Propagation, Research and Preservation of the Performing Arts and Traditions of South India
The Music Academy, Madras is happy to announce its collaboration with KVB Kala, the CSR wing of Karur Vysya Bank, on a comprehensive initiative dedicated to the propagation, research and preservation of the performing arts and traditions of South India.
This collaboration brings together the Music Academy’s decades of scholarship and institutional stewardship with KVB Kala’s commitment to social and cultural responsibility, in a shared endeavour to safeguard and nurture South India’s rich artistic heritage for generations to come.
The initiative encompasses three programmes, each addressing a vital dimension of this shared vision.
- Propagation, sustenance and revival of South Indian classical music and dance traditions and support the wellbeing of artists. Focus on supporting the continuity and growth of traditional and classical art forms through performances, lecdems and workshops. Offer recognition to artists in need and honour their contributions to the arts.
- Research, documentation, publication, dissemination and preservation of traditional and oral knowledge systems. Advance scholarly research into South Indian classical performing arts and make this knowledge widely accessible through publications that enrich both academic and public understanding. Systematic documenting and archiving of oral traditions, techniques and knowledge passed down through generations, ensuring that this intangible heritage is not lost to time.
- Expanding inclusive access to South Indian classical music and dance traditions, their knowledge and learning, among rural and underprivileged students. Introduce South Indian classical music forms and music research to rural and underprivileged student communities, widening access to and appreciation of these art forms across all sections of society.
Through this partnership, the Music Academy and KVB Kala reaffirm their shared commitment to ensuring that the classical performing arts and traditions of South India are propagated, studied and preserved for future generations.
For more information about this initiative, please look out for updates on the website of the Music Academy.
Endowment Programme
MONDAY, 28TH SEPTEMBER 2026, 6.00 PM – 7.30 PM
VENUE: KASTURI SRINIVASAN HALL, THE MUSIC ACADEMY MADRAS
The Music Academy presents Violin Vidwan Lalgudi Sri. G. Jayaraman Memorial Endowment concert instituted by Lalgudi Sri. G. J. R. Krishnan and Lalgudi Smt. Vijayalakshmi in memory of the violin maestro, Lalgudi Sri. G. Jayaraman. The programme is supported by KVB CSR Initiative.
About the programme
This Endowment programme aims to bring talented violinists to the fore, providing them opportunities to collaborate with other artists with differing styles. It has been instituted by eminent violinists Sangita Kalanidhis Lalgudi Sri. G. J. R. Krishnan and Lalgudi Smt. Vijayalakshmi in memory of their father, legendary violinist Lalgudi Sri. G. Jayaraman, soon after they received the title of Sangita Kalanidhi. The endowment is earmarked exclusively for violin concerts – solo, duo or group. This year two artists from Bangalore will be performing under this endowment.
About the artists
H. K. Venkatram (Violin)
H. K. Venkatram is a highly accomplished violinist who has accompanied many stalwarts like Smt. D K Pattammal, Sri K V Narayanaswamy and Semmangudi Sri Srinivasa Iyer. Having trained under his father Prof. H. V. Krishnamurthy, he is an A-Top Graded All India Radio artist and travels extensively for concerts. He is the Principal of Vijaya College of Music, Bangalore, and the recipient of numerous awards, notably the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for 2023 from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. With 37 years of experience in the IT industry, he is also a consultant at several startups and engineering universities.
B. U. Ganesh Prasad (Violin)
A distinguished violinist, Sri. Ganesh Prasad had his initial violin training under Basavanagudi Sri. G. Nataraj and advanced training under Prof. V. V. Subramanyam. He is equally accomplished as a vocalist, having trained under Bangalore Sri. S. Shankar and Sri. P. S. Narayanaswamy. A regular performer at prestigious sabhas and festivals, he has accompanied many illustrious musicians, both past and present. A recipient of many awards such as Ananya Puraskar, and Vani Kala Nipuna, he is also a dedicated teacher with students in many parts of the world.
Neyveli S. Skandasubramanian (Mridangam)
Sri. Skandasubramanian is a renowned mridangam artist with over three decades of performing experience. A disciple of Thiruvarur Sri. Krishnamurthy and Thiruvarur Sri. Bhakthavatsalam, he has accompanied many illustrious musicians and is an A-Grade artist of the All India Radio. He is the recipient of many awards such as Vani Kala Nipuna and is the founder of NSS Mrudangam Arts Academy.
