Vol.17 No. 11 November - 2016 KALABHARATHI TURNS 15 Classical performing arts have to be taught individually for the aspirant to be able to grasp even the basics, is a belief that compels many parents to send their children to expensive, preferably wellknown teachers; institutional teaching impedes growing into a teacher or performer, is another opinion. Kalabharathi of the Bengaluru Kendra celebrates 15 years of teaching of visual and performing arts to those from ages 7 to 70, putting up its wards on stage this month. Intensive training to those seriously interested in making a career out of arts, is imperative. However, the Bhavan has been filling a huge culture gap through its arts classes, the purpose being a 1 bhavanblrhns50@gmail.com
multi-pronged cultural spread; the benefits of this endeavour cannot be discounted. Where else can one find a range of traditional performing arts classes such as Hindustani and Carnatic vocal, sugama sangeetha, classical dance, mridangam, tabla, flute, veena, and even keyboard and drawing and painting classes, under one roof, with a reasonable fee structure? If one is to review the art classes at Bhavan in toto, one has to say that Kalabharathi has evolved into an art learning centre with a host of learning opportunities. Staggered timings of the classes allow aspirants to learn more than one art form at the same venue, learning in groups creates a lively atmosphere while nurturing a competitive spirit, a sense of camaraderie helps in developing inter-personal skills, keeps youngsters pleasantly occupied during weekends-- overall grooming a new set of appreciators of classical arts. 2 A major thrust of learning at the Bhavan is exposure to performances, the innumerable cultural shows at its premises doubling as a ready and familiar venue for the students. Reviving fading arts has rendered the Bhavan platform a nurturer of rare arts, opening up precious forms to the students too. Held under the Mathoor Krishnamurti Memorial Endowment, the annual cultural event of Kalabharathi this year will be held every weekend at the Bhavan from Nov. 6, when the paintings of the art students will be on display. The five-year diploma courses are split into annual certificate courses, with 70 aspirants receiving their certificates this year at the convocation that will be part of the Kalabharathi anniversary. Jyothi Raghuram
Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurti Memorial Endowment Kalabharathi students present Music Dance Festival - Deepavali Cultural programme - Inauguration Venue : Khincha Hall, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan November 6, 2016, Sunday at 11.30 a.m. 11.30 a.m. : Carnatic Vocal : Direction - Vidushi Bhagirathi 12.15 p.m.: Flute : Direction - Vidwan Omkaraiah 12.30 p.m.: Veena : Direction - Vidushi Rohini 1.00 p.m. : Hindustani Vocal : Direction - Vidwan Anandaraj Gownwar 1.45 p.m. : Bharatanatya : Direction - Smt. Sneha Harish November 12, Saturday at 5.30 p.m. 5.30 p.m. : Veena : Direction - Vidushi Vani Yadhunandan 6.15 p.m. : Key Board : Direction - Vidwan Prasanna Kumar 7.15 p.m. : Hindustani Vocal : Direction - Vidushi Rajeshwari Bhat November 19, Saturday at 500 p.m. 5.00 p.m. : Mridanga : Direction - Vidwan T.A.S. Mani 5.45 p.m. : Tabla : Direction - Vidwan Chandrashekar 6.15 p.m. : Bharathanatya : Direction - Vidushi Parvathy Balakrishna November 20, Sunday at 10.30 a.m. 10.30 a.m.: Carnatic Vocal : Direction - Vidushi H.V. Gayathri 11.30 a.m. : Flute : Direction - Vidushi Dwaraki Krishnaswamy 12.00 p.m. : Violin : Direction - Vidwan Tharun 12.45 p.m. : Sugama Sangeetha : Direction - Vidwan Kasim Mallige Madav Note : Kalabharathi students of drawing and painting will disply their art works on all the days. Direction : Smt. Insha Ummehani and Sri. Karthik ALL ARE WELCOME 3
