10 years - the review with that photo and the memento. Nostalgic memories of the Kutcheri!!!" 

                                            

Murali Raghavan, Convener of the Trinity Arts Festival said that it was this persuasive long term commitment of Srinivasaraghavan to provide opportunities to budding musical talent and making this a launch pad for children aged below 15 that led to over 1200 children getting opportunities to sing at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. Many of whom have gone on to scale higher peaks in the musical arena."

A decade after the launch of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park, the Limca Book of Records, after an exhaustive study and analysis, included the Mikeless Kutcheri in the Records Books for being the longest running open air Mikeless Kutcheri in India.

                                  

In his award acceptance speech, Srinivasaraghavan said, “All evening I have been sitting here wondering why I am here. You have a whole bunch of extraordinarily talented people who have achieved so much individually in their chosen field. All of them received awards because they are outstanding individuals. The award that I have received has very little to do with me the individual. I am very humbled by this recognition. However, this award belongs to all my colleagues who constitute Team Sundaram. I receive it as the captain of the team."

                                        

T. T. Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd., was presented the Life Time Achievement award by N Ravi, Chairman, Press Trust of India at a function held at the RR Sabha in Mylapore, Madras on Friday evening at the inauguration function of the Trinity Arts Festival.

Flute Kutcheri Advaith

Enthralls Park audience with a confident performance

13 year old R. S. Adhvaith (Disciple of K. V. Ramanujam) presented a lively Flute Kutcheri this Sunday (Dec 2) morning between 7am and 8am at the chess square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. Mikes and speakers are not used at the Kutcheri in the Park. Accompanied on the Violin by D. Shyam Ragav and on the Mirudangam by V Balaji, Adhvaith enthralled the audience comprising of morning park walkers and kutcheri regulars with his flute rendition. Adhvaith presented compositions that included Mahaganapathim (Naatai/Adi), Saadinchaney (Aarabhi/Aadi), Saabapathihu (Aabhogi /Rupakam) and Anupama Gunabhothi (Aatana/Kandachapu).

Vasantha Rajagopal, a regular at the Sunday Kutcheri said that “playing an instrument at such a young age in front of a big audience can be challenging. It was a great opportunity for the boy to showcase his talent this morning. This presentation in front of an informal audience will help him develop as a musician. I commend Sundaram Finance for providing opportunities to young artistes aged below 15 years to present such Kutcheris at the Nageswara Rao Park.”

Another regular walker at the park said that he usually turns up late for the morning walk every day of the month “On the first Sunday of every month, I start my walk early so I can watch such talented young artistes perform at the Mikeless Kutcheri.” Bhuvaneswari, who was present this morning at the Chess Square to watch the Mikeless Kutcheri said “the flute recital of Adhvaith was a treat to the ears.” G Harikrishnan, GM, Sundaram Finance presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Gurupreethi presents Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

14 year old G. Gurupreethi, student of Vidwan Dr. B. Umashankar, presented a lively Mikeless Kutcheri on a cloudy Sunday (Nov 4) morning between 7am and 8am at the chess square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore.

Accompanied on the Violin by D. Shyam Ragav and on the Mirudangam by Yashwanth Ravi, Gurupreethi enthralled the audience comprising of morning park walkers and kutcheri regulars with compositions that included Thyagarajar’s Ethari Sancha (Shruthi Ranjani/Deshadhi), Ninne Bhajana (Nattai/Adi) and Narasimha (Bilahari /Misra Chapu), Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s Sri Kamalambige ( Sri Ragam/ Kanda Ekam), Shyama Sastry’s Himadri Sudhe ( Kalyani/ Adi) and Devi Sri Kamakshi (Bairavi/Adi) and Bharathiyar’s Saaga Varam Arulvai (Behag/Roopakam).