Adambakkam K. Sankar (Ghatam)
With over 45 years of experience in the field, Adambakkam Sri. K. Sankar is one of the leading percussionists in India. Having trained under the legendary Kumbakonam Sri. Rajappa Iyer, Sri. Sankar has performed extensively throughout India and abroad. He is an A-Top Grade Artist of the All India Radio and is an Asthana Vidwan of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
Details of presentation:
- Varnam – Nalinakanti – Adi – Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
- Gurulekha etuvanti – Gaurimanohari – Khanda chapu – Tyagaraja
- Shankari nive – Begada – Rupakam – Subbaraya Sastri
- Ninnu jeppa – Mandari – Adi – Patnam Subramanya Iyer
- Sri krishnam bhaja – Todi – Adi – Muttusvami Dikshita
- Tillana – Desh – Adi – Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
- Ni nama rupamulaku – Saurashtra – Adi – Tyagaraja
Endowment Programme
HMV Workshop
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 18th & 19th SEPTEMBER 2026, 10 AM ONWARDS
VENUE: KASTURI SRINIVASAN HALL, THE MUSIC ACADEMY MADRAS
The Music Academy presents a music workshop under the endowment instituted by late Smt. Pankajam Krishna, Smt. Prabha Nagarajan and Sri. Ravi Subramanian in memory of their father late Sri. K. S. Iyer of HMV. The programme is supported by KVB (Karur Vysya Bank) CSR Initiative.
About the workshop
The rich repertoire of Annamacharya’s sankirtana-s will take centre stage at a two-day teaching workshop, ‘Sankirtana Saurabham: Compositions of Annamacharya’, led by veteran musician Malladi Sri. Suribabu. He will be teaching Annamacharya compositions set to tune by great musicians Sri. Sripada Pinakapani, Sri. Voleti Venkateswarulu, and Sri. Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, as well as some compositions tuned by himself. The workshop provides a valuable opportunity for participants to learn the compositions directly from this veteran musician.
Registration is Rs. 50 per day, payable at the venue.
Malladi Sri. Suribabu
A distinguished vocalist, composer, and music educator from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Sri. Suribabu has made significant contributions to Carnatic music through his performances, compositions, and pioneering work in music broadcasting. He has composed over 2500 songs, including works based on compositions by Bhakta Ramadasu, Annamacharya, and Narayana Teertha’s Krishna Leela Tarangam. He is the recipient of numerous presitigious awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2018, Kanchi Paramacharya Music Award by Shanmukhananda Sabha, Mumbai, and TTK Award of the Music Academy Madras, 2014. He has conducted many workshop and masterclasses and has trained numerous students who carry forward the music of his glorious parampara.
Details of songs taught:
- Itanikante – Navarasakannada – Adi – Annamacharya – tuned by Sripada Pinakapani
- Vaddusumi – Ritigaula – Rupakam – Annamacharya – tuned by Malladi Suribabu
- Kandarpa janaka – Kalavati – Adi – Annamacharya – tuned by Voleti Venkateswarulu
Details of songs taught:
- Ghummaniyadi – Purvikalyani – Adi – Annamacharya – tuned by Malladi Suribabu
- Nirantarambunu – Hamsanandi – Adi – Annamacharya – tuned by Malladi Suribabu
- Samukhayecharika – Khamas – Adi – Annamacharya – tuned by Malladi Suribabu
- Vintivo vinavo – Patdeep – Rupakam – Annamacharya – tuned by Malladi Suribabu
- Evvari talapadu – Behag – Adi – Annamacharya – tuned by Malladi Suribabu
Endowment Programme
Presentation of Archival Vintage Concerts
FRIDAY, 18TH SEPTEMBER 2026, 6.00-7.30 PM
VENUE: KASTURI SRINIVASAN HALL, THE MUSIC ACADEMY MADRAS
The Music Academy presents Endowment programme instituted in memory of Smt. Rajammal Vijayaraghavan by Smt. Gayathri Srikanth and Sri. Rajan Srikanth. The programme is supported by KVB (Karur Vysya Bank) CSR Initiative.
