Early this season, a group of 30 plus music students from three colleges from Kerala were in the city.

This was a four day educational tour that was funded by the Kerala State.

They booked into Srinivasa Sastri Hall In Luz and took part in a variety of acts that included lec-dems, recitals and interactions.

Maestros like Umayalpuram Sivaraman and P. S. Narayanaswamy took part in the deliberations.

The students were from the Sri Swati Tirunal College of Music, Thiruvananthapuram, Chembai Memorial Govt. Music College, Palakkad and the RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Thirupunithara.

At the finale, all the students took turns to perform.

This must have been a first of its kind and it sets the example for other academies and colleges to follow. Photo above shows one group of Kerala music students in performance at the hall.

The education series was from Dec. 2 to 5.

Four nuns were among the music students who won certificates in contests that the Tamizh Isai Sangam on Monday in Chennai.

They were - Sisters Arulmalar and Gnana Arasi from the Bon Secours congregation, Mylapore and Sisters Britto Mary and Flora Juliet Mary of the Gonzaga Sisters based in Foreshore Estate, Chennai.

The nuns, in their off brown saris are undergrad students of the music course that is conducted here.

"Our congregation encourages nuns who are keen about music to attend these courses," said one nun. Added another, "There are openings for music teachers too in the schools we run so these courses are useful."

Carnatic music is part of church music now. Fr. Chelladurai, a senior Jesuit priest has been teaching, coaching and composing music for decades.

Mridangam, violin and even the kanjira instruments are used at Holy Mass.

Watch out for the big, big rush for sapad on Sunday. Every sabha canteen will be swamped by families seeking the best sapad in town. Word has got around the neighbourhood of the sapad spread and people are making their choices.

Foodies say the toss is between the canteen at the Academy (Rs.90) and the one at Narada Gana Sabha ( photo on left).

Another set are plumping for the new counter and dining area at Krishna Gana Sabha where Sri Krishna Sweets has the best of south Indian food on offer.

Early birds will get the best.

- The signboards are in place. The scouts are at their posts. Volunteers of 'The Hindu' are all over. And the core team of the Academy carry their identity cards "so people can turn to us if they need help." The Academy is tightly managed to make the 'season' an enjoyable one for rasikas.

- The souvenir and the journal of the Academy are out and available to members / rasikas. So is the newly released book on the Academy.

- The usual brands of music, accessories and stuff are on display at the stalls in the lobby. The faces you get to see throughout the year are also there in a nook - selling peanuts, chips and mango juice. The info board - listing the concerts of the day is a useful fitting in the lobby.

- There was a near riot at the canteen on day one. Its managers had been battling the pouring rain and then, came the flood of rasikas and guests, hungry at tiffin time. The Anands, and their families, N. Murali and HCL boss, Shiv Nadar sat at a centre table. Coffee at Rs.10 and masala dosa at Rs.35. Sapad is a south Indian spread but at Rs.90, will the foodies turn to it often?

If the season is just the time to show off the latest lifestyle and couture collection, it also provides space for celebrities and VIPs.

Actor-dancer Vani Ganapathy was the star at the opening evening of Kartik Fine Arts. Once the shutter-bugs of the city media had had done their official assignment, they turned to the lady in row 2.

Vani is due to dance for this sabha in a rare recital.