Mahathi presents a Lively Mikeless Kutcheri

Sunday Kutcheri concept inspires International School to include carnatic music as an extra curricular activity


Even as Mahathi, the class six student of Avalon Heights International School, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, landed in Madras and began practicing for the upcoming Mikeless Kutcher, the rain Gods showered their blessings on her. The city received unexpected rains on Friday evening and Saturday morning that was a great relief from the sweltering heat that we had experienced over the last one week.

After a couple of rehersel sessions with the accompanists Thiruvedaimarudur K.Ganeshan (Violinist) and Pattu Padmanabhan( Mridangam Vidwan), Mahathi was all set for the big moment on Sunday morning.

Acoompanied by her mother and aunt, Mahathi was all excited as she walked into the the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore at around 6am even as the Chess Quadrangle was being decked up with flower decorations welcoming Mahathi.

A student of Smt. Lakshmi Padmanaban, Mahathi has been Learning music since the age of six. Interestingly, Mahathi is also a Violinist, a Dancer and a Swimmer, in addition to being outstanding in her academics.

Mahathi’s presentation

The mikeless kutcheri proved to be a different kind of experience for the young Mahathi. Not only did she have to present without mikes and speakers, on Sunday morning she also had to counter the challenges posed by the overhead flights (flying over the Nageswara Rao Park) as well as the Nadaswaram at the nearby Kalyana Mandapam.

And she came out with flying colours displaying a great deal of confidence in her presentation in front of this informal park audience who sat around her tapping into her ragas.

Beginning with Manikkavachagar’s Thiruvenba, Mahathi's presentation included Sarasaksha (Panthuvaraali- Adi), Himadri Sute ( Kalyani-Rupagam), Karuna Jaladhe ( Nathanamakriya-Adi), Bhajare Gopalam (Hindolam-Adi) and Govinda Miha ( Bagheshree- Kanda Chappu).

Sunday Kutcheri concept inspires International School

At the conclusion of the Kutcheri, Mrs. Anandhi Venkat Raman, the mother of Mahathi, shared an interesting development that had taken place at Mahathi's International School recently.

“When we shared the Sunday Kutcheri Concept with the head of the International School where Mahathi is studying(Mahathi had wanted a couple of days off to come in early to Madras to prepare ahead of the Sunday Kutcheri), they were truly impressed to hear the kind of opportunities that exist for children. Immediately recognising the importance of Carnatic Music, the school has included this as an integral part of its extra curricular activities, thus providing a platform for children in the school to develop their musical skills.”

V.Kumaraswamy, GM- Sundaram Business Services presented the certificates and mementos to the performing artistes.



Sunday Kutcheri in the Park provides a platform for young children under the age of 15years to display their musical talent in an informal park audience. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes.

For audition enquiries, email sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Ragam, Thaalam, Shruti

Shruti presents Summer Special Mikeless Kutcheri


A big crowd, comprising of park walkers and Sunday Kutcheri regulars, gathered around 13 year old T. Shruti at the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on Sunday morning to watch the class IX student of Modern Senior Sec School, Nanganallur present a mikeless kutcheri, as part of the monthly Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance.

Shruti, who has been learning music for the past 5 years from Guru Vidwan Anasuya Krishnamurthy, was accompanied by Sumesh Narayanan on the Mridangam and by Shraddha Ravindran on the Violin.


Shruti's presentation
Warming up with Saanitha at 630a.m, Shruti followed up with the composition of Dikshithar (Vallabha Naya- Begada Ragam- Rupakam). Her presentation of Papanasam Sivam’s Karunai Nilavi Kapali (Mohanam, Adi) and Bharatiyar’s Villinai (Kavadi Chindu, Thrisra Ekam) was much appreciated with the audience tapping into her ragams and thaalams.

Ideal Platform for young children
The grand mother of Shruti who sat through the Kutcheri was happy at the opportunity provided by Sundaram Finance to the young musical talent. ‘The mikeless kutcheri is an ideal platform for young children. Singing in front of this big crowd in an informal atmosphere amidst the chirping of birds gives these young artistes a lot of confidence. Through this platform provided by Sundaram Finance, I think the stage fear for these young children will go away. This will help them shed any inhibitions they may have of performing in front of an audience and will encourage them to present more kutcheris.’


C. Muralidharan, Head-Karnataka, Sundaram Finance Ltd., was present on the occasion and presented certificates and mementos to the artistes.

Launched in February 2006, the aim of the Sundaram Finance Sunday Kutcheri in the Park is to provide opportunities to young children aged below 15 years to perform in front of an informal park audience. Over 250 children have presented Kutcheri at the Nageswara Rao Park. No mikes and speakers are used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes.

