Decades of expertise that the family of renowned nadhaswaram exponent Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sheik Chinna Moulana has in the field of classical music came to the fore at the launch of the 17th consecutive ‘Shraddanjali’ (tribute) programme at Hotel Sangam yesterday.
Co-hosted by Sheik Chinna Moulana Memorial Trust (headed by the exponent’s grandsons Kasim and Babu) and Rasika Ranjana Sabha, the two-day programme drew the attention of music lovers to the syncretistic nature of Indian arts that has risen above social and religious considerations.
The evening started with an invocation song sung by Akeela and Aneesha, great-grand daughters of Sheik Chinna Moulana.
Speaking at the gathering, chief guest S. Vaidhyasubramaniam, Dean – Planning and Management, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, commended the secular values imparted by traditional practitioners of the arts such as Sheik Chinna Moulana which fostered communal harmony.
“It is astounding when you consider that this family has been specialising in playing the nadhaswaram for nine generations, which means 300 years, in an atmosphere of utter simplicity and pure love for art,” he said. “What makes it more remarkable is that both Kasim and Babu revered their acclaimed grandfather as their guru first, and shared the stage with him. This kind of dedication is impossible to find in any family-run enterprise these days,” he added.
The programme honoured Gosaveedu Sheik Hassan Saheb, a former disciple of Sheik Chinna Moulana, who has served as the resident vidhwan of Bhadracharam Sitarama Temple for about 45 years and to senior Thavil artiste Mayuram S. Balu, who has trained more than 600 students in Thavil.
The felicitation was accompanied by a citation and a purse of Rs. 10,000 each.
Nadhaswaram and Thavil instruments were presented to students under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
Sudha Raghunathan concert
A sparkling vocal concert by Sudha Raghunathan accompanied by Pakkala Ramadas on violin, A. Easwaran (mrudhangam), and R. Raman (morsing) rounded off the evening yesterday.
An instrumental recital by nadhaswaram exponents Panthanallur P.V. Kalidhas and S. Manimaran, Panthanallur, and Swamimalai S. Manimaran, resident vidhwans of Sri Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai, who will be accompanied by T.B. Radhakrishnan and V. Manikandan on the Thavil, is scheduled for this evening.
S. Gopinath, executive director, BHEL, Tiruchi, and V. Vasudevan, managing director, Sangam Hotel, were the special invitees to the programme.
