Mysuru: The Mysore Literary Association has arranged a lecture-cum-demonstration on classical music by Vidwan Manasa Nayana on May 18 at 6 pm at the Rotary Mysore West Auditorium, Saraswathipuram.

Vidwan Manasa Nayana was initiated into music by Vidushi S. K. Vasumathi. Being a very creative musician, she opened his eyes towards the joy of manodharma sangeetha. He also trained under Vidwan Vairamangalam Lakshminarayana, a disciple of the inimitable T. K. Rangachari School, for a couple of years. But it was Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. R. K. Srikantan who was decisive in shaping his career in music.

When he took him under his wing, it was not just music that he taught him but a whole new way of life, the life of a musician. Adherence to tradition, vigorous presentation, clear diction and a rich repertoire of kritis are the hallmarks of the R.K. Srikantan bani. Manasa Nayana has tried to imbibe all these qualities from him. Currently, he is  learning from Sangeetha Kalanidhi R. Vedavalli, another musician who stands for the very best of the values in Karnatak music.

He has performed at various sabhas and festivals across the country including Nada Inbam, Thiagaraja Vidwath Samajam, Music Club-IIT Madras, Nalinakanti (Chennai), Ananya, Malleshwaram Sangeetha Sabha, Praharshini, Indian Institute for World Culture (Bangalore), BITS Pilani Goa (Goa), JSS Sangeetha Sabha and Ganabharathi (Mysore).

He is a B-High graded artiste of AIR, performing regularly in the classical, light classical and Devaranama programmes of AIR Mysore and Bangalore over the last twenty years. He has a CD of Purandara Dasa compositions “Purandara Namana” to his credit.

During his presentation, Vidwan Manasa Nayana will be accompanied by Vidwan Sumanth Manjunath on violin, Vidwan A. Radhesh on mridanga and Vidwan S. Manjunath on ghata.