The Sunday Kutcheri in the Park was re-launched on Sunday morning after a two year 'Pandemic Break'
Sundaram Finance MD Rajiv Lochan reaffirms commitment to continue the Mikeless Kutcheri Series
13 year old S Shwetha, the great granddaughter of Mridangam Vidwan Palghat Mani Iyer, was eagerly looking forward to presenting her first Mikeless Kutcheri on the first Sunday of April 2020 but the national lockdown in the last week of March that continued into the first fortnight of April meant that her dreams were dashed(https://sundaykutcheri.blogspot.com/2020/04/lockdown-sunday-kutcheri-cancelled.html).
It has been two years since the calling off of that Kutcheri in April 2020. Finally with the Pandemic behind us, Sundaram Finance decided to relaunch the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park under the leadership of the new MD Rajiv Lochan. After two years, the chess square was once again buzzing this Sunday (April 3) morning with a beautifully decorated flower kolam welcoming music connoisseurs to the re-launch of the Mikeless Kutcheri series.
Rajiv Lochan was at the Nageswara Rao Park by 6.45am. He was soon joined by former MD TT Srinivasaraghavan, the man who was instrumental in the launch of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park way back in February 2006.
In a way it was the handing over of the ‘Mikeless Kutcheri’ baton from TTS to Rajiv on Sunday. The re- launch also drew another surprise visitor. S Sivakumar, former VP of Sundaram Finance, had been present through the 14 years of the Sunday Kutcheri and was a key member of the audition team that chose artistes for the Kutcheri in that period. He came all the way from Pallikaranai in South Madras to be part of the re-launch.
Tippirajapuram's N. Sriraman, Head of Diesel Finance at Sundaram Finance, had been one who had not not missed a single Kutcheri in the years leading to the lockdown in March 2020. He too was present on Sunday morning. In his typical quiet way, he found a seat for himself right at the back and was seen encouraging the artiste right through till the end.
For 12 year old flautist P Viswanathan, it was his debut Mikeless Kutcheri and he was all excited to present all time popular songs with the audience that sat all around him. It was a new experience for him. As the Kutcheri gathered momentum, the morning walkers at the park stopped by to applaud the performance of the young artiste. By this time, as has been the practice through the first phase of the Kutcheri, hot coffee had also begun to be served to the audience.
Presents Popular hits
Accompanied on the Violin by Chittoor A Giridhar, disciple of CK Anand and on the Mridangam by B Sai Sundar, disciple of Prapancham Ravindran and under the watchful eyes of his Guru Chittoor K Pathanjali, who sat on the first row, Viswanathan presented songs that included Muthuswami Dikshithar’s Maha Ganapathim, Oothukadu Venkatasubiyer’s Alaipayuthe Kanna, Thyagarajar’s Ninnuvinna and Vasudevayanni and Purandaradasar’s Bagyadha Lakshmi Bharamma. The final song on the morning of the re-launch - Bharathiyar’s Chinnanchiru Kiliye - almost had the audience in tears.
Rajiv Lochan had high words of praise for Viswanathan and told him that the day of him performing at the Sabhas was not far off. Guru Chittor K Pathanjali was grateful for the opportunity presented to his student.
Rajiv reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the Kutcheri series at the Park “Sundaram Finance is committed to continuing the monthly Sunday Kutcheri in the Park series at the Nageswara Rao Park providing opportunities to talented artistes. In the first 14 years, the mikeless kutcheris had served as a stepping stone for many budding youngsters and our endeavour is to provide opportunities to children aged below 15 to showcase their musical talent and help them gain confidence by performing in an informal setting with the audience sitting around the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park.”
Srinivasaraghavan presented certificates and mementos to the artistes at the end of the Kutcheri.
Happy Memories
For TT Srinivasaraghavan, it was his first visit to the park in two years and expressed happiness at the re-launch of the Kutcheri “I am delighted to be back at the Nageswara Rao Park after two long years, for the resumption of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. This platform has served as a launch pad for several budding talents over the past several years and I look forward to many more of them commencing their musical journeys from this unique and charming environ, to the accompaniment of chirping birds and rustling leaves!”
“I vividly recall the inaugural kutcheri back in the year 2006 and it is my fond hope that we will continue to attract exciting young talent like Viswanathan who presented a flute recital this morning.”
He said that he was looking forward to 'Phase II' of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.
The buzz is back once again at the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park. In the coming months, more artistes aged below 15 will be showcasing their musical talent at this unique kutcheri sans mikes and speakers.
The Sunday Kutcheri in the Park is organised by Sundaram Finance on the first Sunday of every month between 7am and 8am.