N Sriraman, Sr. GM, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Navarathri Kutcheri in the Park completes 10 years

Around 1200 children aged below 15 years have presented Kutcheri in the Park

On the third and final day on Sunday (Oct 14) morning, 14 year old Shriya Vishnuram, a student of PSBB Nungambakkam presented a one hour ‘Mikeless Kutcheri’, accompanied on the violin by T Kishore and on the Mirudangam by G. N. Bhuvanasundaran. Applauded all the way by an informal park audience comprising of morning walkers and kutcheri regulars, Shriya presented compositions that included Bala Murali Krishna’s Amma Ananda Dayini (Gambheeranattai/Adi), Muthuswami Dikshithar’s Kamalaam Baambhajare (Kalyani/Adi) and Madurai Sreenivasan’s Karunai Deivamey (Sindhu Bhairavi /Adi).

C Muralidharan, Sr. GM, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

On the completion of 10 years of Navarathri Kutcheri in the Park, TT Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance said, “In the initial phase of the launch of the monthly Sunday Kutcheri in the Park, we wondered if the participants would really like this concept and if we would have enough interest in this ‘never before tried out mikeless open air format’. But very soon and frankly quite unexpectedly, we encountered a happy problem. Applications poured in and we had a serious backlog of the children who had cleared the audition. And that’s when we decided 10years ago to expand this format to include a 3day Navarathri Special Kutcheri in the Park. Honestly we did not expect this kind of positive response. Thus, we now have the monthly Sunday Kutcheri in the Park, ‘Navarathri Special’ Kutcheri in the Park and Concert in the Park as part of the annual Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival. Around 1200 children have presented concerts at the Kutcheri in the Park.”

Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes aged below 15years for the monthly Kutcheri in the Park. To apply, email: sundaykutcheri@sundaramfinance.in

Ananya presents Navarathri Kutcheri

On day two of the three day Navarathri Kutcheri in the Park series organized by Sundaram Finance, 12 year old N. Ananya Ranganayaki, a student of Guru Smt. Bhagyalakshmi Suresh presented a mikeless Kutcheri. She was accompanied on the Violin by Chittoor Bhargava Vignesh and on the Mirudangam by Abhinav Kailasam.

Ananya presented compositions that included Girirajasuta (Bangala / Deshadhi), Jaya Jaya ( Nattai / Kandachapu), Sri Shankara ( Nagaswaravali / Rupakam) and Arabhi Manam ( Ragamalika / Adhi).

G Sundararajan, CFO, Sundaram Home Finance presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Vaishnavee Kicks off Navarathri Kutcheri

On day one of the three day Navarathri Kutcheri in the Park series organized by Sundaram Finance, 14 year old S Vaishnavee presented a lively one hour ‘Mikeless Kutcheri’ this Friday morning between 7am and 8am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. This is the 10th Edition of the Navarathri Kutcheri in the Park.

Vaishnavee, who is learning from Guru T.R Vasudevan, was accompanied on the Violin by T. Kishore and on the Mirudangam by V.G. Vishwesh. With the early morning sun beating down on her face through the branches of the tall tree at the Nageswara Rao Park, Vaishnavee presented compositions that included Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s Gajananayutham (Chakravakam Ragam/Adi Thalam), Thyagarajar’s Adamodigalade (Charukesi/Adi), Shyamashastri’s Mayamma (Aahiri/ Adi) and Papanasam Sivan’s Kana vendamo (Sri Ranjani-Adi). P Viswanathan, Company Secretary, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Thushara presents Sunday Kutcheri

Amidst chirping birds and falling leaves, 14 year old R Thushara, a class X student of PS Sr. Sec School presented a lively Mikeless Kutcheri on Sunday (September 2) morning between 630am and 730am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. It was her debut Kutcheri performance.

Thushara, who is learning music from Guru Palakkad R Ramprasad, was accompanied on the Violin by Thirucherai Karthik (Disciple of Sri V. L. Kumar) and on the Mirudangam by Punnar T. R. Arvind Kaushik (Disciple of Sri Mannargudi A. Eswaran).

