Ramanavami events to watch out for

Local artistes from Karnataka will form a higher percentage of performers at the Ramotsava Mandali concerts this year. Each banner will bring in 60 to 70 per cent of local talent as compared to previous years. Apart from this, youngsters and seniors from eight years to 80 will be featured in most sabhas. According to sabha officials, Bengaluru is seeing a rise in talented youth: In all, there are about 35 Ramaseva Mandalis in the city.

The biggest banner

Sree Ramaseva Mandali, Chamarajpet will house more than 250 artistes from April 8 to May 8. This will include a three-day National Youth Fest from April 11-13 bringing in rising artistes. “The fest will bring in the younger generation, including N. Karthik (son of Mysore Nagaraj) and M. Sumanth (son of Mysore Manjunath) who will debut here,” said S.N. Varadaraj, General Secretary.

Ramaseva Mandali’s youth competition series is a novelty. Called ‘RTP series’, 18 selected young artistes will take up the ‘Raga, Tana and Pallavi’ in a specific raga. “We received an unprecedented response with 1,500 applicants from the south Indian States,” said Varadaraj. The tough screening reduced the number to 18 and the best three will receive cash prizes during the Ramanavami festival.

Balanced fare

One of the highlights of the Seshadripuram Ramaseva Samithi’s programmes — from April 15 to May 4 — is a special Hindustani concert by vocalist Nagaraj Rao Havaldar’s family on April 18. “This is rare as Nagaraj Rao and Omkar Rao will be on vocals accompanied by Sameer Havaldar and Kedarnath Havaldar on the harmonium and tabla,” says V. Tarakaram of the Samithi. The youth talent concerts on April 28 will feature the best of the next generation of artistes, including Raghavan Manian (student of Balamuralikrishna) and Sumana Vedanth (daughter of Sukanya Prabhakar).

The oldest sabha

Sree Rama Bhaktha Sabha’s 10-day concerts at Eshwara Seva Mandali on Sampige Road begins April 8. Its local listing stretches the borders by featuring the youngest artistes of the season, including 12-year-old Shruti Murali of Hosur on April 14, and a flute recital by Geetha Gopal on April 15. Yakshagana is part of the yearly show, but the crowd puller will be Mysore Ramachandrachar Dasara Padagalu. “We expect the hall to be full as the artist also has an Abhimanigala Sangha in Mysuru,” says C.V. Venkatesh.

Variety fare

The 25 Vani Kala Kendra at Vani Vidya Kendra, Basaveshwaranagar from April 8 to May 8 will bring in 150 artistes, including Carnatic vocalist M.S. Sheela and Hindustani vocalists Sanjeev Abhayankar from Pune and Jayatheerth Mevundi. The programme will include 29 junior concerts featuring 60 youngsters in dance and classical music. An interesting performance will be Kathak by Rohini S. Prabhat, daughter of Srinivas of the Prabhat Kalavidaru family, on May 3.