Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha to felicitate Kendriya Sangeet Natak Academy Awardees from Mysuru

Mysore/Mysuru: Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha on JLB Road in city, has organised a two-day Music Concert at the Sabha premises on Dec. 10 and 11.

Kendriya Sangeet Natak Academy recently announced Academy Puraskars for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 apart from awardees for country’s Amrit Mahotsav.

Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha took the opportunity to felicitate three awardees from Mysuru who are all legends in their fields — Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy for Classical Dance, H.R. Leelavathi for Light Music and Dr. Gowri Kuppuswamy for Lifetime Achievement as a Musician & Musicologist in Karnatak Classical Music.

On  Dec. 10 at 6 pm, Vidu. S. Hiranmayee will render a Karnatak Classical Vocal along with Kritik Kaushik on violin G.S. Ramanujan on mridanga and R. Srinidhi Kaundinya on ghata.

This concert is in memory of S.R. Kumuda sponsored by H.N. Jagadish, Sri Rangarajan Iyengar Birthday Memorial sponsored by Iyengar Brothers, USA and Sri D.V. Acharya Memorial sponsored by Leela Acharya.

On Dec. 11 at 6 pm, Smt. Lalitha V. Murthy Birthday Remembrance Programme sponsored by daughters Dr. Prathibha Periera, Padma Satish and Monica Kim. Felicitation to Academy Puraskar awardees.

This will be followed by a Dance-Drama ‘Kshaatra Draupadi – A tale of the Warrior Princess’ by Natyarani Shantala Awardee Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy.

ARTISTES’ PROFILE

Hiranmayee hails from a family of musicians, Mysuru. Father late R. Srinidhi was a distinguished mridangist  and also a Professor in Physics at St. Philomena’s College, Mysuru. Mother Alakananda, a Vidwat holder from Adyar Government Music College, Madras.

By natural ability to reproduce songs of various genres flawlessly at barely 4 years, did not go unnoticed by the family. She was soon initiated into Karnatak Music at the tender age of 5 by paternal aunt, Vidushi R. Tara. Simultaneously, was also trained in Sugama Sangeetha by another paternal aunt Vidushi R. Shila, a senior and graded artiste of the AIR, Mysuru.

Later on,  pursued  training under the renowned Vidushi Dr. R.N. Shreelatha. Since 2011 to present, she has been under the wings of Sangeetha Kalacharya Vidushi Suguna Varadachari. Fortunate of having been under Gurukula Vasam for two years. Education: Advanced Diploma in Karnatak Music (Vocal), The Music Academy, Madras (Chennai); Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce securing distinction marks from the University of Mysore. She has also Secured first Rank in Junior Exam conducted by Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB).

She has secured innumerable prizes in prestigious competitions as well as scholarships. She performs both in India as well as globally. In USA, she has not only performed but trained hundreds of students.

Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, Director of Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre (VPAC), is a danseuse par excellence, versatile choreographer of repute and a venerated Guru of Bharatanatyam from Mysuru and has turned very much a phenomenon in the Indian Classical dance scenario over the past six decades and more of her career. Dr. Vasundhara is one of the pioneer disciples of renowned Pattabhi Jois from Mysuru in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and earned a Ph.D for her research and thesis on the correlation between Yoga and Bharatanatyam in 1985 and a post-graduate degree in Folklore. She is a consummate exponent of the martial arts of ‘Tang-ta’ and ‘Kalarippayattu.’

Vasundhara is the one and only Bharatanatyam danseuse to have been invited from India to perform for ‘World Peace Conference’ in Paris under aegis of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in the presence of 2,500 representatives from 137 countries.

Vasundhara travels extensively around the world conducting workshops in Bharatanatyam and Yoga. She has presented multiple solo choreographies. She has been awarded many awards globally. She is also recipient of ‘Natya Brahma’ from Nadabrahma Sabha.