Appreciated through the one hour by an informal audience comprising of morning park walkers and Sunday Kutcheri regulars, Thushara presented compositions that included Pranamamyaham (Gowla/Adi), Guru Lekha (Gowri Manohari/ Khanda Chapu), Sri Ranganatham (Poornachandrika/ Adi), Gnanamosagaradha (Poorvikalyani/Roopakam) and Maa Ramanan (Hindolam/ Roopakam). N Sriraman, Senior GM, Sundaram Finance presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Launched in February 2006, the idea of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park, organized by Sundaram Finance on the first Sunday of every month, is to provide opportunities to young budding talent aged below 15 years to present in an open air environment without the aid of mikes and speakers. The Sunday Kutcheri has served as a launch platform for over 1200 children to showcase their talent in an informal park setting over the last 12 years. The Mikeless Kutcheri in the Park has featured in the Limca Book of Records for the longest running open air Kutcheri for children. Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes to present the Mikeless Kutcheri. To apply for the audition, email details to sundaykutcheri@sundaramfinance.in

Raam Manikandan presents Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

12 year old Raam Manikandan, a Class VIII student of PSBB School, Siruseri presented a lively Mikeless Kutcheri this Sunday (August 5) morning between 630am and 730am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. Mikes and speakers are not used at the Kutcheri in the Park.

Raam, who is learning music from Prof. P. P. Ramakrishnan, was accompanied on the Violin by N. Madan Mohan (Disciple of Sri R.K. Sriramkumar) and on the Mirudangam by Sabareesh G. Sreenivas (Disciple of Sri A.V. Manikandan).

Applauded by a big Sunday morning audience that gathered around the Chess Square, Raam presented compositions that included Thyagarajar’s Vasudevayani (Kalyani/Adi) and Ninnu Nera Nammbi Naanura (Panthuvarali/Rupakam), Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s Hari Hara Puthram ( Vasantha/ Khanda Jaathi Eka Talam) and Saarasa Dala Nayanaa ( Khamas/ Chathurasra Jaathi Jhampa Talam) and Bharathiyar’s Nenjil Uramum Inri (Kavadi Chindu/Adi).

P Viswanathan, Company Secretary, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

US Student Aadhya presents Mikeless Kutcheri

12 year old Aadhya Sridharan, a class VIII student of Valley Academy, Phoenix, Arizona, USA presented a Mikeless Kutcheri this Sunday (July 1) morning between 630am and 730am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. US

Aadhya, who is learning music from Guru Smt. Vijayalakshmi Balaji, was accompanied on the Violin by V Sai Priyadarshni and on the Mirudangam by Anirudh Sriram.

Aadhya presented compositions that included Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s Swaminatha Paripalayamam (Nattai / Aadi), Parvathi Pathim ( Hamsadwani/Aadi) and Ekambresa Nayike (Karnataka Sudha Saveri / Aadi), Annamacharya’s Sriman Narayana (Bowli / Aadi) and Narayanathe (Behaag/ Aadi),Thyagarajar’s Kaalaharana (Suddha Saveri/Roopakam) and Papanasan Sivan’s Enna Thavam (Kaapi/ Aadi). R Harikrishnan, GM, Sundaram Finance presented certificates to the artistes.

Vasumathy presents Sunday Kutcheri

As part of the monthly Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance, 14 year old V Vasumathy, a class X student of PSBB, KK Nagar presented a Mikeless Kutcheri this Sunday (June 3) morning between 630am and 730am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore.

Vasumathy, who is learning music from Guru Smt. Akila Siva, was accompanied on Violin by Chithoor V Bargavavignesh (Disciple of Chithoor Sri. C K Vijayaraghavan) and on the Mirudangam by Anirudh Sriram (Disciple of Chrompet Sri G. Suresh Deekshith).