For audition enquiries, email sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Surya presents Mikeless Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

Upcoming artiste impresses with presentation of Thayagaraja’s and Deekshithar’s compositions


12 year old M. Surya, a class VII student of DAV Public School, Velachery took centre stage at the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on Sunday( morning. Surya’s musical talent was in full display with his carnatic music performance keeping the audience captivated through the entire hour of his presentation.

Impressive Performance

Accompanied by N. Veeramani (on the Violin) and by Pattu Padmanaban (on the Mridangam) Surya presented compositions such as Thyagaraja’s Manasa Sanchararey ( Sama Ragam, Aadhi Thaalam), Muthuswami Deekshithar’s Kamatchi (Simmendra Madyamam, Roopakam), Papanasam Sivam’s Jaga Janani (Rathipathi Priya, Aadhi) and Maharajapuram Santhanam’s Sri Chakra Raja( Ragamalika, Aadhi) that drew applause from the early morning park audience.


Surya has been learning music from Smt. Rama Sundari for the past 7 years.

T. V. Gangadharan, AGM, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented mementos and certificates to the performing artistes.



Launched in February 2006, Sunday Kutcheri in the Park is a monthly event organised by Sundaram Finance on the first Sunday of every month between 630am and 730am and has served as a platform for over 250 children aged below 15 years to display their musical talent in front of an informal park audience. Mikes and Speakers are not used at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Several children for whom the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park was the first Kutcheri have gone on to greater heights during these four years. There have also been a few overseas children who have participated in this series.

In addition to vocal carnatic music kutcheri, one has also seen solo violin performances, keyboard presentations and Veena recital in the last four years.

Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes.

For audition enquiries,email sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Dinamalar Features Anuapama's Sunday Kutcheri

Dinamalar in its Friday Music Section on 12th February 2010
featured Anupama's performance at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

Fine Performance by Anupama at Sunday Kutcheri

It was a surprisingly rather cloudy morning in Madras. 13 year old Class VIII student of DAV, Anupama from IV Cross Street RA Puram had arrived at 6am ahead of her maiden Mikeless Kutcheri.The regulars at the Sunday Kutcheri were seated on the Chess Stools by 630am.

Not showing any sign of nervousness, Anupama began the kutcheri with Valachivalachi
(Navaragamalika).It was pleasing to listen to the cool and composed teenager render so beautifully some of the popular compositions.

Accompanied on the Violin by J. R. Shraddha and on the Mridangam by Sumesh S Narayanan, Anupama displayed maturity far beyond her age. Her confident performance was much appreciated by the music connoisseurs and early morning park walkers.

Compositions Anupama presented included Thyagarajar’s Sriganapathini (Saurashtram- Aadhi), Deeskhitar’s Sri Parthasarathy (Suddha Dhanyasi- Rupakam), Papanasa Sivam’s Singaravelan (Ananda Bairavi- Aadhi) and Narayanatheerthar’s Reremanasa (Kapi-Aadhi).

TT Srinivasaraghavan, Managing Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd., presented certificates and mementos 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.

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

For audition, email sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Bangalore Student presents Mikeless Concert

On the final morning of the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival 2010 (24th January), 10year old Shreya Shankar, a 5th class student of Sri Kumaran Children’s Home made a train trip from Bangalore for her maiden mikeless concert.

She was accompanied by brothers - D. Swaminathan(on the violin) and D. Sivaraman (on the Mridangam).

Shreya’s presentation of songs included Sri Rama Padama ( Amruta Vahini- Aadhi), Himadrisuthey ( Kalyani-Roopakam), Devarnama ( Sindhu Bairavi- Aadhi) and Kanukantini (Bilahari- Aadhi).

Shreya has been learning music from Smt. Shubha Pradha for the last 7 years.

It was the first time a non Chennai artiste (within India) has performed at the Concert in the Park. In the past, a couple of children from Dubai and US have presented the mikeless Kutcheri.

The idea of these mikeless concerts organised by Sundaram Finance is to provide a platform for young children aged below 15 years to perform in front of an informal Park audience and gain confidence.

For audition, email sundaykutcheri@gmail.com

Ashwini presents Concert in the Park

On a chilly Saturday morning ( 23rd January) and the 3rd day of the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival, Vidya Mandir student R. Ashwini presented a concert accompanied on the Violin by R. Amirthraj and on the Mridangam by B. Venkatramanan.

Ashwini’s current Guru is Smt. Champa Kumar.