Sruti and Jayshree Sarathy present mikeless ‘Kutcheri’ in Madras

First Kutcheri in India for the Calif based sisters

January 2008: California, US based sisters, 13 year old Sruti Sarathy and 11 year old Jayshree Sarathy, presented a carnatic music performance at the Mikeless Kutcheri organized by Sundaram Finance at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. This was their first ever Kutcheri in India.

Sisters Sruti and Jayshree have been learning Carnatic music, for the last 6 years at the Trinity Center for Music from Smt. Anuradha Sridhar, daughter and disciple of Lalgudi Srimathi Brahmanandam.

Says Mrs. Vatsala Sarathy, the mother of Sruti and Jayshree, "We heard, from our friends in the US, of Sundaram Finance’s Kutcheri in the Park and the platform they were providing for young musical talent in Chennai. I was keen that my kids participate in this prestigious and very different kind of Kutcheri.

We approached Sundaram Finance in November 2007 and sent them music audio files of Sruti and Jayshree via the internet. The audition team at Sundaram Finance was happy with their presentation of songs.”

On their first performance in India, Sruti and Jayashree said, “When we think of Chennai, we only think of kutcheris in the Sabhas. We have never heard of mikeless kutcheris and open air park kutcheris.”

“While we have given several music performances in the US, this is the first time we have performed in India. Also, this is the first time we have sung without mikes and speakers.

This was a different kind of experience for us. The audience was very close to us. Without the mike, we had to put in more effort and I think our voice came out much better.

We were really surprised by the big crowd that was present that early in the morning (630am) and their encouragement really motivated us to perform even better."

T.T. Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd., was present on the occasion and presented certificates and mementos to the performing artistes.

Varsha presents Mikeless Kutcheri at Nageswara Rao Park

The September 2008 edition of the Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park saw V. Varsha, a Class 9 student of SBOA Anna Nagar present an hour of carnatic vocal music performance at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on Sunday ( 8th September 2008) morning between 630am and 730am.

Varsha was accompanied by Priyamvadaa on the Violin and by Kaushik Rajagopal on the Mridangam.

Some of the songs Varsha presented were Namaami(Hamsadvani), Srirama(Naasika Bhooshani), Shivananda(Panthuvaraali) and Paripaalayamaam(Reethi Gowla).

Launched in February 2006, Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park takes place on the 1st Sunday of every month between 6.30am and 7.30am and is open for children below 15 years. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. Sundaram Finance’s audition committee conducts an audition to finalise the artistes.

The aim of the ‘Sunday Kutcheri in the Park’ is to provide a launch pad for young musical talent.

Those interested in participating in the Sunday Kutcheri can email: sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Sai Sahana presents a lively mikeless kutcheri

Monsoon rains stayed away. It was a cool morning. The Sun was just on the way up. One could hear the chirping of birds. The Chess Quadrangle at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore was decorated with flowers by 6am.

By 630am on Sunday (5th October 2008) morning, Sai Sahana, a Class 10 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya Ashok Nagar who had impressed the Sundaram Finance audition committee, was all ready for her first mikeless Kutcheri.

One found that many of the morning walkers had switched off their MP3s and audio players as they tuned their ears to the sweet ragas of Sai Sahana.

Other regulars to the Sunday Kutcheri sat around the Chess Square sipping their morning coffee while listening to Vatapi Ganapathim (Hamsadvani, Aadhi Thaalam), Sharavanabhava (Shanmughapriya, Aadhi) and Yengum Un Aruley (Kalyani, Aadhi Thaalam).

Sai Sahana was accompanied on the Violin by B Sudha and on the Mridangam by Mambalam Shekar. Sai Sahana has been learning carnatic music from Mrs. Lalitha Subramaniam.


TT Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance presented certificates and mementos to the performing artistes.

Morning Ragas from Suvasini at the Nageswara Rao Park

As part of the monthly mikeless ‘Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park’, 15 year old B. Suvasini, a student of SBSM Senior Secondary School, West Mambalam presented an hour of carnatic vocal music performance on Sunday morning (4th May 2008) at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore.

Suvasini was accompanied on the violin by Shyam and on the Mridangam by K.R. Narayen.