Watched by an informal park audience seated around the Chess Square, Vasumathy presented compositions that included Mooladhara Murti (Hamsadwani), Baala Sarasa Murali (Keeravani), Ninnu Nera Naminanu (Kaamavardhani), Saroja Dalanetri (Shakarabharanam) and Rama Naama (Ananda Bhairavi).

R. Harikrishnan, GM, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Asmita presents Summer Kutcheri in the Park

12 year old Asmita Padmanabhan, a Class VIII student of Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Adyar presented a lively Kutcheri in the Park this Sunday (May 6) morning between 630am and 730am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. Mikes and speakers are not used at the Kutcheri in the Park. Asmita, who is learning music from Smt. Bhagyalakshmi Suresh (Ganapriya School of Music), was accompanied on the Violin by Chithoor V Bargavavignesh (Disciple of Chithoor C K Vijayaraghavan) and on the Mirudangam by S Aniruddh (Disciple of R Suresh).

Asmita presented compositions that included Vinayaka Ninnu (Hamsadwani/Adi), Sri Saraswathi (Saraswathi/Roopakam), Jagadaananda Karaka (Naatai/Adi), Ananda Natam Aaduvar (Poorvi Kalyani/ Roopakam) and Ammaye Appa (Mohanam/Adi). N. Sriraman, Sr. GM, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Sunday Kutcheri in the Park was launched in February 2006 with the idea of providing opportunities to young budding talent aged below 15 years to present in front of an informal park audience amidst chirping birds and falling leaves, without mikes and speakers. The Kutcheri in the Park takes place on the first Sunday of every month. Around 1200 children have been part of the Kutcheri in the Park series over the last 12 years. Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes to present the Mikeless Kutcheri. For details, email: sundaykutcheri@sundaramfinance.in Follow Sunday Kutcheri on Facebook: facebook/sundaykutcheriinthepark

Harini presents a lively Mikeless Kutcheri in the Park

14 year old Harini Rangarajan, a class X student of Harishree Vidyalayam, presented a lively Mikeless Kutcheri this Sunday (April 1) morning between 630am and 730am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore.

Applauded by a big Sunday morning audience that gathered around the Chess Square, Harini presented compositions that included Shri Balasubramanyaya (Bilahari/ Misra Chapu), Maravairi Ramani (Nasika Bushani / Adi), Sevikka Vendum (Andolika/Adi) and Bhuvaneshwariya (Mohana Kalyani /Adi).

R Harikrishnan, GM & Head, TN (South), Sundaram Finance presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Shwetha delights Park audience with Thyagarajar’s compositions

11 year old K Shwetha Charan, a class VI student of National Public School, Gopalapuram presented a lively Mikeless Kutcheri this Sunday (March 4) morning between 7am and 8am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. Mikes and speakers are not used at the Kutcheri in the Park. Shwetha, who is learning music from Smt. Indira Raghavan, was accompanied on the Violin by Sangeetha Parthasarathy (Disciple of I. Venkatesvaralu) and on the Mirudangam by Ajeet Sridhar (Disciple of Chromepet G. Suresh). Shwetha presented compositions that included Thyagarajar’s Marukelara (Jayanthi Shri / Aathi), Yosanaa (Darbar/ Aathi), Rama Rama Nivaaramu (Anatha Bairavi / Aathi), Koluvai ( Deva Gandhari/Aathi) and Rama Ninnu ( Mohanam / Aathi), Muthuswami Dikshithar’s Ramachandram (Vasantha / Roopakam) and Papanasam Sivan’s Naan Oru Vilaiyaattu ( Navarasa Kannada/ Aathi). P. Viswanathan, Company Secretary, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Jayendra Kumar presents a lively Mikeless Kutcheri

14 year old Jayendra Kumar, a class X student of Vidya Mandir, Mylapore presented a lively Mikeless Kutcheri on Sunday (Feb 4) morning between 7am and 8am at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. The Kutcheri marked the beginning of the 13th year of the Sunday Kutcheri that was launched in February 2006.

