Chennai | This Margazhi, unconventional venues click with music fans

Food and music

Veena artiste Nirmala Rajasekar has performed in many unusual places – such as a classroom, an open air theatre, college campuses and a state fair in the US. But for this Carnatic veena player, who has one foot in Minnesota and another in Mylapore, a key Margazhi moment this season happened at Southern Spice Restaurant inside the iconic Taj Coromandel hotel in Nungambakkam, Chennai.

At Margazhi Sangamam, an event by the hotel to celebrate this musical month, Nirmala forayed into ragas like Nattakurunji, Amritavarshini, before launching into a Bharatiyar composition and a few original tracks.

The setting was different, the music the same.

Veena artiste Nirmala Rajasekar and team performing at Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel
| Photo Credit:
Johan Sathyadas

“We learn so much from where we perform,” says the Kalaimamani Awardee, who was accompanied by her daughter Shruti Rajasekar (keys), Ixchel (electronic music) and D Chandrajit (tabla), “It was gratifying to see an audience that really cared and received us well. We were even asked to play the same piece twice by someone at the audience.”

The chefs at Southern Spice put together a special menu for the performance, and other musical evenings during the Sangamam (December 27-30). This had, among other things, manathakali vathal kuzhambu, arachuvitta sambar and javvarisi semiya paysam. The mocktails and cocktails were named ‘Jaladarangam’, going with the musical theme of the evening.

Inspired by the evening and the need to promote the arts, Nirmala has suggested a corner for musicians at a grocery chain. She says, “More spaces should become art-friendly and take music directly to newer audiences. Only then, Carnatic music will, not only survive, but also thrive.”

The ‘Kutty Kuchery’ experience

Vandana Srinivasan’s musical performance at Rare Lily
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Laasya Narasimhachari went shopping. She came back with an idea.

The Bharatanatyam-Kuchipudi dancer and event curator was checking out an antique chapati box at Rare Lily, a store at RA Puram that sells furniture and home decor, when she realised the space could be converted into a performance venue. One thing led to another, and Rare Lily played host to a performance in her recently-held ‘Kutty Kutchery Festival’.

“For a long time, we have thought of a musical performance as something in which there is a stage for the artiste and some distance between them and the listeners. The experience of a sabha has defined Margazhi. I wanted to redefine the experience as a rasika. We tried to break a definition and redefine space and artistic experiences,” says Laasya, founder-director of Rasoham, which puts together the festival.

While the last edition of ‘Kutty Kutchery Festival’ featured a Priyadarshini Govind performance under a mango tree at the backyard of the Kanakavalli saree store, this edition also focussed on unconventional experiences, like vocalist Bharat Sundar’s Carnatic music at Hanu Reddy Residences and Vandana Srinivasan’s evening of ghazals at Rare Lily. Another evening had ‘Naatupura Kalaigal’ by folk artistes, in which the audiences joined in along with the performers for a few quick steps. “What completes the experience is not just the art form but understanding the artiste itself. Each performer owns their artistry, which makes it unique,” adds Laasya.

Her festival, which ran for 10 days across different venues, aimed to feature performances in intimate, personal settings. Laasya explains, “A mridangam artiste once told me that the performer has to be so close to the listener that when the hand raises to play the instrument, it should brush against the listener. You should experience art as closely as possible.”

Hello doctor

The Indian Choral Ensemble at MGM Healthcare
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Hospitals can be intimidating for some people. But this Margazhi, rasikas thronged a couple of Chennai hospitals, not for blood tests or doctor visits, but to listen to concerts.

The atrium at MGM Healthcare in Nelson Manickam Road played host to a couple of interesting musical attempts a few weeks ago, with Carnatic music sisters Anahita and Apoorva’s performance, followed by the Indian Choral Ensemble.

When the 30-plus music choir performed at the atrium of the hospital, patients, doctors and other public members gathered on all floors to soak in the music. “When there’s live music playing in a hospital, there is momentary relief for patients. Also, doctors rarely get time to head out for concerts, so this concept appealed to them. I believe that as performers, we reached out to a new set of audience,” says Kalyani Nair of the Ensemble, which attempts to bridge Carnatic and contemporary musical themes.

The choir performed their original songs and also premiered a few pieces, including a song from musician Karthik Manickavasakam’s upcoming album. Popular film themes like the Mouna Raagam theme and pieces from Manjummel Boys were also added to the mix, apart from classic Carnatic compositions like ‘Maitreem Bhajata’. “It was unusual because it lightened up the atmosphere inside the hospital. This season of Margazhi is lively and brings out the music fan in everyone in Chennai,” adds Kalyani.

She is referring not just to the people assembled at the hospital atrium, but also patients who were inside rooms and recuperating. “Personalised support was provided to patients, ensuring they could participate comfortably. Patients and family members had the option of watching it on the TV screens in their rooms,” says Dr Urjitha Rajagopalan, MD, MGM Healthcare, adding that such cultural initiatives play a key role in creating a supportive and uplifting hospital culture.

More such cultural spaces are coming up. Alwarpet-based Kauvery Hospital has lined up a ‘Margazhi Isai Thiruvizha’ every evening from January 7-10, in an auditorium in their premises, featuring performers like Carnatic vocalist Vasudha Ravi and mandolin player Vishwas Hari, among others. It’s more musical than medical this season.