Chennai (Tamil Nadu) , Dec 14 : The 13th edition of Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru Music and Dance Festival will be held from December 18 to 25, 2017 in Chennai. The eight-day mega event is being organised by Lakshman Sruthi, the musical consortium, at Kamarajar Arangam.
Veteran music director "Kalai Mamamani" Thenisai Thendral Deva will inaugurate the mega festival on December 18 at 4 pm, in the esteemed presence of dance exponent Padma Bhushan Padma Subramanyam.
Lakshman Sruthi Musicals has been conducting this festival in the month of December every year to promote South Indian classical musical form and to provide a unique experience of music renderings for the rasikas.
This year's Season 13th will host 60 live concerts by stalwarts from Carnatic and Hindustani music, upcoming talents and dancers. They will amaze you with their scintillating performances from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m daily. This festival is witnessed by around 1,00,000 live audience every year and it is also reaching millions of viewers globally through our media partner Zee Tamil.
Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi will be our chief guest at the valedictory function on the concluding day of December 25, 2017.
A quick recap of the association between the month of Margazhi and music
•Music is the Divine's language
•Music is the link between the ordinary man and the supreme god
•Music is the invisible spring of compassion
•Music is the medicine for the broken heart
•Music is hard to resist even for rebels and atheists
•Music is present everywhere - be it temples, congregations, Church or Gurudwara
In other words, music is the means to experience and attain the divine. Music is beyond directions, countries, language, race, religion, or caste differences. It unites all. It touches hearts without any conditions attached. It is not an exaggeration to say that music has the power to overpower the five elements of air, water, fire, earth and ether. Next to sign language, music is a language understood by all.
God has created different seasons for different natural phenomena. Only during specific months do the flowers bloom, rains fall, winds blow, snow falls and crops grow. The season for music is Margazhi. Margazhi is said to be the king among months. Some of the highlights of this month are:
-Thiruppavai composed by Andal is sung during this month
-In Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna says that he is Margazhi among months
-Thiruvathirai in Margazhi is celebrated as the day Lord Siva danced in Chidambaram
-Manikkavasagar bestowed us with Thiruvasagam in this month
-Jesus Christ is believed to be born in this month to bless mankind
-The various names of Lord Vishnu is chanted as Hari Naama Sankeertanam in this month
-Colourful patterns are drawn with rice flour (kolam) outside the homes in this month
-The temple bells chime throughout the month
-The deities are consecrated every day in this month
Margazhi has many such specialities. Such a month uniting with the all-conquering music is the celebration of the music festival through Thyagaraja Aradhana. He is the composer of the well-known kriti 'Entharo Mahaanubhavulu' and thousands of other songs. Amongst the composers and scholars of Carnatic music, he is the foremost.
Among his compositions, the Pancharatna Kritis are considered jewels. He has composed five songs in praise of his much-loved Lord Rama in five heavy ragas of Nattai, Gowlai, Aarabi, Varaali and Sree, which is sung by Carnatic musicians all over the world. Not just vocalists, but instrumentalists too play this with great enthusiasm.
On close observation, we can see that many these compositions in the heavy ragas are also played by classical musicians from the north as well as the west, because of which appreciation of Carnatic music is increasing among foreigners.
It is a matter of pride for every artist that the appreciation for these kritis crosses all boundaries. Such popular Pancharathna Kritis are performed every year in the divine land of Thiruvaiyar during the well known Thyagaraja Aradhana festival.
It is surprising but true that whether one is knowledgeable or not, all celebrate this Thyagaraja Aradhana festival with enthusiasm. Indeed, they are blessed who can listen in person to the artists from all directions coming and performing in the Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. Many make it a point to come from even across boundaries to be part of this festival.
It may not be possible for all of us to go to Thiruvaiyaru and witness the music ensemble. This very thought gave birth to the idea of holding a virtual Thiruvaiyaru festival here in Chennai itself. M/s Lakshman Sruthi Musicals have committed to organise this event and we have successfully conducted it for the past twelve years.
With the blessings of the Music Trinity, we wish to hold 'Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru' for the 13th Year in succession to the great happiness of musicians and rasikas alike. Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru brings the divinity of the Tanjore soil to Chennai, not only for the enthusiasts in the city but across from all the districts of the state, from across different states and even countries.
"Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru" is the new wave of music festival that promotes the south Indian classical music form and preserves it for the future generations to cherish and nurture. Season-13 is about to begin on December 18 in Kamarajar Arangam by 10.15 am with T.V Rajagopal Pillai's Nadhaswaram performance.
The divine Pancharathna Kritis event will be lead by Suguna Varadachari, at 3.00 pm accompanied by all leading singers musicians on stage. Elaborate arrangements have been made for some 500 plus artists to participate in this ensemble on dais.
Regardless of age, gender and status as an artist, vocalists and instrumentalists are going to bring the glory of Thiruvaiyaru festival in front of our eyes. All participants, as well as the audience, will be provided a booklet containing the five kritis to facilitate their joining in as well as enjoy the concert.
