Ravi Narayanan presents a lively Mikeless Sunday Kutcheri

It is 530am on a chilly Sunday morning in December. The Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore, Madras is already buzzing with activity. It is the first Sunday of the month and we are just an hour away from the start of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park, an event organised by Sundaram Finance, that provides a platform for young children aged below 15 years to perform in an informal park setting.

By 6am, one could see the OB van of NDTV Hindu parked on the Luz Church Road, with their young reporter making all the arrangements and getting the satellite link with their studio in Perungudi, for the Channel to go live to audiences around the city.

Ravi Narayanan, a class IX student of Hindu Senior Secondary School, Indira Nagar walked in with his parents and the Violin and Mridangam artistes.

By 630am, the Kutcheri regulars had taken their seats on the stools around the Chess Square. And it was time for Ravi to present his first mikeless Kutcheri.The morning walkers too joined in after their walk to listen to the carnatic music performance.


Over the next hour, 14 year old Ravi presented some of popular compositions such as Syama Sastrigal’s Himadri Suthe (Kalyani- Rupakam), Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Hiranmayim (Lalitha-Rupakam), Mysore Vasudevacharya’s Mamavatu (Hindolam-Aadhi) and Papanasam Sivam’s Sri Ganesha (Thilang- Aadhi) that drew a big round of applause from the park audience.


NDTV Hindu features the Kutcheri LIVE


At around 715am, Ravi’s Kutcheri was put on hold for a few tense minutes as the NDTV correspondent introduced the Sunday Kutcheri concept and shortly after Ravi’s debut mikeless Kutcheri went live on NDTV Hindu to audiences across Madras. It was a big moment for Ravi and he handled admirably the pause in the momentum, that he had gathered over the last 45minutes, and recaptured the flow of the Kutcheri as the audience tapped into once again into his ragams.

One could also hear the morning walkers chatting about Ravi’s impressive performance.

Malaysian Visitor

Impressed with the performance of the artiste, Mr. Vasu Subrahmanyam, a resident of Malaysia, who had come to the Nageswara Rao Park to watch this early morning Kutcheri said, “The carnatic music performance of young Ravi Narayanan this morning has made our visit to Chennai all the more memorable. This mikeless Sunday Kutcheri in the Park concept is an excellent platform for budding musical artistes.”

Ravi Narayanan, who is learning music from Sri Thiruvarur S Ganeshan, was accompanied by Ms. Satya Mohan on the Violin and R.Venimadhavan on the Mridangam.

TT Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd., was present on the occasion and handed over mementos and certificates to the performing artistes.

Organised since February 2006 on the first Sunday of every month between 630am and 730am, Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park provides a platform for children aged below 15 years to display their musical talent. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Sundaram Finance audition committee conducts an audition to select the artistes to perform at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

January 2010 will see a string of morning and evening Kutcheris as part of the annual Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival.

For registration and audition, contact: sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Pavithra Balajee presents a pleasant Mikeless Kutcheri

In front of a big early morning Park audience, Pavithra Balajee, a student of M.Ct.M Chettiar Chidambaram Matriculation School and the grand daughter of yester year music director Sri D.B. Ramachandran, presented a lively carnatic music performance as part of the monthly Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore this Sunday morning (1st November 2009).

Every song Pavithra presented received a standing ovation from the audience that comprised of morning park walkers and music connoisseurs.

Some of the compositions Pavithra presented were Shakti Ganapathim (Hari Kesha Nallur Muthiah Bhagavathar) – Ragam Nattai, Rupaka Thaalam, Shashivadana ( Sri Thyagarajar) – Chandra Jyothi Ragam, Aathi Thaalam, Papanasam Sivam’s Unnai Allal (Kalyani Ragam, Aathi Thaalam) and Purandaradasar’s Venkatachalanirayam ( Sindhu Bairavi, Aathi Thaalam)

Pavithra was accompanied by R. Ragavendran on the Mridangam and by R. Amirtaraj on the Violin.

