Chennai based Dr. MLV Rasikar Mandram celebrated her remembrance day on Nov. 4 at Russian Cultural Centre, Alwarpet, Chennai. Though Dr. MLV's anniversary falls on Oct. 31, her remembrance day is always celebrated on the following Saturday for the convenience of the public. This year it was also an occasion to pay tribute to Srividya, daughter of MLV, who passed away recently.

V. Sundaram, IAS (Retd) presided over the function. He narrated how the famed G. N.Balasubramanian, guru of MLV took her as his disciple at a young age, while her family wanted her to study medicine. GNB spotted the genius in her and moulded her to become one among the famous women in Carnatic music in those years. MLV, though adopted the style of GNB, had her own original innovative way of singing, he said.

V. Sundaram gave a treat to the audience by playing the audio cassette of Lalithangi, mother of MLV recorded during 1925, in raga Jonpuri, in praise of Chitharanjan Das, who was a patriot.

The function started with a Bharathanatyam recital of Aishwarya Jayaraman, disciple of Smt. Meenakshi Chitharanjan. She performed a few traditional items like Pushpanjali, Jathiswaram, Varnam etc. In the second session, she danced to the cine songs of MLV, Andhi Mayangudhadi in raga Kalyani, Chinnanchiru Kiliye, set to ragamalika and Aadal Kaneero in raga Charukesi, choreographed by her guru Meenakshi Chitharanjan. The audience was thrilled to hear MLVs original voice as the playback for the live dance.

Guru Meenakshi Chitharanjan in her speech paid tribute to Srividya, who was an excellent dancer, apart from a popular film actor, with expressive eyes. She quoted from Subbudu's critisism on Srividya's dance thus, 'sutralavai kuraiththal ulagam surralam' (she can conquer the world if she can slim down a bit). She also mentioned about MLV as an inspiring teacher, who could produce a beeline of shishyas occupying high pedestal in Carnatic music arena today.

There was also a quiz on the saint poet Purndaradasa, whose krithis MLV popularised.

The president of MLV Rasikar Mandram,.M.N. Padmanabhan came out with the announcement that, year 2007 being the 80th birthday year of MLV, the Mandram proposes to conduct one program every month of upcoming artistes of Canatic music and dance, for which donations from rasikas/public are welcome.

MLV Rasikar Mandram can be contacted at Ph. 044-2499 0402, 94440 54499.
Secretary - Chandrika Rajaram.