NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
SOUTH ASIA
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF

IN FIRST PERSON   • Semmangudi     Sreenivasa Iyer   • Kunnakudi R     Vaidyanathan   • Rajkumar Bharti   • Soumya   • Unnikrishnan

Nityashree Mahadevan

This granddaughter of legendary Carnatic musician D K Pattammal is one of the most sought-after young Carnatic musicians in Chennai these days. During the Margazhi season, Nityashree, like Soumya, sings on almost all the days and both the young and old rasikas throng to listen to her kacheris.

Nityashsree recalls how she grew up from being the little girl who accompanied her grandmother to the December kacheris to one of the most accomplished classical singers of today.

I still remember accompanying my grandmother D K Pattammal to many concerts during the December season. That was the time everybody talked only about kacheris and music. I must admit I have only pleasant memories of the music festival.

By the time I reached my teens, I started looking at the kacheris as sources of information. You can learn a lot by listening to the kacheris of others. And, above all, I enjoyed the music that permeated the city.

After listening to some good kacheris, I would dreamily ask myself, ‘Will I ever be singing like this during the December season?’ My dream came true in 1988 when I got a chance to sing at two places: the Nungambakkom Cultural Academy and Shruthilaya Seva. But there were hardly 15-20 people listening to me!

I was told that a few vidwans would be attending the Shruthilaya kacheri. I was very tense but they told me I did well! The greatest thing, however, was that my grandmother attended both my kacheris. In fact, she attended all my initial kacheris.

It is true that the number of people who attend my kacheris has increased tremendously over the years.

As far as we singers are concerned, there is some difference in preparing for and participating in the Margazhi festival as you are singing to those who really come to listen to a good classical kacheri. Moreover, you have to sing almost everyday during the season. During the other parts of the year, you may sing 15-20 concerts but the audiences will be different -- like in the temples, at marriages, etc -- where you can take things a little lightly. But not so during the Margazhi season. During the Margazhi Utsavam, people come to listen to you with all seriousness and your kacheris are analysed.

Going by the little experience I have, I would say Carnatic music and the December season have increased in popularity over the years. More people come to the concerts and that too from all over the world. People from the US come to Chennai during the season just to be a part of the Margazhi Mahotsav.

I don't think only elderly people come to the concerts. Yes, there are more elderly people but I see more and more youth attending the festivals. I myself have a regular large group of youngsters in the age group of 18-35 attending all my concerts and following the music with great interest. With the entry of sponsors, you also see more youngsters participating in the festival.

Even though it is tiring and strenuous to perform during Margazhi, I enjoy the experience. Any musician performing during the Margazhi Mahotsav will find it both exciting and challenging.

Also in first person:
Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer
Kunnakudi R Vaidyanathan
Rajkumar Bharti
Soumya
Unnikrishnan
Return to the main story

The Rediff Specials