PALAKKAD: The annual Swaralaya Dance and Music Festival took off to an enthusiastic welcome by connoisseurs at Fort Maidan here on Sunday, October 1. The 11-day cultural show featuring leading artists of national and international repute was inaugurated with the participation of 11 distinguished personalities from diverse fields.
 The festival co-sponsored by Confident Group’s entertainment division will have 21 programmes, two per day except on the day of inauguration. Eminent personalities in the field of art, culture, politics and social activities are gracing performances every day as guests to honour the artistes.

October 1         

On Sunday all roads literally led to Fort Maidan. The presence of thousands of music lovers for the inaugural Ganamela in honour of noted music director M K Arjunan was a reflection on the wide acceptability of the festival. Sri Arjunan who made a mark with his first film Pournami Ratri in 1968 did not have to look back. The Srikumaran Thampi-Arjunan duo had contributed some memorable scores to Malayalam film music in the seventies.
 
Earlier, the overflowing auditorium witnessed the formal inauguration of the cultural feast in the presence of a galaxy of dignitaries. Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair along with Mr. Roy. C. J (Chairman - Confident Group), Mr. Cheriyan Philip (Chairman- KTDC), Mr.Sreekumaranthampi (Film Director), Mr. K. K. Divakaran MLA, Mrs. Subaida Isahaq (President, District Panchayat), Mr. C. L. Jose, (Chairman, Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy), Mr. M. M. Ramachandran, (MD, Atlas Group), Mr, K. V. Ramesh, (MD, Kairali Ayurveda Health Resort) lighted the ceremonial lamp. Mr. N. N. Krishnadas MP, presided over the function. Mr. T. R. Ajayan welcomed the gathering and Mr. K. V. Ramakrishnan gave mementos to the distinguished guests.

The highlight of the first day was the captivating Ganamela. The Ganamela was led by Sri G. Venogopal, with Sri Sudeep Kumar, Sri Kallara Gopan, Smt Ranjini Jose, Smt Prathiba and Smt Vrindha Menon. They regaled the audience with popular numbers. They were ably supported by Swaralaya orchestra.

October 2
 
Carnatic vocal concert by Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam attracted a huge appreciative audience. Born in a family with rich musical heritage, Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam had started her training in Carnatic music at the age of five and had her first concert at the age of twelve. She had distinguished herself with her scintillating performances in India and abroad. She performed at the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja aradhana festival. In the recital, she was accompanied by Avaneswararam S R Vinu in Violin, Vaikom Venugopal (mridangam), Elanjimmel Suseel Kumar (ghatam) and Payyannur Govindprasad (Mukhar Sanghu).

Smt Sharmila Mukherji’s Odissi dance recital was the second item of the evening. Smt Sharmila had made her debut in 1982 as Prakriti in Rabindranath Tagore’s dance drama ‘Chandalika’. She had intensive training under Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra. An ‘A’ grade artist of Doordarshan and a dance teacher Smt Sharmila had performed at prestigious Sabhas.

October 3

The evening featured Padmasree Kadri Gopalnath & party in Saxophone concert. Known as Saxophone Chakravarty, Sri Gopalnath began as a Nagaswaram player. But after witnessing a band set at Mysore palace he changed course. He learnt playing Carnatic music on Saxophone. Kadri’s mentor was T. V. Gopalakrishnan. A winner of Sangeeth Natak Academy award, he played for a fusion CD ‘Southern Brothers for Global Integration’.

Later, Smt Rajasree Warrier charmed the audience with her superb Bharatanatyam recital. She has endeared herself with excellent performances at various fora and as an A grade artist of Doordarshan. Winner of Bharatanatyam and Kuchupudi at Kerala University festival, Rajasree had many memorable performances at various music and dance festivals.
 
October 4

Sri Abhishek Raghuram, grandson of Palakkat Raghu, enthralled the music lovers with his Carnatic vocal. He is also a proficient Ganjira artist who has been giving vocal performances since 1994. In the music Academy conference in 1999, he was awarded the prize for best vocalist. He was accompanied by Sri Palakkad Raghu (Mridangam), Sri R Viswanathan (violin and Sri Trivandrum Rajagopal (Ganjira). The day’s programmes concluded with an Odissi performance by Smt Meeradas & party. A top-notch Odissi dancer, Meeradas learned the ropes under Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra and Guru Ganagadha Pradhan. She founded the Gunjan Academy in 1995. The institution is dedicated to the promotion of Odissi dance. She has to her credit over 450 performances and has been part of each major cultural festival.

