10th Anniversary Celebrations Vishwa Vidyalaya Vandalur

10 years ago on Feb 5, 2006, over 10 students from Vishwa Vidyalaya came all the way from Vandalur to present the launch Kutcheri of the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. This morning ( Feb 7, 2016), they revived old memories as another group of students from the same school came to present a kutcheri on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of Sunday Kutcheri in the Park.

Sharp at 7am, S Sivakumar, VP-Corporate Communications, Sundaram Finance welcomed the artistes and the big crowd that had gathered around the Chess Square of the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. Accompanied by students on the Dholki, Kanjira, Mridangam, Harmonium and the Keyboard, these young budding artistes presented songs that included Om Namo Gananayaka, Govardhana Giridhara, Hari Hari Raama Naama, Kaavadi Kondu Pazhani Malai and Hey Rama Dhoota.

Sampath Kumar, President, Nageswara Rao Park Walkers Association said this is the only one of its kind Mikeless Kutcheri in the city. He lauded Sundaram Finance for unearthing the musical talent in children over the last decade. He congratulated Sunday Kutcheri in the Park initiative for entering the Limca Book of Records and hoped that one day the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park will enter the Guiness Book of Records as well.

Speaking on the occasion, TT Srinivasaraghavan, MD, Sundaram Finance said ‘When the Sunday Kutcheri was launched, we were not sure as to how long this would continue and if the children would like the mikeless concept. We are glad that the Sunday Kutcheri has gone on for 10 years and has helped serve as a platform for over 1000 budding musicians. Today is a thanks giving day to all the Children, Parents and Gurus who have been part of making the Sunday Kutcheri a special event at the park over the last decade.’ TT Srinivasaraghavan presented certificates to the performing artistes and to Ms Mala, Head Mistress and Ms. Vasumathi, Vice Principal of Vishwa Vidyalaya.

The idea behind the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance on the first Sunday of every month is to promote young musical talent aged below 15years and provide them with a launch pad.No Mikes and Speakers are used at the Kutcheri. A committee from Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes. To register for the audition: email Sundaykutcheri@sundaramfinance.in

Sunday Kutcheri Limca Book of Records

News Today features a big story on Sunday Kutcheri creating a National Record and on its entry into the Limca Book of Records

Deccan Chronicle Sunday Kutcheri in the Park

Deccan Chronicle features a story on the morning of Sunday Kutcheri in the Park completing 10 Years.

Sunday Kutcheri in the Park completes 10 Years

The monthly Sunday Kutcheri in the Park organised by Sundaram Finance has completed 10 years today. Way back in February 2006, a group of 12 children from Vishwa Vidyalaya School came all the way from Vandalur to present the first Sunday Kutcheri in the Park. Since then over 1000 children aged below 15 years have presented the mikeless Kutcheri on the first Sunday of every month. In these 10 years, there have been participants from Dubai, Kuwait, Pune, Bangalore and California. For many children, this has been their first Kutcheri. There have been Kutcheris organised even in rain with umbrellas being held over the artistes.

TT Srinivasaraghavan, MD, Sundaram Finance Ltd., said ‘When we launched the Kutcheri in the Park, we had wanted this to be 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 15years shed the initial inhibition that we normally associate with stage performances by giving them a platform to showcase their talent. 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.’ Sruti Sarathy who came from the US to perform at the Sunday Kutcheri in 2008 has gone on to perform in the Chennai December season and has won the Best Violinist Award from Music Academy and the ‘Best Violinist’ award at Parthasarathy Swami Sabha. She credits the opportunity she got at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park for her growth in her musical career. Twins Deeptha and Swetha Vasudevan who presented the Sunday Kutcheri in 2007 have now been presenting Kutcheris in the Sabhas in the city. The twins said ‘What we are today is because of the platform we got when we were young kids. That informal atmosphere inspired us and it is one of those unforgettable events of our lives.’

Sree Chitra Vijayakumar who presented almost a decade ago says ‘Thanks to the opportunity I got through the Sunday Kutcheri platform, I had cine music directors approaching me. I have now sung in three movies. The open air kutcheri also gave me a lot of self confidence and belief that soon after my Sunday Kutcheri, I cut my own CD album.’ Durga Venkatesh, Guru of Arul Priya (who came all the way from the Middle East to present the Kutcheri) said ‘I have been teaching young kids for several decades now, but I have never heard of the concept of 'mikeless kutcheri' and that, too in an open air environment. This is a very unique concept and this was a different kind of experience for my student. Without the mike, Arul Priya had to put in more effort and her voice came out much better. This will give her a lot of confidence to take her music learning into the next level.’ Audition ground for other Park Kutcheris During this period, the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park has even become an audition ground for a Kutcheri in another park in the city. The artistes who first perform here are seen performing at the other park in the succeeding months. Mikeless Kutcheri - Dr. Shubha Ganesan's disciples

On the occasion of the completion of 10 years of Kutcheri in the Park, over 15 children, all disciples of Dr. Shubha Ganesan presented a lively Mikeless Kutcheri at the Nageswara Rao Park on Sunday morning between 7am and 8am. They were accompanied on the Violin by G Vagadeeshwar and on the Mridangam by K S Ramakrishnan. TT Srinivasaraghavan presented certificates to the artistes and a memento to the Guru. No Mikes and Speakers are used at the Kutcheri. The Kutcheri in the Park organised on the first Sunday of every month is restricted to children aged below 15 years. A committee from Sundaram Finance conducts audition to select the artistes. To register for the audition: email Sundaykutcheri@sundaramfinance.in

Students of Hyderabad Shiva present Mikeless Kutcheri

Students of Hyderabad Shiva presented a mikeless Kutcheri on the third day of the 14th Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival at the Nageswara Rao Park. Ajeet Sridhar accompanied them on the Mridangam. P Viswanathan, Company Secretary, Sundaram Finance handed over certificates to the artistes and a memento to the Guru.

Padmini Ravi's disciples present Mikeless Kutcheri

Disciples of Smt. Padmini Ravi presented a Mikeless Kutcheri this morning on the 2nd day of the 14th Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore. RanganayakiVijayaraghavan, Vaishnavi K.Lakshmi and A.VenkataSaketh Ram were accompanied on the Violin by R Swadisri and on the Mridangam by D Sivaraman.

Pathangi Brothers present Mikeless Kutcheri in the Park

Brothers Dathre S Pathangi and Dhruv S Pathangi presented a lively one Mikeless Kutcheri this Thursday (Jan &) morning at the Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore to kick off the 14th edition of the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival 2016. They are students of Guru Chitraveena Ravikaran.

The brothers were accompanied on the Violin by Parur Ananthalakshmi and on the Mridangam by R Pranav. Their performance was much appreciated by a big early morning crowd comprising of park walkers and music connoisseurs that had gathered around the Chess Square. The brothers presented compositions that included Muthuswami Deekshithar’s Mahaganapathim (Nattai – Ekam), Sri Mysore Vasudevachar’s Brochevarevarura (Khamas – Adi), Sri Ambujam Krishna’s Ennasholli Azhaithal ( Kanada- Adi) and Andal’s Thiruppavai Marimalai Muzhainchil (Manirangu- Misrachapu).

TT Srinivasaraghavan, MD, Sundaram Finance was present on the occasion and handed over certificates and mementos to the artistes.