At the end of the kutcheri, a visibly happy Music Guru Smt. Sucharithra Raghu, who has been teaching Pavithra for the last one year, said
“It takes several years for young children to be recognised in music. However, this platform provided by Sundaram Finance takes youthful musical talent much closer and faster to the audience. And they get recognised immediately, which leads them to other opportunities. I believe that this launch pad for children will encourage more students to take up music as a career.”

“The mikeless Kutcheri concept for young children is a welcome approach for classical concerts. Mikeless Kutcheris require even more concentration since the artistes have to bring out the nuances of the songs sans mikes and speakers. And this serves as a motivation to prepare that much harder, ahead of the Kutcheri. I am very pleased with the performance of Pavithra this morning and the feedback from the audience is a validation of her excellent performance.”

Organised on the first Sunday of every month between 630am and 730am, Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park provides a platform for children aged below 15 years to display their musical talent. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. Sundaram Finance audition committee conducts an audition to select the artistes to perform at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Interested participants can send their profile to : sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Deepthi Suresh presents a lively Mikeless Kutcheri

Deepthi Suresh captivates audience with a lively carnatic music performance at Nageswara Rao Park

The chess square in Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore was abuzz with activity by 5am this morning with flower decorations welcoming the young Deepthi Suresh to the mikeless Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance.

Accompanied by J.R. Shraddha on the Violin and Santhosh Ram on the Mridangam, Deepthi Suresh, a class 10 student at Sankara Vidyashram, Tiruvanmiyur presented a lively one hour carnatic music performance this morning that captivated the morning walkers and music connoisseurs who had gathered around the chess square. It was heartening to note that not a single person in the audience moved during the entire hour of the kutcheri, such was Deepthi's performance.


Deepthi has been learning music from Smt. Padma Sandilyan, a disciple of the renowned musician Late Sri. KV Narayanaswamy.

Songs such as Sadhasivan Maindhaney(Hamsadvani Raagam, Composer Maharajapuram Santhanam), Madhura Madhura ( Attana- Oothukadu Venkatasubiar), Evaramaduguthura ( Kalyani- Thyagarajar) and Nalley Nallanal ( Kapi - Vednayagam Pillai) that Deepthi presented was well received by the audience and drew rapturous applause.


S. Mahadevan, Head- Personnel and Administration, Sundaram Finance handed over certificates and mementos to the performing artistes.

Sundaram Finance has been organising the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park on the first Sunday of every month for the last 3 ½ years.

The idea behind the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park is to provide a platform for young children below 15 years to display their musical talent. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Sundaram Finance audition committee conducts an audition to select the artistes to perform at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Those interested to participate in the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park can email :
sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Shravan RP presents Mikeless Sunday Kutcheri

PSBB student at the Sunday Kutcheri at the Park

Notwithstanding the additional noise of the vehicles on the Eastern side of the Nageswara Rao Park (the outer wall of the park has been knocked down for reconstruction work), 12 year old R.P. Shravan, a class VII student of Padma Seshdri Bala Bhavan, T. Nagar presented a stand out carnatic music performance this Sunday morning (6th September 2009) at the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore in what was his first ‘mikeless’ kutcheri.

Many of his songs came in for loud applause from the audience as did the performances of the accompanists, R. Shyam on the Violin and Kaushik Rajagopal on the Mridangam, both regulars at the Sunday Kutcheri.

Shravan has been learning music from Kalaimamani Srimushnam Shri. V. Raja Rao for the past 6 years.

Shravan impressed the audience with his rendition of Neelakanda Sivan’s Innamum Irakam(Atana Ragam, Adi Thaalam), Thayagarajar’s Sarasa Sama Dana (Kapi Narayani Ragam, Adi Thaalam), Ongi Ulagalandha-Thiruppavai (Arabhi Ragam, Adi Thaalam) and Sachidananda Swami’s Tripure(Naattai).

TT Srinivasaraghavan, MD, Sundaram Finance handed over certificates and mementos to the performing artistes.


Also present on the occasion was The Hindu Business Line’s Deputy Editor Mr. D. Murali for whom the Nageswara Rao Park has become a regular venue in recent months for his ‘Guest Interviews’.

