Sri Jayarama Seva Mandali celebrates 60 years with gusto

Even essentially the most novice of classical musicians will pay attention to the Sri Jayarama Seva Mandali’s legacy of presenting music, dance and discourses within the metropolis. “Much before the building came up and the Mandali celebrated Ramanavami on a makeshift pandal, my father RK Srikantan and I would perform to packed crowds in Jayanagar. The audiences would request Kannada kritis of Lord Rama, apart from works by the trinity of composers — Tyagaraja, Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri,” remembers Ramakanth Srikantan, who accompanied his father for greater than six a long time on many a classical stage. 

Hindustani vocalist Pt Nagaraj Rao Havaldar’s live performance this 12 months on the Mandali was actually one to recollect. Congratulating them on their landmark anniversary, Nagaraj mentioned the institute had begun selling artwork in its true spirit, even earlier than he had began studying music.

“No organisation is small and no artiste is bigger than art itself. Many such mandalis have put in a lot of effort to collect donations, spending it on logistics and arrangements, and to pay the artistes as well. Many a time, the costs far exceed the collection; rasikas as well as artistes should support such Seva Mandalis,” says Nagaraj, who educated below Madhav Gudi in Kirana Gharana, and was impressed by the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana below the steering of Panchakshara Swami Mattigatti.

Small beginnings

In the Sixties, when South Bengaluru started scouting for venues for cultural occasions, Kannada author, grammarian and lexicographer G Venkatasubbiah (popularly generally known as GV) was instrumental in setting plans in movement. Later, he went on to oversee the development of the Jayarama Seva Mandali Auditorium in Jayanagar in 1965.

Vocalist G Ravi Kiran
| Photo Credit:
GANESAN V | The Hindu

“What started off as a venue for Ramayana Paarayana and music concerts, soon had leading stars such as Balamurali Krishna, RK Srikantan and flute Ramani, Veena Doreswamy Iyengar and young violinists Ganesh-Kumaresh performing there,” says Mandali Secretary H Sundara Murthy.

He provides, “That encouraged the Mandali to carry on with their mission based on their core principles of spreading traditional values inherent in the scriptures, especially The Ramayana. Music and dance were another facet of the Mandali’s activities.”

SK Gopalakrishna, present President of Jayarama Seva Mandali, says, “In the first year of the hall’s inauguration in 1965, it was GV’s efforts that helped us hold a 15-day discourse on The Ramayana. In the years that followed, we started our publications unit, bringing music, culture and books, under one umbrella. Nearly two dozen titles have been published by the Mandali since then, including GV’s magnum opus Srirama Sambhava which was re-printed for our 50^th year celebrations.”

The newest addition to the Mandali’s bookshelves has been the Srimad Ramayana Chitramanjari, a color illustrated model of The Ramayana, in English, Kannada and Sanskrit.

Stellar lineup

The Mandali additionally conducts a youth expertise collection yearly, other than their common programme schedule throughout Ramanavami. This 12 months’s pageant started on April 6 and can proceed until April 21. 

Musician Ranjani Vasuki
| Photo Credit:
Special association

“Sabhas like these play a great role in taking Carnatic music to one and all,” says vocalist Ravikiran, including, “I will perform compositions of Tyagaraja, Dikshitar and Purandaradasa, at this year’s celebrations. Tyagaraja had a remarkable approach to music — he saw the gods as an embodiment of naada. One of his kritis describes the seven musical notes as bells, and the exalted rāga as a bow.”

Ranjani Vasuki, scholar and daughter of Nagavalli Nagaraj, says she counts it a blessing to be a part of the sixtieth anniversary occasion with her youngsters. Her live performance, she says, might be a vibrant mix of conventional and fashionable Carnatic compositions with improvisational parts.

“Alongside core Carnatic pieces, I will be including bhajans and a few timeless classic film hits that evoke the spirit and glory of Lord Rama.” Ranjani’s devotional thread will embrace keertanas, bhajans and soul-stirring compositions from Purandarasasa with ragas resembling Kadanakuthuhalam, Abheri, Hindola, and a Mishra Thumri raga in addition to Ragamalikas.

The Sri Ramotsava hosted by Sri Jayarama Seve Mandali, Jayanagar eighth block, will go on until April 21. Entry free. All concert events start at 6.30pm. Call 080 22445232 for programme particulars