Chennai-based 'Carnatica' which promotes Carnatic music and dance with events, fests and concerts recently celebrated its 12th anniversary with a traditional party! This was an informal and fun get-together for Carnatic musicians and was hosted at a city restaurant.

Aruna Sairam, Dr. Ramani, Ravi Kiran, Mambalam Sisters, T V Gopalakrishnan, Trichur Ramachandran and Charumathi, Chitravina Narasimhan, Sowmya besides young artistes like Shashank, Nisha Rajagopal, V. K. Manimaran, Sriranjani Santhagopalan, Bharat Sundar, Anirudh Athreya and Charulatha Mani were among those who dropped by to join the celebrations.

Neyveli Radhakrishnan played a few pieces on the violin to open the party, a cake was cut to celebrate Carnatica promoter K N Sashikiran's birthday and finally the buffet was laid open.

The hosts had invited guests to have a fun time and let their hair down. That did not happen. Most artistes were in their bright casuals but they steered clear of the cameras - some classical artistes are keen to 'keep intact' the image it seemed.

Carnatica was founded in 1998 by musicians K.N. Shashikiran and S. Sowmya. Over the years, it has spread its wings across the world.