Sundaram Finance has been organising the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park on the first Sunday of every month for the last 3 ½ years.

The idea behind the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park is to provide a platform for young children below 15 years to display their musical talent. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. Over 250 budding music artistes have presented mikeless kutcheris at the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park, many of whom have gone on to the next stage of their career path(in carnatic music).

Sundaram Finance audition committee conducts an audition to select the artistes to perform at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Sundaram Finance MD with the performing artistes

Kuwait Student presents Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

Big crowd and a lively performance mark Akshara’s maiden mikeless Kutcheri

Heavy overnight rain did not deter morning park walkers and music enthusiasts to gather in large numbers around the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore this morning to watch 13 year old V. Akshara, a student from Kuwait, present her first mikeless Kutcheri.

Last month, another student from Kuwait (Raghavi Vishwanath) had presented her maiden Kutcheri in India at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance. Incidentally, both Raghavi and Akshara study in the same class in Kuwait.

Lively Performance

It was sweet music to the ears as Akshara, who completed her Arangetram at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai last year, unmindful of Television camera in front of her (NDTV Hindu was present on the occasion to cover Akshara's first Kutcheri in India), displayed great confidence and poise presenting some of the popular keerthanais and compositions.

Jegadhanandakaraka (Pancharathna Keerthanai- Naattai), Vathapi Ganapathim ( Hamsadvani), Sobillu (Jeganmohini, Roopakam) and, Sri Valli Deva Senapathey ( Nata Bairavi- Aadhi) drew loud round of applause from the audience.

Akshara even had the audience tapping in to her presentation of Sabaapathikku Veru Deivam and Bhaaro Krishnaiya.

Commenting on the Mikeless Kutcheri concept, Akshara said, “When I heard about the Mikeless Kutcheri concept organised every month by Sundaram Finance in Chennai, I was not too sure about my capability of singing without a mike as it is not easy for every one to perform sans mike. However, my father convinced me to send the CD to Sundaram Finance as part of my audition process and to give it my best shot at this different kind of a kutcheri.”

“The kutcheri this morning turned out to a new experience for me. Though I was initially apprehensive, I actually quite enjoyed the mikeless kutcheri in this very informal setting of the park and in front of this big crowd that had gathered to watch my performance.”

Akshara, who has been learning carnatic music for the last 6 years, was accompanied by Mavelikkara Satheeschandran (Disciple of Sri Krishnapuram Ramakrishnapillai) on the Violin, Peruna Harikumar (Disciple of Changanassery Gopakumar) Mridangam and Manjoor Unnikrishnan (Disciple of Allepey Chandrasekara Nair) on the Ghatam. Akshara’s Guru is Sangeetha Vidwan Smt. Jayanti Siva.

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

Organised by Sundaram Finance on the first Sunday of every month, the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park provides a platform for young children below 15 years to display their musical talent. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. Sundaram Finance audition committee conducts an audition to select the artistes to perform at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

For registration and audition, contact: 94440 40748

Lively debut Kutcheri by Kuwait’s Raghavi Vishwanath

Late on Saturday evening, one wondered if the un-seasonal rains in Chennai would force the organisers to postpone the maiden kutcheri of Raghavi Vishwanath, a class 8 student of Delhi Public School, Kuwait.

Thankfully, and much to the relief of the morning walkers at the Nageswara Rao Park, the rain Gods stayed away on Sunday morning. By 6am, there was a buzz around the Chess quadrangle. There was a neat flower decoration.

Raghavi, along with her Guru, had reached in early for her debut Kutcheri at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance. A few of her relatives had also come in to watch the teenager perform in this open air, mikeless kutcheri.

A cloudy morning, the chirping of birds, a nice breeze and an audience that sat just a few yards away - It was a setting Raghavi had not experienced before. However, she did not seem at all to be over whelmed. In fact, this seemed to bring out the best in her. Raghavi displayed great composure and a cool attitude that speaks volumes about her confidence levels.

