South India Cultural Association of Hyderabad celebrated their 47th Anniversary by presenting an eight-day fest featuring well known artistes.
This year, the festival was held at the Lalitha Kala Thoranam outdoor theater in the Public Gardens instead of the regular auditorium at Ravindra Bharathi, which is under renovation. This was also the first time that SICA sent free passes to all its members. Though the seating capacity of Lalitha Kala Thoranam was more than twice that of Ravindra Bharathi, it was packed on most days. The heavy rains in Hyderabad had also stopped, just in time for the festival.
Flute maestro N. Ramani, who was supposed to give the inaugural concert was in the U.S.A. and was missed by everybody. Bombay Jayashree was chosen to take his place here. All the performances, whether it was Bombay Jayashree in her “ Ranga Sayee” in Kambhoji, Kadiri Gopalanath elaborating Kharaharapriya with Kanyakumari enhancing his concert on the violin, Malladi Brothers rendering “Enduku Nirdaya, Evarunnarura” in Harikambhoji or the Priya Sisters singing “Sarasiruhanana Rama” in Mukhari, were a feast for the Hyderabad rasikas.
So was the Bharathanatyam performance by Urmila Sathyanarayanan. Her rendering of a Tamil padam “Kayyil Rokkam Panam” exhibited her emotive talents.
You can write to Ramayya Mulukutla at laxmiram12@yahoo.com
