It was indeed a warm function.
The event got up by the sishyas of Tanjore S. Kalyanaraman to remember him and his unique contribution to Carnatic music.
Chennai is recovering from the summer heat but the Narada Gana Sabha hall in Alwarpet, where this function was held, was half-full when the programme began on June 2.
The start was musical in nature. An orchestra performance of 'Bhavayami Paradevataam', a navaratnamalika sthothram of Sri Adi Sankaracharya for which Kalyanaraman had composed the music.
Led by Brinda Venkataramanan and Bhushany Kalyanaraman, this group of about 20 members set the tone for the remembrance.
Then followed the screening of a docu-film on the artiste. For this occasion, a 20-minute version of the 65-min. original was screened. It featured present day stalwarts who shared their memories and thoughts on Kalyanaraman. On tape were Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Trichur V. Ramachandran, Lalgudi Jayaraman, Dr. Balamuralikrishna, T. N. Seshagopalan.
Producing this docu-film (directed by S. B. Khantan) was a great idea that Bhushany and Brinda could have thought of for the occasion. Documentation of the arts is hardly done. And though the short screening did not provide a complete picture of the work, it was indeed a good effort.
We are told that copies of the docu-film are on sale.
The NGS hall filled in as the formal event began. On stage were a High Court judge, NGS' R. Krishnaswamy, T. N. Seshagopalan, P. S. Narayanaswamy and Va. Ve. Subramaniam, former principal of VIvekananda College, Mylapore.
A double album of Kalyanaraman's songs was released on this occasion. Swathi Soft Solutions has produced this album and will market it. More albums are in the offing. Timely indeed because we were told that just one music album of this great artiste was released in his life time.
Kalyanaraman was one of GNB's brightest sishyas and he went on to carve a unique place as a vocalist and create his own baani.
The warm evening ended with a concert by the Malladi Brothers.
The event was presented by Brinda Venkataramanan's Shanmughapriya (ct; 044-2493 8365) and the Tanjore SKR Trust managed by Bhushany Kalyanaraman, who is also a well known vocalist (ct; 0-98403 05139).
