Versatile Vishakha to Sing

RAAGA Music Academy known for its regular “Music for Wellness” programme has reached a milestone and is in with a grand Musical Discourse “Raaga Sudha Rasa” by the well-known exponent Vidu. Vishakha Hari on Saturday the 10th at 5.30pm at Jaganmohan Palace Auditorium.

RAAGA has had a distinct stint in which the connoisseurs of music were treated with not only regular monthly music programmes, but were also suffused with Healthy Living through Ayurveda and Yoga lectures. 

Profile: Vidushi Vishakha Hari received her training in Karnatak music under the legendary  Violinist Padma Vibhushan Vid. Lalgudi Jayaraman. She was later initiated into the art of Harikatha by her Guru and father-in-law, Harikatha exponent Krishnapremi Swamigal and also by her husband R. Hariji. She learnt   Bharatanatyam from the prominent dancer, Prof. Sudharani Raghupati. She is also a Chartered Accountant with an All India rank.

Her early and elaborate training in classical music and mastery over scriptures, help her convey eloquently the essence of the ancient texts. She performs music – discourses on various topics based on Srimad Ramayanam, Srimad Bhagavatham etc. She also performs from her father-in-law’s works such as Sri Vaishnava Samhitha, Sri Brindavana Mahatmyam, Divya Desa Vaibhavam, Harikathamritha Lahari and so on. Vishakha Hari being a versatile musician par excellence and one of the foremost exponents of Harikatha today with great professional experience, has performed in various prestigious sabhas and has raised funds through her performances for several social causes. Her programmes, which draw full houses across the globe, resound with energy, freshness and emotional fervour.  She has received several awards for her contributions to Harikatha and Karnatak music — Vasantashreshta ‘Woman par excellence’ award, ‘Thyagaraja Pratidhwani,’ Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Centenary Award and ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award.  

On Saturday, she is being accompanied by an accomplished team of Vid. Vittal Rangan on the violin, Vid.Tumkur Ravishankar on the mridangam and Vid.S Manjunath on the ghata.

—Veena Arun Kumar