630am - Mrs. Malini Vishwanath, Guru of Raghavi welcomed the audience and introduced Raghavi and the songs she was going to present today.

Guru introducing Raghavi
Accompanied by Sriram Sridhar (Disciple of Smt. Padma Shankar) on the Violin and by Sumesh Narayanan (Disciple of Shri. Tiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam) on the Mridangam, Raghavi started with the varnams that seemed to lure the morning walkers, with some of them cuting short their walk to position themselves around the artiste to listen in to the 13 year old present her first ever kutcheri.

Hard Work pays off
The hard work put in by Raghavi and her Guru was clearly visible. Her kutcheri was much appreciated by the audience. Her presentation of Saravana Bhava Ghambeera Natta, a new composition of Kolaigaal Subramanyam received rapturous applause from the morning walkers at Nageswara Rao Park. Some of the other songs presented by Raghavi were Sreeman Narayana (Annamacharya), Bhuvaneshwariya (Mohana-Kalyani), Maru-Balka(Thayagaraja-Sri Ranjani) and ThiruPugazh(Aruna Girinathan).


After her debut kutcheri, Raghavi said, ‘The mikeless kutcheri is very challenging for the artiste. I found out today that it truly tests out the voice quality of the performer and the ability to reach out to the audience. I enjoyed this experience.’

Mrs. Malini Vishwanath, mother and Guru of Raghavi said, ‘It is a good and a challenging platform for young talent. Anyone would be deeply honoured to be part of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.’

On the mikeless kutcheri concept, Mrs. Malini said, ‘Every voice has a genetic quality. One cannot go beyond the domain. We had worked, in preparation for this kutcheri, for almost 6 months. I think Raghavi was her natural self this morning and enjoyed presenting the kutcheri in front of the park audience.’

Presence of Guru's Guru
The Sunday Kutcheri in the park also brought back nostalgic memories for Mrs. Malini Vishwanath with the presence at the kutcheri of her first Guru Smt. Kamala Narayanan, from whom she learnt the basics of carnatic music in Ahmedabad.

Fourth Overseas Artiste
Raghavi is the fourth overseas artiste to perform at the mikeless Kutcheri at Nageswara Rao Park. Students from the US and Dubai have earlier presented mikeless Kutcheri at the Park. Co-incidentally, the mother of Arul Priya, who was the first overseas artiste to perform at the Sunday Kutcheri 2 years ago, was also present on the occasion to encourage Raghavi in her maiden performance.

Keeping up Chennai’s tradition
Despite being based out of Kuwait for the last 10 years, Raghavi, with her lively performance, show cased to everyone this morning that distance need not necessarily be a constraint, especially if one had the inclination and the passion to learn carnatic music.

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

Park audience cheer Madhumathy’s ‘Theeratha Vilayatu Pillai’

15 year old C. Madhumathy, a student of Sri Sankara Vidhyashram, Tiruvanmiyur presented a pleasing carnatic music performance at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore, Madras on Sunday morning (7th June).

Madhumathy, who also plays the keyboard, was accompanied by Master S Sriram on the Violin and Master Guhesh Swaminathan on the Mridangam.

Madhumathy’s rendition of Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai (Ragamalika) was much appreciated by the morning park walkers. Some of the other songs she presented included Shambho Mahadeva (Panthyvarali), Neethu Charana (Kalyani) and Devi Neeye Thunai (Keeravani).

Madhumathy’s present guru is Smt. Gayathri Mahesh (disciple of OS Thyagarajan).

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

Packed audience watch Abhishek Krishna at Sunday Kutcheri

Lively Mikeless Kutcheri from 11 year old KFI student

The summer edition of the Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park saw 11 year old Abhishek Krishna, a student of ‘The School’, KFI, Besant Nagar, present a lively carnatic music performance in front of a packed audience at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on 3rd May.

