CHENNAI, Feb 14: As part of its rich legacy to support, and nurture classical fine arts, 93-year-old Indian Fine Arts Society (IFAS), among the oldest sabhas of Chennai that has promoted classical fine arts among the people and encourage young, talented Carnatic musicians, organised the annual Saint Thyagaraja Aaradhana Day on Saturday.
The highlight was the rendering of Pancharatna Krithis of Revered Saint Thyagaraja, the first among the trinities of Carnatic Classical Music – others being Muthuswamy Dikshithar and Shyama Sasthrigal. While the annual rendering of Pancharatna Krithis at the shrine of Saint Thyagaraja in Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur District has received universal acclaim, many organisations all over India and overseas conduct the same in their respective cities.
The Indian Fine Arts Society has honed, nurtured, and promoted young talent in classical Carnatic music, and has been conducting annual Saint Thyagaraja Aaradhana Day and the same this year was held at Ethiraj Kalyana Mandapam, where the Society’s annual Music and Fine Arts Festival concluded recently.
On Saturday, the event saw some of the most distinguished and leading Carnatic Music artistes come together and render the Pancharatna Krithis. About 70 musicians including vocalists, violinists, mridangists, ghatam, morsing, flautists, veena and kanjira vidwans took part. Some of the renowned artistes included Mr. Karur Krishnamurthi, Mr. Srimushnam V. Raja Rao, Dr. M. Narmada, Ms. Jayalaksmi Sekar, Iyer Sisters, Ms. Sriranjani Kaushik, and Mr. Muthukumar among many other veterans and budding artistes.
The proceedings began with prayers and Aarthi to the portrait of Saint Thyagaraja and was followed by the most scintillating performance of the artistes as they performed in unison the Pancharatna Krithis.
The overwhelming participation of young artistes and enthusiastic response from the audience, that included rasikas, parents of junior artistes, and general public alike, was the highlight. Office-bearers of IFAS including Mr. K.V. Ramachandran, President, Mr. K. Venkatrangam, Vice President and Dr. R.Radhakrishnan, Honorary Secretary, were present.