KALABHARATI : CASH PRIZE AWARDEES Rakshit Srujan Carnatic Vocal (I Year) Shubhangi S. Veena (I Year) Gurukiran Hegde Hindustani Vocal (II Year) Shreyaa Shastry Bharatanatya (II Year) Raja Vignesh N.S. Tabla (I Year) Gopalakrishna Ananthanarayan Mridanga (III Year) R. Mayura Krishna Mridanga (III Year) Stella David Keyboard (I Year) Kshama Sridevi M.V. Drawing & Painting (V Year) SMT SUSHEELAMMA NANJUNDAIAH, SRI NANJUNDAIAH, AND SRI. DILIP SHETHKALABHARATHI TOPPERS - 2016 Panchami P. Carnatic Vocal (I Year) Subhaga P. Nitindala Carnatic Vocal (III Year) Umashankari C. Keyboard (II Year) 4 Lalitha S. Keyboard (II Year) Honnappa N. Nayak Keyboard (II Year)
KALABHARATHI : TOPPERS - 2016 T.G. Sai Sharada Bharatanatya (I Year) R. Ruthika Bharatanatya (II Year) Janhavi V Bharatanatya (III Year) Akshay Satish Mridanga (III Year) Triyan Mukherji Drawing & Painting (I Year) Pavitra K. Drawing & Painting (II Year) Bhavani Iyengar M.K. Drawing & Painting (III Year) Sheetal S. Kooduvalli Drawing & Painting (IV Year) Abhay Mohan Drawing & Painting (V Year) Sathvik M.G. Hindustani Vocal (I Year) Simran M. Chadia Hindustani Vocal (II Year) Sarat Chandra Bardhar Hindustani Vocal (III Year) H.S. Krishna Tabla (I Year) M.R.Vivekananda Tabla (II Year) S. Chandana Veena (I Year) Kalavathi P. Veena (II Year) 5
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Rajyotsava - 2016 This year s Rajyotsava celeberation features a whole spectrum of performing art shows ranging from folk forms and yakshagana to sugama sangeetha and classical dance. Got up in association with Rotary International District 3190, the highlight of the cultural programme, Sambhrama, is a feast of classical dance styles Dances of India which incorporates all six classical forms, besides sand art, and earthy rhythm instruments. Directed by Smt. B. Bhanumathi, well-established teacher known for her successful experimentations in Bharathanatyam, and conceptualized by Dr. R.V. Raghavendra of Ananya, a highly regarded classical arts institution, Smt. B Bhanumathi 8 WATCH OUT FOR NOV 1, 4, & 11 Sri. Raghavendra Hegde the show is truly in keeping with both the spirit and meaning of Rajyotsava; the language of communication as in the lyrics for the dance, or the folk forms originating from Karnataka, will be in Kannada. In this sense too, Sambhrama is an apt show for the occasion. Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathak, Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam will come together on a single platform, representing the entire country, while resonating with Kannada lyrics. Chande, Bootha Kunitha, maddale, and tala will bring to fore what is quintessentially Karnataka folk dance and music. Sri Raghavendra Hegde, sand artist will add variety to the show at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, at 4 pm.
Sri M Come November 6, a large chunk of public not only from Bengaluru but from different parts of Karnataka converge at Bhavan to listen to the talks of Sri M, spiritual guide and vedic scholar, drawing hope and sustenance from his lucid address drawn from Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam and other epics. The two-day talk preceding Nov 6 has been drawing packed audiences over the past few years, Sri M s credibility and authenticity of being a Guru in the truly Indian tradition of leading a transparent and simple life, taking a quantum leap subsequent to his recent Walk of Hope padayatra for communal harmony, when he traversed the entire country on foot, covering 7,500 km in 474 days. The talks every year culminate in the birthday HEDGE IS A SCULPTOR AND PAINTER TOO, HAVING DABBLED IN DIFFERENT MEDIA WITH EASE 9 Sri M celebrations of this modern day mystic, the difference being that there is no lavish celebration, but only receiving of the blessings of Sri M. At this year s three-day lecture programme at the Bhavan premises, beginning on Nov. 4, Sri M will dwell on the Yoga of Action Bhagavad Gita chapter 3, focussing on Karma Yoga. The talks begin at 6.30 pm. Veena Solo Smt. Manjula Surendra is a veena artiste with an academic background worth boasting about. She has a post-graduation and an Mpil. in music, and is pursuing her PhD at Bangalore University. Her other accomplishments in music include having passed the vidwat examination with distinction, and being an A grade
