There are nearly 35 Ramothsava banners in Bengaluru heralding the music season, starting with the distribution of kosambri and paanaka to beat the heat wave that seems to be a part of this Ramanavami celebrations. 

So, what sets apart the Sree Ramaseva Mandali celebrations at Fort High School grounds in Chamarajpet? SN Varadaraj, son of founder SV Narayanaswmay Rao (known as SVN Rao), says, in many places of Karnataka, especially Mysore, Ramanavami was celebrated with music, decorations and food. In 1939, his father SVN Rao, established this mandali for the purpose of integrating different celebratory practices.

The initial three-day celebrations that marked the founders’ love for music is now in its 87^th year. “The most respected names in classical music from all over India have graced this temple of music as C Rajagopalachari termed it, as even the erstwhile Mysore Royals were patrons of the mandali,” says Vardaraj.

“This year, we will have a total of 56 concerts from April 6 to May 2, apart from Ramayana discourses. The 27-day offering will see as many as 225 artistes gracing the mandali platform.” Vardaraj adds the event will play out in a 40,000 squarefoot waterproof pandal with 6,000 seats and LED screens.

Goodwill and grandeur

Varadaraj recalls the initial years when SVN Rao would book star performers of the time over the telephone, offering them ₹20 as an advance. “Neither Chembai nor his student, Yesudas, accepted a paisa; vocalist Balamurali Krishna was given ₹12 for his concerts; sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan considered his performance, a ‘service to the Lord’.”

Violin Chowdiah and MS Subbulakshmi would instantly donate whatever they received during Ramanavami, while Mandolin Shrinivas would humbly accept only divine blessings, Varadaraj says. “Top names from Karnataka such as RK Srikantan and Veena Doreswamy Iyengar as well as mridangist Umayalapuram Sivaraman from Chennai, were given ₹500 for their concerts.”

Shahid Pervez Khan
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Musical impetus

Buoyed by the encouragement and passion of SVN Rao and ghatam exponent KS Manjunath, several Ramaseva samitis and mandalis began to take shape in the city. Nearly 120 years ago, compounder Subba Rao started the Rama Bhaktha Sabha and SVN Rao began his Mandali in Chamarajpet in 1939. Soon, every area in the city echoed with music during Ramanavami, and it eventually came to be known as ‘Bangalore’s Music Season’.

In the early-1940s, Narayanaswamy was introduced to violin legend T Chowdiah and flute Mahalingam, both of whom developed an instant affection for the mandali and its purpose. Their strategy to help the Ramaseva Mandali banner flourish was simple — get stars to perform with the bonus that Chowdiah would accompany them on his violin.

Gradually, the mandali’s fame grew and connoisseurs would eagerly wait for programme listings to make their bookings a month in advance. “Today, we have a high digital reach. After we announced the programme on our Facebook page this year, we had over 4.1 million clicks,” says Abhijith Varadaraj, who helps his father SN Varadaraj, with the running of the mandali.

Jayanthi Kumaresh
| Photo Credit:
K_V_SRINIVASAN

Rewards and recognition

Musical Ramothsava celebrations are a unique feature of Karnataka, says vocalist Vidyabhushana, who will be receiving the SVN Rao Global Award for Music this year. A close associate of the family, he says, “As a violinist himself, Rao understood what it took for musicians to be recognised. His reason for inviting star musicians was not to set an affluent ambience, but to help performers and rasikas understand the values associated in opening up a cultural identity for pre-Independent India.”

“If there is one season that democratises classical music, it is Ramanavami, as several mandalis and samitis work towards an inclusive and comprehensive offering for one and all,” he adds.

Arizona-based sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez will be stepping into the mandali as a first timer to accept the Special SVN Rao Global Award for Music in Hindustani.. “This is where stalwarts such as Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Amjad Ali Khan have been honoured. I consider it more than a blessing to receive the award and play for Bengaluru audiences,” says Ustad Shahid. 

The Rama Gana Kalacharya Award of the Mandali will be bestowed on veena exponent Jayanthi Kumaresh this year.

“The Ramanavami melodies at Fort High School, remain a part of growing up for many, much like the Kadalekai Parishe, which is an intrinsic part of Bengaluru culture,” says Jayanthi, daughter of violinist Lalgudi Rajalakshmi. “I have played the tambura for my uncle violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman and have accompanied my mother on stage at the mandali as a junior artiste. The scent of jasmine garlands offered after the concert still lingers in my memory.”

Vocalist Vidyabhushana
| Photo Credit:
SREENIVASA MURTHY V

“As my husband and I enter these portals for our ‘Strings Attached’ concert, we hope to create good memories for younger connoisseurs attending this devotional platform,” adds the musician, who is married to violinist Kumaresh.

Trichur Brothers, Srikrishna Mohan and Ramkumar Mohan, will be conferred with the Mysore Asthana Vidwan Chidambara Ganapatigal Award for music excellence, which will be followed by their concert.

For programme details, log on to ramamavami.org, season tickets on ramanavamitickets.com