Some of the songs Suvasini presented were Kamkanapathey Namo Namo (Hamsadvani- Roopaka Thaalam), Karikalaapa Mukam (Saaveri- Thisra Ekam), Thikku Theriyaatha Kaatil (Raagamaaligai- Aathi Thaalam), Unnai Allaal Verey Gathi Illai Amma (Kalyani- Aathi Thaalam) and Thirupugazh (Shanmugapriya-Misra Saabu).

Bhavna presents carnatic music performance at Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

V.B. Bhavna, a class nine student of SBOA School Anna Nagar presented a vocal music performance at the Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park held at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on Sunday (3rd August 2008) morning between 630am and 730am.

Bhavna was accompanied by Thalaignayar S Harishkumar on the Mridangam and by J Shraddha Ravindran on the Violin.

Some of the songs Bhavna presented were Samana Rahite(Saranga Tarangini Ragam, Roopaka Thaalam), Thulasidhala (Maaya Malava Gowda, Roopaka Thaalam), Thathvam Ariya (Reeti Goulai, Aathi Thaalam)and Chinnan Chiru Kiliye(Raagmaalika).

Bhavna has been learning music under Shri Ajay Namboodiri, disciple of Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan. She has also been learning Violin for the past 5 years.

Paramesh Krishnaier and S.Sivakumar, Sundaram Finance after presenting certificates and mementos to the performing artistes.

Priyamvadaa presents violin performance at Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

Chinnan Chiru Kiliye and Theeraatha Vilaiaatu Pillai draw special appreciation

Over 100 morning walkers and music enthusiasts sat around the Chess Quadrangle of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on Sunday (1st June 2008) morning to watch R. Priyamvadaa, a student of Sri Sivaswami Kalalaya present an hour of carnatic music on the violin.

Priyamvadaa was accompanied by K. S. Ramana on the Mridangam and Chandra Sekara Sharma on the Ghatam.

Some of the songs Priyamvadaa played on the violin included Gajananayutham (Chakravaham Ragam, Aathi Thaalam), Pantu Rithi Kolu(Hamsanadam, Aathi Thaalam), Sobillu Sapthaswara (Jagan Mohini, Rupaka Thaalam), Sarasa Sama (Aathi Thaalam) Devi Neeye Thunai( Aathi Thaalam) and Jaggath Janani (Aathi Thaalam)

Her presentation of Chinnan Chiru Kiliye(Thisram Thaalam) and Theeraatha Vilaiaatu Pillai (Thisram Thaalam) drew special appreciation from the audience.

Priyamvadaa has been learning Violin from Akkarai Sri S Swaminathan. She is also learning Carnatic vocal music from Dr. Rukmini Ramani and Sri Ashok Ramani.

Priyamvadaa has also been an accompanist at several of Sunday Kutcheris organized by Sundaram Finance.

First Keyboard performance at Sunday Kutcheri

The April edition of Sunday Kutcheri saw a key board performance for the first time.

Mahathi Kishore, a 5th Standard student in DAV Girls Senior Secondary School, Gopalapuram, presented a carnatic music performance on the keyboard on Sunday morning (6th April 2008). Mahathi has been learning to play the keyboard for the last 3 years. Her present guru in Carnatic keyboard is Mr. Martin.

She was accompanied on the Ghatam by Sri Ammangudi S Ramanarayan, a disciple of Sri Umayalapuram Sri. K. Sivaraman and on the Mridangam by Sri Madurai D Sundar, a disciple of Sri Umayalapuram Sri. K. Sivaraman.

S. Sivakumar, VP, Sundaram Finance presenting certificate and mementos to Mahitha Kishore.

Anjana and Saagarika at the mikeless Sunday Kutcheri

The first Sunday of February 2008 saw two 15 year olds, from two different schools, come together to present a vocal carnatic music performance. V. Anjana, studying in P S Senior Sec School, Mylapore and Saagarika Sridhar, studying in The Ashram School, performed at mikeless Sunday Kutcheri organized by Sundaram Finance at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore.

Anjana and Saagarika have been learning music from Guru Prema Rangarajan.

They were accompanied on the Violin by Anupama Shankar and on the Mridangam by Kaushik Rajagopal.

T. T. Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd., was present on the occasion and presented certificates and mementos to the performing artistes.

Vidya Mandir Students perform at the Sunday Kutcheri

15 students from Vidya Mandir, Mylapore presented a vocal music performance on Sunday morning (2nd March 2008) at the monthly mikeless ‘Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park’ at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. These 15 children were accompanied by Shyam on the Violin, Shrikrishna & R. Varun on the Mridangam and by S. Krishna on the Ghatam.

