Saying it with music

South Indian Cultural Association celebrated International Women's Day at Ravindra Bharati on 11 March featuring a vocal concert by the popular Carnatic musician Salam Gayatri Venkatesan with BV Durga Bhavani on violin and Mandapaka Nagalakshmi on mrudangam. She commenced the concert with a Varnam in Kedaragowla, 'Swami dayachuda' by Tiruvottiyur Tyagayyar and moved to 'Seetamma mayamma', a Tyagaraja kruthi with vasantha ragalapana and then took up 'Palimparavadelara' in Arabhi.

She also sang other Tyagaraja kritis including 'Bantureethi koluvu' in Hamsanada raga, 'Sobhillu saptaswara' in Jaganmohini by and a javali 'neematalemayanura'. She continued her tryst with Tyagaraja as she chose Kharaharapriya as main item and sang 'Prakkalanilabadi' much to the delight of the audience. After the main item she sang 'Bhavayami gopalabalam' and then 'Nanati bratuku' an annamayya kruti and then moved to 'Kirayundru millai', a Subramanya Bharati Sahityam and concluded with a Thillana.

The artists were honoured by Gayathri Ramachandram, a retired AS officer. Rajasekhar, Secretary and Dr Ramana and Sri Latha conducted proceedings on behalf of SICA.