An unusual programme of Rabindra Sangeet based on Karnatak music compositions has been organised on Sunday (May 12) at Kalpa Kshetra Auditorium, 581/1, Vijayanagar 4th Stage, 1st Phase, Mysruu at 6.30 pm [Mob: 9449819536].

Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore visited Mysore in 1922 as a special guest at the Dasara festival during the reign of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. Dewan Mirza Ismail took special interest to welcome and receive him. As a music composer of extraordinary abilities with an open mind to listen to and absorb all varieties of music, he was curious about Karnatak music. His niece Sarala Devi, who had spent quite a bit of her time in Mysore introduced him to Karnatak music and its numerous composers and compositions. Karnatak musician Savitri Govindakrishnan, who was a student at Shanthiniketan, familiarised Tagore with many of the well-known Kritis of South Indian Classical music. Tagore composed many Rabindra Sangeet Compositions based on Karnatak music pieces. For example, the anthem of the Mysore Royal Kingdom, Kayo Shri Gowri was the basis of the well-known Ananda Loke Mangala Loke in Bengali.

Ganga-Cauvery Sangam will present Karnatak versions and Rabindra Sangeet based on them. Musicians Manasa Nayana and Koviladi Archana will render the Karnatak songs while musicians Papri Bhattacharyya and Sanjit Das will sing the Rabindra Sangeet pieces based on them. Radhesh will accompany Karnatak musicians on mridanga and Anandarup Bhattacharyya will accompany Bengali singers on the tabla.

Dr. T.K. Bera, former Head of RMP, BARC, Mysuru, will be the chief guest at the event.                        The programme is open to all, according to the organiser Dr.V.R. Anil Kumar.