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General Buzz 2019
Music in the Esplanade zone of Chennai
- 23 December 2019
In the chaos of roaring traffic, busy shoppers and hurrying office-goers of the Esplanade zone of north Chennai, the art deco-styled Rajah Annamalai Manran auditorium stands up, holding up to those who have time to stop and stare, a Madras of the 1950s.
Today, Chennai Metro Rail's station and its underground rail line make for the recent civic development in this area.
On Saturday last (Dec.21), the Manram complex was grandly illuminated, as was the huge statute of its visionary, Rajah Annamalai Chettiar. Inside, the woodwork was polished afresh, the lights cleaned and the wonderful art portraits of celebrated music composers of the past, hung on on all three walls stood out, with little focus lights highlighting them.
This is one venue of the December Season where rasikas give performing artistes and good speakers a big, loud and long round of applause. And they freely clapped for the nagaswaram artistes who set the tone for the 77th edition of the Thamizh Isai Festival that Saturday evening.
The guest for the launch was 'Dinamani' newspaper editor K. Vaidhyanathan. Two senior artistes were honored - violinist A. Kanyakumari with the 'Isai Peraringnar' title and A. Balasubramaniya odhuvar who was given the 'Pann Isai Peraringnar' title.
The Sangam also honored the families of famed music director late M. S. Vishwanathan (fondly called MSV) and of late violin vidwan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. MSV's daughter Latha Mohan and Vaidhyanathan's wife received mementoes.
Speaking on this occasion, the late violinist's son, Sekar said that the violin first used by his father and later, by him was donated to the museum at the Manram's premises.
At the launch, P. R. Gokulakrishnan, president of the Tamil Isai Sangam and A. C. Muthiah, hony. secretary were on stage. Music students who excelled in competitions held here earlier received prizes.
And as is a tradition kept here, Dr. Seerkazhi Sivachidambaram presented the first concert of this festival.
Every morning and early evening, odhuvars and pann isai artistes perform; the Thamizh isai concert or dance recital is at 7 p.m. For details of the schedule here go to the web link at www.kutcheribuzz.com
