MANGALURU: If you happen to pass by the flyover at Surathkal early morning on the first Sunday of every month, you are most likely to park aside your vehicle and get soaked in the
mesmerising music rendered by young Carnatic artistes that operate in the space beneath the flyover.
This is an initiative by the
Nagarika Salaha Samiti – a federation of various associations that recently gave the empty space under the flyover a compete makeover spending Rs 35lakh and
Mani Krishnaswami Academy. The members identify budding
Carnatic musicians below 25 years of age who make the little space their stage and the flyover their roof to serve delicious dose of musical fervour from 6am – 7am.
“We started the initiative keeping three things in mind. To provide young Carnatic artistes from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi a platform, to acquaint the locals with the musical form and to create a sense of belongingness among them about the renovated space so that its upkeep becomes easy,” said
P Nityananda Rao, secretary, Mani Krishnaswami Academy.
The initiative also comes as a huge booster to the fading Carnatic music that has only two established coaching centres in the whole of Mangaluru, one in Puttur and another two centres in Udupi. This is in stark contrast to the dozens of western musical classes that have popped up in every corner of the erstwhile twin districts.
According to the organisers, the show, which saw its third performance this Sunday with nine artistes, including a violinist and a mridunga player, has been garnering more and more people with each and every passing show.
“This Sunday, we had at least 150 people enjoying the music,” said K Rajamohan Rao, convener, Nagarika Salaha Samiti.
According to Nityananda Rao, the series of Carnatic shows will continue for at least another nine months. He said efforts are on to introduce the participating musicians to a bigger audience and thus revive Carnatic music in the coast.