Rajarani music festival from January 18

The Rajarani music festival being hosted by the Culture & Tourism Department in the backdrop of the Rajarani temple will begin from January 18. The three-day event will showcase legendary Carnatic vocalist M Balamuralikrishnan and the celebrated couple violinist L Subramaniam and singer Kavita Krishnamurti besides mandolin exponent U Srinivas from Chennai.

In fact, this year the festival will feature just Carnatic and Odissi music. While the inaugural evening will feature veteran Odissi vocalist Shyamamani Devi followed by Mandolin rendering by U Srinivas from Chennai, the second evening would have Odissi Mardala by Guru Banamali Moharana and troupe and internationally acclaimed Carnatic vocalist M Balamuralikrishnan from Chennai.

The concluding evening will feature an Odissi vocal recital by Guru Ramahari Das. The finale performance will be Carnatic violin and vocal ‘jugalbandi’ by L Subramaniam and his wife Kavita Krishnamurti.

Like last year, this year too there will be painting and music fusion by popular artist Baladev Maharatha who will paint live while the music maestros perform.

Secretary of Culture, Ashok Tripathy said, “There has been considerable increase in footfalls at the festival. Around 4000 people turned up for the event last year and we are hopeful it will increase this year.” Apart from music lovers, the idea is to generate interest for classical music among the young generation, said Tripathy.

The American Embassy is planning to organise a cultural event on the same temple premises on February 8 where renowned Kathak dancer Pandit Chitresh Das will do a ‘jugalbandi’ with American tap dancers.