Interestingly, these students, who have been learning music individually from different music teachers and have different music styles, were brought together and trained specifically for the Sunday Kutcheri.

Mrs. Harikripa Kannan, Maths Teacher at Vidya Mandir, who brought together these students for this Sunday Kutcheri said, “The early morning park ambience was very pleasant and conducive for a kutcheri. The mikeless kutcheri is an interesting and innovative concept. The children were very surprised when they were told that there would be no mikes and speakers but they enjoyed their first ever experience of a mikeless open air kutcheri.”


You Tube of Vidya Mandir Students at Sunday Kutcheri

Pammal School Students present Group Kutcheri

UKG Student part of the Kutcheri

For 20 students from Sri Sankara Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Pammal, Sunday morning (6th July 2008) was a big occasion.

These students started as early as 5am on their 20 km trip from Pammal, on the outskirts South of Madras, to the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore for their first Kutcheri in Chennai. One could see the enthusiasm and excitement in the eyes of these little children as they performed on the big stage for the first time.

The rendition of songs such as Sagala Ganaathipa(Aarabi raagam, Athi Thaalam- Dr. Bala Murali Krishnaa), Sri Valli Deva Senapathipathey (Papanasa Sivan), Sriman Narayana(Bowli Ragam, Athi Thaalam), Venkataasa Nilayam(Sindhu Bairavi Ragam-Athi Thaalam- Purandaradaasa), Kurai Onrum Illai and Maithreem Bajatha had the hundreds of people who had gathered around the Kutcheri chess square at Nageswara Rao Park tapping in synch with the music.

Mrs. Malathy Balakrishnan, Principal, Sankara Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Sec School Pammal, said “The Sunday Kutcheri is a unique concept providing opportunities for young children to present kutcheris in an open air environment, amidst a nice park setting.”

“This is the first time these children have presented a public carnatic music performance. Singing without mikes and speakers was a new experience for them and the performance at the Sunday Kutcheri would have given them the confidence to present more such public performances in the future.”

T. T. Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance said, “It is heartening to hear that these children put in long hours of hard work practicing as a team, ahead of the Sunday Kutcheri. Our objective is to provide opportunities to young children and the presence of an enthusiastic 5year old UKG student, as part of this music troupe, was particularly pleasing.”

Sri Sankara Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Sec School, Pammal was started in 1983 with an initial strength of 135 students. The school now is a full-fledged Higher Secondary School with 2700 students on its rolls in this Silver Jubilee Year.

Violin performance at the Sunday Kutcheri

It was a Sunday Kutcheri with a difference. Moving away from the usual carnatic music performance that one has been accustomed to on the first Sunday of every month, the November edition of the Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore saw 12 year old Sriram Sridhar, a 7th class student of Bharathi Vidyalaya, Perumbakkam, present a violin performance on Sunday morning (2nd November 2008).

Sriram has been learning Violin from Smt. Padma Sankar (disciple of Lalgudi Jayaraman). Sriram has also been training in Carnatic Vocal from Smt. Sankari Krishnan.

Sriram was accompanied on the Mridangam by V. Santhanagopalakrishnan and on the Ganjira by S. Balaji.

Some of the songs Sriram presented were Enna Thavam (Aadhi Thaalam, Kapi, P.Sivan), Kurai Onrum (Raagamaalika, Aadhi), Marivarey (Anandha Bairavi, Shyama Sastri) and Shobillu (JaganMohini, Rupakam, Thayagarajar).

In addition to this solo performance, Sriram has also been playing the role of a Violin accompanist in the ongoing Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

December Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

Morning walkers stay back to listen to Sharmiley

Winter was setting in. The early morning breeze was turning chilly. Thankfully, the monsoon rains stayed away from the December edition of the Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Amidst the chirping birds and the buzz of the early morning walkers at the park, R. Sharmiley, a student of NSN Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chromepet presented an hour of lively carnatic music performance at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on Sunday morning (7th December 2008).

Sharmiley was accompanied by N Ram on the Violin and by Santhosh Kumar on the Mridangam.

Beginning sharp at 630am, Sharmiley presented with flair popular songs such as Vathapi Ganapathi (Hamsadvini), Kurai Onrum Illai (Raagamaaliga), Sive Pahimam (Kalyani), and Prasanna Vadhani (Brindavani). Many in the park stayed back after their walk to listen to the sweet music by this young artiste.