Jayendra Kumar, who is learning music from Smt. Padmini Ravi, was accompanied on the Violin by M B Divya (Guru B U Ganesh Prasad) and on the Mridangam by A Rohit (Guru Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam). Jayendra presented compositions that included Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s Swaminatha Paripalayasumaam (Naattai/Adi) and Subrahmanyena Rakshithoham (Suddha Dhanyasi /Adi), Saint Thyagaraja’s Vidajaladura (Janaranjani /Adi) and Ninne nera Namminanura (Panthuvarali/ Roopakam), Shyama Shastri’s Marivere gathi (Ananda Bhairavi / Misra Chapu) and Subramanya Bharathi’s Vellai Thaamarai (Bhimplas/Adi). V Kumaraswamy, Head- Deposits, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Sunday Kutcheri completes 12 years

1200 children have presented the Mikeless Kutcheri to-date 25 Students from PS Senior Sec School present a lively Group Kutcheri on the final day of the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival

Launched in February 2006, the monthly Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance has completed 12 years this Sunday (Jan 7).

On the occasion of the final day of the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival 2018, around 25 students from PS Senior Sec School, Mylapore presented a one hour Group Mikeless Kutcheri at the Nageswara Rao Park in front of a big Sunday morning audience that gathered around the chess square. Spoorthi Rao, who won the Super Singer, was among the artistes who presented the Group Kutcheri today.

The students presented compositions that included Vathapi Ganapathin(Hamsadhwani/Adi), Kanavendamo (Sri Ranjani /Rupakam), Vanchasi Yadhi Kushalam (Kalyani / Adi), Sri Valli Devesenapathe (Natabairavi / Adi), Telisi Rama (Poornachanarika / Adi), Rama Rama Raghava (Ragamalika / Adi) and Nee Irangadhenil (Atana / Adi).

Speaking on the occasion, TT Srinivasaraghavan, MD, Sundaram Finance said ‘When we launched the Kutcheri in the Park 12 years ago, our idea was to make this a stepping stone for budding musical talent. I would like to think that the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park has played a small role in helping young ‘unsung’ children aged below 15 years shed the initial inhibition that we normally associate with stage performances by giving them a platform to showcase their talent. 1200 children have so far presented the Mikeless Kutcheri since the launch in February 2006. Many have gone on to the next level in their musical career. That for us is very heartening; those for whom we provided a platform, blossoming and moving on.’

On sticking to the Mikeless Kutcheri concept over this 12 year period, Srinivasaraghavan said, ‘During this period, we have had suggestions from the audience to convert this into the usual ‘Miked’ Kutcheri but we have resisted the temptation and stuck on to the ‘Mikeless Concept’ for we believed that an open-air kutcheri, amidst falling leaves and curious birds chirping around the park, would bring out the best in the children if they performed without the help of mikes and speakers.’

Also present at the park this morning was Arul Priya, an artiste who had come all the way from Dubai as a 13 year old and presented the Mikeless Kutcheri in 2008. She has now turned a music teacher and was present as the Guru of one of the students who presented the Group Kutcheri today.

Mylapore MLA R Natraj presented certificates to the artistes and a memento to the PS Sr. Sec School Music Teacher Latha Anantharaman. No Mikes and Speakers are used at the Kutcheri. The monthly Kutcheri in the Park is restricted to children aged below 15 years. A committee from Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes. The Kutcheri in the Park has also featured in the Limca Book of Records over the last two years as the longest open air Mikeless Kutcheri for children.

Hindu School Adyar students present Kutcheri in the Park

Students from Hindu Sr. Sec School, Adyar presented a Group Kutcheri in the Park on Saturday (Jan 6) morning.

M Ramaswamy, CFO, Sundaram Finance presented certificates to the artistes and a memento to the Guru.