Talented artistes from the neighbouring states Kerala, Andhra and Karnataka also feel that the December season in Chennai is special.

With the growing number of organisers competing with the major sabhas that set the tradition of the season, the young and the talented from other states find place on the calendar of the season!

Shertally Renganatha Sharma, vocalist hailing from Kerala was at the sub-junior slot at the Music Academy this week. This post graduate in music is a faculty at the Sri Satguru Sangeetha Vidyalayam, Madurai for the past 14 years.

A regular at the Navarathri concerts at Tiruvananthapuram, is singing in Chennai special for Sharma? "Certainly," says Sharma. "I have performed for many sabhas here and at the Music
Academy for the composer - Gopalakrishna Bharathi Day. Chennai throws a bigger challenge and forces us to perform better. The experience of singing in Chennai is very useful to any musician." he adds.

He had worked on a project on Kavi Kunjara Bharati's compositions too and presented it at a Chennai sabha.
Does he enjoy such thematic concerts? "Well, from the angle of freedom to the singer, the regular concerts gives us the choice. I find that the thematic performances are opportunities to know more in particular themes," says Sharma, who considers Ragam Tanam Pallavi is what he enjoys most.

"I have gathered a lot of inputs from Prof. T. R. Subramaniam's lec-dems and sessions on Pallavi singing." says Sharma. "Also, in RTP the artiste can bring out his imaginations in raga elaboration, niraval singing and the skills on the laya. An all-in-one package!"

Having learnt entirely from his father K. Narayana Iyer, who belongs to the Semmangudi tradition, Renganatha Sharma loves the Semmangudi style very much.
"Being a teacher, I would like to bring out the nuances of this style to my students as well explore new themes for concerts."
Renganatha Sharma, who now lives in Madurai can be contacted at phone number 0452 2642898