Singing of krutis of Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar by Vidu. Dr. R.N. Srilatha is arranged on Aug.28 at 6 pm at Alwar Kalabhavan in Gokulam 3rd Stage.

Accompanying artiste are Vidu. Veena Suresh on violin, Vid. A. Radhesh on mridanga and Sharth Koushik on kanjira.

Programme is sponsored by Karnataka Bank, Mysuru and Sri Krishna Gana Sabha.

On Aug.29, Dance Programme titled ‘Bahuroopi Srikrishna’ by Vidu. Smitha Raghunath (Director, Kala Pravesha Academy, Bengaluru) and party at 6.30 pm at Alwar Kala Bhavan.

Programme is sponsored by Sri Krishna Seva Samithi Trust. 

Both programmes are in association with  Kannada and Culture Department,                 Bengaluru.

PROFILES

Dr. R.N. Sreelatha is a leader par excellence in the field of Karnatak music.  As a ‘A top’ grade artiste of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) she has performed in all prestigious slots of                                         AIR and DD. 

Being the first woman ‘Doctoral degree’ awardee in Karnatak music from Karnataka, she has done full justice to her research through her dedicated teaching and her authorship. She has been appointed as Member, Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy for three years recently. 

At an early age of 21, her talent and expertise got a major fillip when she won 6 prizes in a competition conducted by esteemed Madras Music Academy and Indian Fine Arts Society. 

Presence of doyens like M.S. Subbalaskhmi and D.K. Pattammal provided a great stage for her as a budding artiste. M.D. Ramanathan, a vocalist of great repute, appreciated her performance and presented her a Tambura (Indian Lute).

She has performed across the country and abroad as well. Over the decades her contribution to the field of performing arts have been recognised by multiple organisations.

‘Karnataka Kalashri’ from Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy, ‘Ananya Shastra Koustubha’ from Ananya GML Cultural Academy, ‘Sangeetha Saraswathi’ from Bhakti Bharati Prtishtana, ‘Nadajyothi Puraskar’ from Nadajyothi Sri Tyagaraja Bhajana Sabha are some of the prominent awards bestowed on her.

Guru Smitha Raghunath, a classical dance teacher, performer and choreographer, has been performing both in the US and in India for the last 25 years. She hails from the Abhinaya Natyalaya School of Dance in Chennai where she first trained under the tutelage of Kalaimaamani Guru Krishnakumari Narendran.

Now she is pursuing Bharatanatyam at an advanced level under the guidance of Guru B. Bhanumathi, Artistic Director of Nrithyakalamandiram, Bengaluru.

She has performed under the banner Nritya Kala Mandiram that has achieved world-wide acclaim in the Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam.

She has performed in various classical ballets and dance festivals across India and in the US and has to her credit over 200 performances, both individual and group from 1982 to 2016. 

Both her Gurus, Guru Bhanumati and Guru Krishnakumari are direct disciples of Sri Dhandaayutha Paani Pillai – the pioneer of the Pandhanalloor style of Bharatanatyam.

Yet another passion of Smitha is the art of painting. Having completed her Master’s in the History of Fine Arts and Architecture, she has to her credit numerous artwork projects where she has created layouts and designed logos and advertising literature as a freelance designer.