Accompanied by Shri. S.K.Sadagopan on the Violin and by Shri. Muralinathan on the Mridangam, Abhishek presented songs such as Rama Bhadra (Ananda Bairavi Ragam, Aathi Thalam), Ongi Ulagalantha (Arathi, Aathi Thalam), Arula Vendum Thaaye (Saramathi, Roopakam), Maithrem Bhathathey (Ragamalika, Aathi Thalam) and Eru Mayil Eri (Bhageshri Ragam) drawing a loud round of applause.

Abhishek Krishna has been learning carnatic music for the last 7 years. His present guru is Sri Srikanth Koudinya (a student of Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan).

Aadithya Murali debuts at ‘Sunday Kutcheri in the Park’

Audience crowd around the Teenager in his maiden carnatic music performance

Amidst falling leaves and chirping birds, 14 year old Aadithya Murali, a student of National Public School, Gopalapuram presented his maiden carnatic music performance in front of a big gathering of morning walkers at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on Sunday (5th April 2009).

In this informal Park setting,which is a feature of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park, Aadithya Murali found several in the audience(young children to the paatis) sittingt right in front of him, at the Chess Square, just a few feet away.

Accompanying the teenage vocalist in his debut Kutcheri were Master R. Shyam on the Violin and Master Varun Ramaswamy on the Mridangam, both students of Vidya Mandir.

Aadithya has been learning Carnatic music for the past 8 years. His current guru is Sri V Subramanian.

Some of the songs Aadithya presented were Sri Parvati (Bowli), Brochi (Sri Ranjani), Brihadeshwarya (Sankarabaranam), Deva Deva (Maya Malava Gowla), Krishnam Vandey (Yaman Kalyani) and Rama Nanu ( Hari Kambhoji).

Mehalochani presents Sunday Kutcheri at Nageswara Rao Park

First Sunday of March 2009 saw 10 year old G.S. Mehalochani, a class V student of SRDF Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Chrompet present a vocal carnatic music performance at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore, Madras.

This was part of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance on the first Sunday of every month between 630am and 730am.Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Morning walkers at the Nageswara Rao Park gathered around the Chess Square to appreciate the young musical talent.

Mehalochani was accompanied by Kumbakonam R Selva Prasad on the Violin and S Hariharan on the Mridangam.

Mehalochani has been learning music under Guru Sangeetha Vidwan Smt. Bagya Lakshmi.

Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes.

Sundaram Finance MD Mr. T. T. Srinivasaraghavan presenting certificate to Mehalochani

Brother-Sister duo present Sunday Kutcheri

Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park Completes 3 years

For the first time at the Sundaram Finance ‘Sunday Kutcheri in the Park’, a sister and brother combined together to present an hour of mikeless carnatic music performance at the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on 1st February 2009.

13 year old K Balakrishnan & 10 year old Srividhya Kannan, students of Jawahar Vidyalaya, Ashok Nagar, have been learning carnatic music under Guru Kalakkad Sitalakshmi. They were accompanied by Sowmayasree Chandramouli on the Violin and Thirucherai Kaushik Rajagopal on the Mridangam.

Their presentation of Po Shambho, Giridhara Gopala and Vasudey Vasudam Devam drew special applause from the big early morning audience that had gathered at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore.

Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park was launched in February 2006 with the aim of providing a launch pad for young musical talent aged below 15years.

California Student presents Sunday Kutcheri

In the margazhi edition of ‘Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park’ and the first of 2009, 14year old Parthiv Mohan, a 9th class student from California presented a vocal carnatic music performance at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore, Madras on 4th January 2009.

Parthiv Mohan was accompanied by Ananthasree on the Violin and by Thirucheri Kaushik Rajagopal on the Mridangam.

A student of Anuradha Sridhar (daughter of Lalgudi Srimathi Brahmanandam), Parthiv has been learning carnatic vocal for the past 6 years. He has also been learning the violin.

Parthiv is third artiste from the US to perform at the Sundaram Finance Kutcheri in the Park. Earlier, sisters Sruthi and Jayashree Sarathy from the US had presented the mikeless Kutcheri in January 2008 (exactly one year ago).

The 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. Sundaram Finance conducts an audition to finalise the artistes.