The endowment has a distinctive premise. Each year the music and scholarship of a vidvan of an earlier generation is revisited by a musician who either belongs to the lineage or has developed a deep engagement with that particular tradition. The initiative also draws attention to the extensive archival holdings of The Music Academy. For students and rasikas, such presentations offer a valuable opportunity to listen, study and understand the music of an earlier era.
About the programme
A special presentation of archival concerts of Sangita Kalanidhi Sri. S. Pinakapani by the Malladi Brothers, Sri. Sreeramprasad and Sri. Ravikumar will be held on September 18 at 6 PM at The Music Academy, Madras.
A well-respected Carnatic musician and reputed medical doctor, Sri. Pinakapani’s contributions to Carnatic music performance, pedagogy and research are exemplary. He has trained many distinguished musicians and teachers, including the well-known Malladi Brothers. They will share their insights on the legacy of their guru and his music in this presentation.
The Malladi Brothers
Born into an illustrious musical family in Andhra Pradesh, the Malladi Brothers Sri. Sreeramprasad and Sri. Ravikumar trained under their grandfather Sri. Srirammurthy and father Sri. Suri Babu, as well as Nedunuri Sri. Krishnamurthy and Sri. Sripada Pinakapani. They are the recipients of numerous awards including national level prizes from All India Radio, the Sri Voleti Venkateswarulu memorial Award from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, and Best Concert Awards from The Music Academy from 1999 to 2005. They are also dedicated teachers, propagating the music of their parampara among the next generation through workshops and masterclasses.
Endowment Programme
SUNDAY, 13TH SEPTEMBER 2026, 10.30 AM – 12.00 ΝΟΟΝ
VENUE: KASTURI SRINIVASAN HALL, THE MUSIC ACADEMY MADRAS
The Music Academy presents an endowment programme instituted by Sri. and Smt. S. Krishnaswamy and Sri. V.Vijaygopal in memory of Dr. Saritha Vijaygopal. The programme is supported by KVB CSR Initiative.
About the programme
An annual research based lecture is to be held on 13th September every year. Saritha was a Ph.D scholar of the Music Academy Research Centre affiliated to the Tumkur University for the Ph.D programme. Sadly, Saritha is no more but an endowment has been instituted in her memory by her parents and husband.
Since she was a research student, it is apt that we conduct a research based presentation each year in her memory. Many research scholars and students will benefit from the endeavour.
Exploring the Musical and Lyrical Profundity of Srikrishnalilatarangini
Speaker:
Dr. N. Bhairavi Vaitheeswaran
Dr. N. Bhairavi Vaitheeswaran has over three decades of experience in classical music and has done extensive research on Indian scriptures. Trained in Harikatha under Kalaimamani Smt Vishakha Hari and in vocal music under Smt and Sri Kedaranathan, she is an A graded artiste of the All India Radio and the Founder and Managing Director of “RamRasayan Global”: one of the largest music training institutions in Chennai. Her PhD ‘Shrikrishnalilatarangini of Shri Narayana Tirtha – a study based on musical traditions and an unpublished sanskrit commentary’ compares existing musical traditions that have preserved the opera, includes the edited version of an unpublished sanskrit commentary of the same, and is a comparison between the opera and Srimadbhagavatha. She is currently pursuing post doctoral research at the Department of Indian Music, University of Madras under UGC Dr. S. Radhakrishnan fellowship on ‘Srimadbhagavata in Karnataka music sahitya’.
Violin:
Madurai M Vijayaganesh
Vid. Vijayaganesh is an acclaimed Carnatic violinist with more than four decades of experience. An A graded violinist of AIR Chennai, he is a prime disciple of Shri. A. G. A.Gnanasundaram in the revered violin school of Padmabhushan Vid. Lalgudi Jayaraman. He has accompanied several veteran artists including Sangita Kalanidhi Bombay Sisters and Sangita Kalanidhi Neyveli Santhanagopalan. He is the founder of Kalaa Srushti Academy, an institution dedicated to teaching Carnatic vocal and violin music. His academy also conducts monthly Anusham Naadasamarpanam concerts for senior citizens at Sankara Aged Care Centre. He is the recipient of many awards and honours, including “Youth Excellence Award 2018” conferred by Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust, and Shri Lalgudi G Jayaraman Award for Best Violinist conferred by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in 2013.
