Ananya releases calendar on 'mudras'
By Srimatha / Bangalore

Ananya has been bringing out thematic calendars related to art and culture for the past 11 years. Some of the earlier themes have been - Jnanapith award winners of Karnataka, visual representations of well known Kannada poems by S.G. Vasudev, legends of Carnatic and Hindustani music, Yakshagana, Indian classical dance forms, Swaramala and Ragamala paintings, etc. Ananya's calendars have always been cherished as keepsakes, not just for the aesthetic appeal, but also for the way art and culture are propagated through them.

This year's calendar is based on the different 'mudras' used in Bharatanatyam. Veteran photo-journalist K. N. Raghavendra Rao's collection of photographs of 'Mudras', taken at Kalakshetra of Chennai, is the source material for this calendar.

This year's calendar release programme began with a flute ensemble under the direction of T. S. Sathyavathi, a senior artiste and scholar from Bangalore. The show-stealer however, was little Megha who sang the prayer. This was followed by the calendar release by Rajaram, Retired Director of Kalakshetra. Veteran dancer and guru Bhanumathi received the first copy. Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, president of Ananya, presided over the function. The calendar release function also featured Bharatanatyam recital by Anuradha Vikranth and a classical group dance 'Bharathanjali' directed by Guru Bhanumathi.

Proceeds from the calendar sales will be devoted to development of 'Ananya Sangraha', an archive dedicated to music.