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.

Group Mikeless Kutcheri

10 students, disciples of Guru Dr. Chitra Madhavan presented the Kutcheri in the Park on the 2nd morning of the 16th Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival.

The students presented compositions that included Gurulekha Etu ( Gowri Manohari/ Kanda Chapu), Mayil Vahanan ( Hindolam / Aadhi), Varaparachara ( Nattai / Aadhi), Rajagopalani ( Bimplas / Aadhi) and Arunachalamey ( Madhayamavathi / Aadthi).

PSBB students present Group Kutcheri

10 Students from PSBB, T. Nagar presented a one hour group Mikeless Kutcheri this (Jan 4) morning between 7am and 8am at the Nageswara Rao Park to kick off the 16th Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival 2018.

The students presented songs that included Papanasam Sivan’s Sri Ganesha Saranam (Tilang), Bharathiyar’s Boologam Kumari ( Bimplas), Purandaradasar’s Adi Dhano Ranga (Arabhi /Hamsanandhi) and Indhina Dinave (Surati), Arunagirinadhar’s Thamaru mamaru (Hameer Kalyani) and Narayana Theerthar’s Alokaye (Karaharapriya).

TT Srinivasaraghavan, MD, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates to the artistes and a memento to the Music teachers Mrs. Padmashree and Ms. Ammu.