Smt. Manjula Surendra artiste of AIR and Doord arshan. Currently being groomed by Vidwan D. Balakrishna, she has learnt from C. Krishnamurthy and Gyanambal for many years. Founder trustee of Aarabhi Cultural Academy, Smt. Manjula has participated in several music ensembles, besides being a soloist. The Gayana Samaja best musician award for 1989, and Nadajyothi Yuva Puraskara award, 2009, have been hers. Smt. Manjula will be performing at the Indian Institute of World Culture on Nov. 11, at 6 pm, under the BVB-IF outreach series. JR BHAVAN-INFOSYS FOUNDATION OUTREACH CULTURAL PROGRAMME AT G.R. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, SEP 22 Sugama Sangeetha by Smt. Savitha Ganesh Prasad & party 10
CUTURAL OUTREACH PROGRAMME REPORTS : BVB-INFOSYS FOUNDATION PROGRAMMES : OCT, 2016. Trichy Kendra organised Natyanjali by students of Srirangam Bharatanatyalaya on Oct 9, at Arulmigu Akilandeswari temple. The programme was part of the kendra s efforts at promoting young talent. The Kendra along with Infosys Foundation has held 37 such events during 2015-16, bringing on stage 164 talanted youngsters. Dancers of Srirangam Bharatanatyalaya 11
CULTURAL REACH OUT- JULY, AUG, SEPT. Sugama Sangeeth by Dr. Swati Vyas Kapadia & group, Gujarat, on July 30. Semi classical patriotic songs by young artistes Gujarat, on Aug 15. Shivaradhana Indian classical group dance by Dharma Thakkar and party, Gujarat, on Aug 28. Shivaradhana Indian classical group dance by Sri. Dharma Thakkar and party, Gujarat, on Aug 28. 12
Kootiyattam - Subhadhra Dhananjayam by Sri Margi Madhu of Nepathya, Kerala on Aug 12. Thiruvathira Kali by Smt. Manjis Ajit and troupe, Kerala, on Aug 26. Folk Drama : Lok Natya Tamasha Shaili - Agnipariksha, by Sri. Dilip Kumar Bhatt and troupe, Rajasthan, on Sep 29. 13
Folk Dance Gotipua Nata by Odisha Dance Academy, Bhubaneshwar, on Sep 5. Folk Dance : Chadheya Nata Odisha by Nrutya Sangeet Kala Parisada on Sept 19. Folk Dance Gotipua Nata by Odisha Dance Academy, Bhubaneshwar, on Sep 5. 14
DASARA GOMBE HABBA : 2016 Putra Kameshti Yaga a doll show by Smt. Anu Visweswaran at Bhavan as a part of Dasara celebration from Oct 1, to Oct 10. Padmabhushana Dr. B. Saroja Devi lighting the lamp to inaugurate the doll show on Oct 1. 15
DASARA CELEBRATIONS AT BHAVAN Kathakeerthana Sriramanjaneya Yuddha by Kum. Tushara L Acharya on Oct 6. Vachana : Srirama Pattabhisheka by Sri. K.G. Raghavan, Hon. Secretary, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, on Oct 7. Bharathanatya by Dr. Vasundara Doreswamy and troupe, sponsored by ICCR on Oct 8. 16
OBITUARY Yusuf Arakkal s tremendous energy, palpable and infectious, injected itself into positive vibes and optimism in all those around him. It poured into his art as creativity in different genres, encompassing sculpture, painting, mural art, installations and even writing. The rebellious young teenager who ran away from Kannur, Kerala, to make Bengaluru his home in the Sixties, could have well turned out snooty and aloof he was, after all, self-made, the very hard way, saw worldly success, and remained on top thereupon, financially and artistically. Yusuf was a humanitarian; Bhavan too did not remain untouched by his warmth. A cultural organization such as the Bhavan mourning the passing away of a world renowned artist does so for the loss of an art heritage as personified through the artist. Here at the Bengaluru Bhavan, it is an unstinted support base that has been lost Yusuf was a large-hearted encourager of art. In Bhavan, Yusuf saw a reflection of a cultural cause close to his heart, Bhavan s art camps and shows wooing him as an avid art lover. Every time Bhavan approached him for participating in its visual arts activities, Yusuf was there, expressing his unflinching support. Yusuf always accepted an invitation from Bhavan. His support was as much stated as silent. His passing away is a personal loss to me, says Bhavan Director Sri H. N. Suresh. Recalling his decades-long association with Yusuf, right from the early Sixties, Sri Suresh says he was very creative in his approach and had an eye for detail, particularly in bringing out emotions into art works. This helped him to become a prominent artist. His innovative efforts, which helped him branch off to allied arts such as installations, aided him in standing the test of time, his contemporary approach further fuelling his creativity. 17