A lifetime achievement Award a Citation with Gold Medal "Isaiyazhwar" title was instituted by "Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru" organizing committee in the year 2014 and presented to Nadhaswaram Exponent Shri. Thiruvizha Jayasankar - 2014, Violin Maestro Padmashree A.Kanyakumari - 2015 and Violin Legend Padmabhushan L.Subramanian - 2016. Mirudhnagam Maestro Padmavibhushan Umayalpuram Sivaraman will be receiving the prestigious "Isaiyazhwar" award for this year 2017 from our esteemed Chief Guest Dance exponent "Queen of dance" Padma Subramanyam.
This will be followed by vocal by Mahathi along with Sudha Raja team and piano by Anil Srinivasan at 5.00 pm. From December 19 onwards, there will be 8 concerts conducted every day, starting from 7 in the morning to 10 in the night.
In the memory of Padmavibhushan Dr. Balamurali Krishna, we will be attributing a wax statue of Dr. Balamurali Krishna in the premises of Kamarajar Arangam for 8 days. This statue will be designed and sculptured to perfection as statues in Madame Tussauds wax museum, London. Students and the public will be allowed to visit and take pictures with the Statue and pay tributes to their ever inspirational legend.
After the last show of the day, around 9.45 PM, 12 free buses will be operated from Kamarajar Arangam to major parts of the city for the convenience of rasikas to return back to their houses safely. The routes are Sholinganallur, Thiruvanmiyur, Medavakkam, Tambaram, Kundrathur, Poonamalle, Avadi, Red Hills, Thiruvotriyur, Parrys, Perambur, Mylapore and other areas.
On the concluding day of December 25 at 07.15 pm the valedictory function will be decorated by the chief guest Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi. There will be 60 programs by senior and upcoming Carnatic, Hindustani musicians and classical dancers. The artists listed above have prepared and trained to present something unique and appealing for this event.
Kamarajar Arangam has also been decorated uniquely to create an authentic Thiruvaiyaru experience. It will be pleasing to the performing artists as well as the audience equally.
A senior artist will be part of every event and honour the performers.The audio and lighting systems have been spruced up and two large digital screens will be placed next to the stage so that the performance can be seen more clearly by the audience throughout the auditorium.
Among the winners of the eight days of the events, one will be selected on the last day and will be given two plane tickets to the USA, sponsored by Kumbakonam Arasu Jewellers. This year, the concerts will be recorded and telecasted in Zee Tamil Television. The invitations have been printed in a colourful manner to honour the artists better.
Season ticket for those interested in all the events or tickets for individual shows will also be available. Those who book in bulk numbers will be given attractive discounts. For the convenience of the rasikas, tickets have been made available at multiple locations - Kamarajar Arangam at Teynampet, Lakshman Sruthi Musicals at Vadapalani, Naidu Hall at, T. Nagar, Velechery, Anna Nagar, Tambaram.
The nearby Congress Grounds has been hired to accommodate thousands of two and four wheelers for hassle-free parking. A general exhibition is also being hosted in the grounds for books, products related to music and a range of other products and services from beauty products to property to banks. Our volunteers will guide the audience to locate their respective seats and look after any other assistance. Advertisement campaign is placed in all leading Press, TV, Radio and Websites.
There is no dearth of food for the ears. But for rasikas who spend an entire day starting from 7 am to 10 pm at the venue, providing good quality food to the rasikas is also our responsibility. Also, usually at other venues, rasikas are compelled to have the same kind of food day in and day out due to the presence of one vendor. But just like there is variety in arts, Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru will also provide variety of food to cater to different tastes. This food festival has been conducted for the last seven years. More than 60 food vendors will put up their stalls and more than 300 people can sit and eat comfortably at any point.
As a Salute to our Mother India, a special attraction of 50 feet width and 24 feet height vegetable made Gigantic Indian tricolor flag will be erected at the food court entrance.
This year we have erected a special organic terrace/roof garden to popularise the importance of roof gardening in our fast and city life. The professionals from this field will be available to discuss and clear your doubts about organic herbal roof garden.
In addition to providing several food varieties, leading chefs will also conduct workshops for catering students. There will also be cookery competitions for the general public who can win attractive prizes. Tips on healthy eating will also be part of the show. The public can also interact with celebrities from various fields during the food show.
Attractions for children have also been taken care of. Favourite foods of children will also be available at the food festival. Food art like vegetable carvings and ice sculpture will be on display. Get ready to have your taste buds being treated to exquisite cuisine from across the world.
Those who come to enjoy the music can enjoy the food, and those who come only for the food festival will be drawn to the concerts. A special 50 percent discount for Iyappa Devotees at Namma Veettu Kalyanam food stall in food festival.
Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru 2017, would be an experience of unique music renderings in tandem with an exclusive food bonanza!
As a special gesture, this year we have invited some 500 inmates of old age homes in and around Chennai for the 7.00 am show every day. So that these distinguished senior citizens could enjoy the divine programs like Nama Sangeerthnam, Upanyasam and Devotional discourses and have a great unforgettable outing of their life.
To enable this, we have made elaborate arrangements which include free transportation, breakfast, coffee and tea. A gift pack will also be presented to them with some essential drugs, soap, comb, mirror, towel, note, pen, first aid kit. (ANI-BusinessWire India)
