KFA Music Festival

Priya Sisters  (Shanmukhapriya & Haripriya)

"Our cultural diversity and its ultimate unity, more significantly in respect of fine arts, need to be promoted abroad much more purposefully than hitherto", pointed out former Orissa Governor M M Rajendran, adding that the cultural flow from the West to the East was far more sustained and widespread than vice versa.

He was delivering the inaugural address at the 25-day 30th year Art Festival 2004 of Kartik Fine Arts, in association with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, that commenced at the Narada Gana Sabha hall, on Wednesday, December 1, evening. In this context, Rajendran commended warmly the related efforts of Kartik Fine Arts for over three decades. His wife, Susheela Rajendran, lighted the Kuthuvilakku to signify the inauguration.

In accordance with KFA’s annual convention, the ‘Isai Peroli’ (Gomathy Visweswaran Charitable Trust Award) and the Nadanamamani (Shriram Award of Excellence), each Award comprising a citation, shawl, a gold medal and cash Rs.15,000, were presented to ‘popular and leading carnatic musicians’, the Priya Sisters (Shanmukhapriya & Haripriya) and ‘the complete danseuse’ Priya Jayaraman respectively. It was a Priya-Trio Award as it were.

Young musician and rising star Nisha Poornima Rajagopal was given the D K Pattammal Award for Excellence (instituted by Nithyashree Mahadevan) comprising Rs.2,000 cash, a citation and a shawl. Nisha rendered the prayer song.

Guest of Honour Swamini Vimalananda of the Coimbatore Chinmaya Mission highlighted the pronounced importance of Indian civilization, at the global level, in relation to cultural promotion and heritage values. While most other civilizations, the Egyptian, Roman and Greek, perished in course of time, Indian civilization has stood well the marauling test of Time, abiding by the well-founded principles and values of Satyam, Sivam and Sundaram (Truth-auspiciousness-beauty).

Rev. Jegath Gasper Raj (also the Guest of Honour), spoke brilliantly and eruditely stressing how Indian culture and heritage could be wholesomely impressed on international audiences. His contextual recitation of Indian saint Manickavachagar’s classic Thiruvachagam in Western music style was indeed profound. 

Function President and IOC Director (Finance) P Sugavanam expressed his happiness over associating his organization with Kartik Fine Arts in this annual event for cultural propagation.

KFA Festival Committee Chairman L.Sabaretnam delivered the welcome address. Aruna Subbiah compered the programme. K M Narasimhan proposed a vote of thanks.

Later, Bhavya Balasubramanian, disciple of Srekala Bharath, presented an exquisite dance recital.

One word, Father Gasper! Music must reach the masses, for sure. But, was not your ‘musical-discourse’ uncomfortably too long for the occasion? Time-discipline matters too, please!