Mridangam:
Ajeet Sridhar
Vid. Ajeet Sridhar is a promising young mridangam artist who has been learning mridangam for the past 18 years. Having had his initial training under Late Chromepet Vid. G Suresh, he is currently learning from Vid. K. V. Gopalakrishnan. He has performed for several prestigious venues, including Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Kartik Fine Arts, Indian Fine Arts, and the Radel Concert series at the Music Academy. He is the recipient of many prizes and awards, including Best Performer Award – 2024 in the Percussion category conferred by Nanganallur Sabha.
Details of presentation
- Sloka – Yadaanghripankeruha renulaghnam – Nattai
- Sloka – Himagiri tanayaa – Mohanam
- Jaya jayasvamin – Mohanam – Adi
- Deva devam – Madhyamavati – Khandacapu
- Sloka – Devakhyaa – Kedaragaula
- Mangalaalaya – Kedaragaula – Misrachapu
- Sloka – Brahmaanubhuti – Nadanamakriya
- Advayam akhanditam – Nadanamakriya – Khandacapu
- Govindaa gata – Bhairavi – Khandacapu
- Agatam akalaye – Kambhoji – Misrachapu
- Sloka – Yagnapatyastam – Mohanam
- Balagopala mam uddhara – Mohanam – Misracapu
- Gadya – Srimate satyakaama – Arabhi
- Sloka – Tvat prasadam – Dhanyasi
- Kaankshe tavaprasaadam – Dhanyasi – Misracapu
- Mangalam rukmini ramanaya – asaveri – khandacapu
Endowment Programme
FRIDAY, 11TH SEPTEMBER 2026, 6.00 PM – 7.30 PM
VENUE: KASTURI SRINIVASAN HALL, THE MUSIC ACADEMY MADRAS
The Music Academy presents Veena Endowment instituted by Sri. Shankar Annaswamy in memory of his sister Late Smt. Nagalakshmi Anantharaman. The programme is supported by KVB CSR Initiative.
About the programme
The veena is an ancient instrument and in recent years, several artists have taken to it. While vocalists receive many opportunities to perform, the vainika often has a long wait.
This endowment provides talented artists with a stage and helps in giving them greater visibility.
Artists of the day
Guhan R Venkataraman (Veena)
Guhan Venkataraman is a vainika of the Karaikkudi parampara. He began learning the veena from his mother, Vid. Lakshmi Venkataraman, at age eight and continued his discipleship under Kalaimamani Vid. Ranganayaki Rajagopalan. He continues to refine his scholarship and repertoire under the tutelage of Sangita Kalanidhi Vid. R. K. Shriramkumar and Vid. Delhi P. Sunder Rajan.
He participated in the Music Academy’s 2013 Spirit of Youth festival and has subsequently been featured in numerous solo and primetime concerts in India during the December Season, at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and other organizations and locales worldwide. He has performed alongside many reputed artists, including Vid. Sikkil Gurucharan, Vid. Shashank Subramanyam, and Vid. V. V. Subrahmanyam.
Vignesh Venkataraman (Mridangam)
Guhan will be accompanied on the mridangam by his brother Vignesh Venkataraman, disciple of Sangita Kalanidhi Vid. Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman. Vignesh was initiated into playing mridangam by Vid. Anand Iyer, also from the same school. He has accompanied various artists, including many senior musicians, in numerous concerts all over the world. He won the Best Mridangist award at the Spirit of Youth festival held by the Music Academy Madras in 2013.
N Phanindra (Ghatam)
Accompanying them on the ghatam is N Phanindra, disciple of Vid. Giridhar Udupa. He has been practising ghatam since the age of 18, and has been performing for the past 15 years.
Details of presentation
- Varnam – Sarasuda – Saveri – Adi – Kotthavaasal Venkatrama Iyer
- Sankari nive – Begada – Rupakam – Subbaraaya Sastri
- Deva deva jagadishwara – Purvikalyani – Adi – Swathi Thirunal
- Brovavamma – Nilambari – Misrachapu – Shyama Sastri
- Sudhamadhurya bhashana – Sindhuramakriya – Adi – Tyagaraja
- Nadachi nadachi – Kharaharapriya – Adi – Tyagaraja
- Tillana – Desh – Adi – Lalgudi Jayaraman
- Ni namarupamulaku – Saurastram – Adi – Tyagaraja
