The Hindu Saregama M.S. Subbulakshmi Award 2013 is instituted in the memory of the doyenne of Carnatic music. The top five finalists are:
Ashwath Narayanan: He is a student of Padma Narayanaswamy and Palghat K.V. Narayanaswamy. He has been learning Carnatic music for the past 14 years.
Karthik Narayanan : He had his initial training from Vishalam Venkatachalam (disciple of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer), Delhi and is at present learning from Rajkumar Bharati. He has been learning Carnatic music for the past 14 years.
Anahita Ravindran : She began training under her grandmother Shanthi Jayaraman and is at present training under Chitravina N. Ravikiran. She has been singing for Vyjayanthimala Bali’s dance programmes and is a faculty member of International Foundation for Carnatic Music.
Sowmya Sridhar : An up and coming artist from Hyderabad, she is a disciple of Hyderabad Sisters (Lalitha and Haripriya). She has been learning music for the past 16 years.
Ramnath Venkat Bhagavath : Born into a musical family, he has been learning Carnatic music since his childhood. He is a disciple of A.S. Murali (disciple of P.S. Narayanaswamy). He is now undergoing advanced training under Prof. S.R. Janakiraman.
The finalists will perform live before panel of judges comprising Prof S. Rajeswari, Rajkumar Bhararthi and Trivandrum Krishnakumar. They will be accompanied by V.V.S. Murari (violin), N. Mohana Raman (mridangam) and K. Murali (ghatam). The winner of the award will bag a recording deal.
Tickets for the show priced at Rs. 500/300/200 can be bought online at >www.eventjini.com , or at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Hall, Lady Andal School, Harrington Road on October 27, from 10 a.m. onwards. For more details, call 9884073737.