Surabhi students to present musical feature

Mysuru: Sri Krishna Gana Sabha will celebrate Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Jayanthi (birth centenary) on July 18 (Wednesday) at 6pm at Alwar Kala Bhavan, Gokulam 3rd Stage.

The celebrations will be inaugurated  by Vidwan Dr. R.S. Nandakumar. Sabha President B.S.Sridhar Raje Urs will preside. On the occasion, “Vandeham-Shive” a musical feature based on the compositions of  Jayachamaraja Wadiyar will be rendered by the students of Surabhi Gana Kala Mandira, conceptualised by Dr. Sukanya Prabhakar. Vidushi C. Shruthi on violin and Vidwan G.S. Ramanujam on mridanga will assist the musical feature sponsored by Sridhar Raje Urs and Kannada & Culture Department.

The erstwhile Mysore State was ruled by enlightened rulers (Wadiyars of Mysore). The  Maharajas were not only Patrons of art but also artistes, scholars, writers and musicians themselves. The 25th Maharaja Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, when young was interested in western music. A good Piano player, he was the Vice-Patron of Trinity College of Music, London. Later, he became interested in Karnatak music and learnt to achieve mastery over it.  He was taught by the great musician and Vaggeyakara Sri Vasudevacharya. Listening to other musicians of the time influenced the Maharaja to compose his famous 94 Kritis.

The late Maharaja was not only a great musician-composer but also a great Philosopher. He was an ardent student of Veda, Upanishad and Epics. His in-depth study of Philosophy enabled him to author books like  “Dattatreya” and “Nataraja” in English. Both the Maharaja and Ganavisharada Mysore Vasudevacharya have composed their Kritis in Sanskrit. A brief outcome of their compositions is “Vasudeva-Srividya Vaggeya Vaibhava.”

Dr. Sukanya Prabhakar, who has conceptualised “Vandeham-Shive” is a musician of great repute, hailing from Mysuru. She has a deep voice and renders pure classical music.  She was awarded Doctorate for her thesis on Kritis of Maharaja Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and her thesis was published in the form of a book.