He was a great human being. He used to respond to the problems of the art community, and stood by them in his own way, recalls Sri Suresh. This is also how people will remember Yusuf a humanitarian artist with a golden heart. Dr. K A Ashok Pai Dr. K A Ashok Pai, well known psychiatrist and Director, Mental Health Task Force, Karnataka, was a household name in the field of mental health, his Manasa nursing home for psychiatric treatment in Shivamogga having provided succour to many. For Dr. Pai, creating awareness on mental health, removing the taboos associated with it, and making treatment for the mentally ill easily accessible, was an aim that drove him to explore different media to disseminate this information. This made Dr. Pai seek out the Bhavan to start courses for grooming mental health professionals, the one-year PG diploma course of BVB in association with Manasa Educational Foundation for Mental Health begun in 2005, drawing even professionals such as dentists and medicos. Psychiatrists too made use of the course to hone their skills as confidantes, non-partisan listeners and develop empathy with their patients, the courses themselves running into corporate, child and advanced counselling, mental retardation, sexuality and sexual counselling and substance dependence counselling. The broad content of the courses designed by Dr. Pai covered the gamut of problems faced across sections and age groups. His introductory classes for each of the courses meant a lot to the students. His trips to Bengaluru were incomplete without a visit to the Bhavan. His enthusiastic presence will be missed at the Bhavan, yet the courses set up by him will be continued with equal zeal and ensure that his was not a lost cause. 18
Tue 5.00 p.m. - 01. BVB Rotary International presents Sambhrama Cultural Programme. Venue : Chowdaiah Memorial Hall (more details pl see page no. : 6-7) Fri - Sun 6.30 p.m. - Khincha Hall 04. - 06. A three-day Lecture on The Yoga of Action Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 : Topic: Karma Yoga Speaker : Sri M Sun 10.30 a.m. - Khincha Hall 06. Bhavan s Kala Bharathi convocation and Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurti Endowment cultural programmes by BVB South Centre Chief Guest : Vidushi Vasanth Madhavi, Musicologist Guest of Honour : Sri Venugopal, Regional Director, ICCR (more details pl see page no. : 3) Fri 6.00 p.m. - 11. Veena recital by Smt. Manjula Surendra and Party (in association with Infosys Foundation) Venue : Indian Institute of World Culture, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru Sat 6.30 p.m. - Khincha Hall 12. ICCR Horizon series - Kathakali Dance recital : The Padam of Urvashi from Nivatakavacha Kalkeya Vadham Choreographed by Natyacharya Guru Sri Sadanam Balakrishnanji Artistes : Urvashi by Prabal Gupta, Arjuna by Sadanam Suresh Vocal - Sri Sadanam Shivadasan and Smt. Sadanand Jyotish Babu 19 PROGRAMME : NOVEMBER - 2016 Sat 5.30 p.m. - KRG Hall 12. BVB Kalabharathi presents Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurti endowment cultural programmes (more details pl see page no. : 3) Sat 6.00 p.m. - 19. BVB -Infosys Foundation Outreach programme : Instrumental music by Venu-Veena-Violin Venu : Vid. A.P.Sarvotham Veena : Vid.V.Gopal Violin : Vid. Sathyaprakash Venue : Samagana Sangeetha Sabha, No. 2169, 16th Main, D Block, Sahakaranagar Blr -92 Sat 5.00 p.m. - KRG Hall 19. BVB Kalabharathi presents Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurti endowment cultural programmes (more details pl see page no. : 3) Sun 10.30 a.m. - KRG Hall 20. BVB Kalabharathi presents Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurti endowment cultural programmes (more details pl see page no. : 3) Sun 10.00 a.m. -Khincha Hall 20. Abhivyakti Dance Cenre presents : Oddissi Manch Pravesh of Smt. Sowmya Lohith (Disciple of Guru Manasi Raghunandan)
BOOK POST November - 2016 20 JYOTHI RAGHURAM