The sabha the Travancore royal family patronises
By KutcheriBuzz staff / Thiruvananthapuram
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| Maharaja of Travancore Sree Padmanabha Dasa, |
In a different time, a kutcheri inside the Fort of Thiruvananthapuram would have been a surreal experience. The Sri Padmanabhasamy temple, the water-filled tank and the fortress, and classical music floating in the air.
Today, the fort area is a bazar. Traditions live with temporal bargains. And the more formal Sree Karthika Thirunal Theatre in Kerala's capital city, provides rasikas a season of concerts at this time of the year (April-May). Though for many others, the irresistable would be the jewellery shops on the opposite side.
The sabha's history is fascinating. The Sri Swati Thirunal Sangita Sabha was formed in 1942 to perpetuate the memory of Maharaja Sri Swati Tirunal of the Travancore land, also a well-known classical music composer.
Under the royal patronage, the sabha grew in eminence with the best artistes featured at its concerts held at vaious venues till, in 1970, the theatre was built.
From Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar and Maharajapuram Vishwanathan Iyer to Palghat Mani Iyer, the giants of Carnatic music have performed here.
And every year, the title given by the sabha called 'Gayakaratnam' has been confered on the likes of Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasaiyer, M. S. Subbulaksmi, M. K. Kalyana Krishna Bhagavathar, D K Pattammal, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna,
K. S. Narayanaswamy, Prof. Vechoor N. Harihara Subramania Iyer, mridangam vidwan Dr. T K Murthy, Prof. Nellai T V Krishnamurthy, Prof. Parassala B. Ponnammal, S. Ratnakaran Bhagavathar and R K Srikanthan, among others.
This year (2003) it is to be confered on V. Dakshinamurthy, composer, singer and film music director. This festival also marks the 190th Swati Tirunal jayanthi celebrations.
Besides the annual festival, the sabha also hosts the Sri Chithira Tirunal Jayanthi series and the Trimoorthy festival.
In addition, concerts are held every month for its members, most of whom are seniors and prefer vintage Carnatic music that has stayed with them since the 50s and 60s.
So there are rasikas who prefer to sit through the full concert of Bombay Sisters and are not entirely for the music of a Yesudas.
Today, the royal house continues to guide the activities of this sabha.
The theatre is its prized possession and its accoustics are said to be wonderful. Though it isn't air-conditioned, the design makes it a pleasant place. However, the hall does call for a great deal of repairs as the woodden stage, interiors and furnishings have worn out.
The Sri Chithira Tirunal College of Music is also run by the sabha and conducts classes in Carnatic music - vocal, violin, flute, mridangam and in tabla.
Sitting through the festival concerts and reviewing them is part of the sishyas' assignment.
For rasikas though, this theatre is the first destination.
Address ; Fort, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - 695 023.
>>>Want to share some memories of festivals of the sabha in the 50s / 60s. Do e-mail them to us. Just 10 lines would do.>>>
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