October 5

The evening turned out to be a big draw with the Carnatic musical fare from Dr. K. Omanakutty and Bharatanatyam by film star Shobhana. Dr Omankutty has music in her blood being the daughter of Malabar Gopalan Nair, a leading vocalist and harmonist of yesteryears. Playback singer M G Sreekumar and music director M G Radhakrishnan are her brothers. She had training under distinguished musicians like Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma and Chemmangudi G N Balasubramaniam. Recipient of many awards including Sangeeth Natak Academy award for research in Kathakali music and host of fellowships, she served as Professor and head of the Department of Music, Kerala University . She has several publications and many CDs to her credit. On Thursday evening she was accompanied by Sri Sampath (violin), Sri Cherthala R Jayadevan (mridangam), Sri Maheswaran (ghatam), Sri Payyannur Govinda Pisharodi (mukhar Sanku) and Smt Vimala Venugopal (vocal support).
 
Later, it was the turn of Ms Shobhana to enchant the audience with a scintillating performance of Bharatanatyam. She had followed the footsteps of her famous aunts Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini in learning Bharatanatyam. She had made her debut in 1984. Though she is a national award winner for the best actress and had distinguished herself in many memorable roles in Malayalam films her first love remains with Bharatanatyam.

October 6
 
Friday evening is dedicated to fusion music and Kathak recital. The fusion music performance will be by Trisakthi Fusion Group. The group is instituted for the promotion and propagation of fusion of classical, popular and western music at Thiruvananthapuram under the direction of music director M Jayachandran and musician Kavalam Sreekumar. It is an ensemble of all popular musical instruments. The performance will feature Sri Attukal Balasubramaniam (violin), Sri Jaijith (keyboard), Sri Sundar Rajan (veena), Sri Palakkad Mahesh (mridangam) Sri Karuna Murthy (Takil) Sri Geoboy (drums) and Sri Anil (ghatam).
 
The second performance of the evening is a Kathak recital by Smt Swati Sinha & party. Smt Swati is an accomplished and dedicated artist and a disciple of the Kathak maestro Pandit Rajendra Gangani, a leading exponent of Jaipur gharana. Her hallmark is adherence to the purity of traditionalist form characterized by deft and intricate footwork, vivacious body movements and delicate and subtle abhinaya.

October 7

The evening fare begins with a Carnatic vocal recital by Sri T M Krishna & party followed by Bharatanatyam by leading film star Kavya Madhavan & party. A leading exponent of Carnatic vocal, Sr T M Krishna has won many laurels. Isai Peral, Sangeetha Kala Bharathi, Best senior performing artist of Music Academy youth award for excellence are some of these. He is widely travelled and had several performances in USA , Canada , South Africa , Singapore and the Gulf. He has to his credit several albums.
 
Leading actress Ms Kavya Madhavan will take a break from her busy film schedule to perform at Swaralaya festival. The accomplished dancer is bound to mesmerize the crowd at Fort maidan. She had started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of five and had won Kalathilakam award for five years in her school days.

October 8

Dr Padma Subramaniam, foremost Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer, will be on stage. She is a rare combination of a profound dancer, research scholar, choreographer, music composer, teacher and ideologist. She will be accompanied by her disciple Sri Vineeth, actor and dancer. A sought after film hero Vineeth had been Kalaprathibha at school and college festivals. Trained under Padma Subramaniam, he is an outstanding and captivating dancer who has performed all over the country and abroad.
 
The second programme of the day will be a Ganamela, Raveendra Geethangal (tribute to music director Raveendran). Raveendran had carved a niche for himself as a music director through his unique style, often dubbed as aristocratic. A national award winner for best music direction in Bharatham, Raveendran had composed many soulful melodies. No other music director was able to incorporate classical, Hindustani and folk music into film songs as successfully as he could. The singers of the evening will be Sri Madhu Balakrishnan, Sri Vidhyadharan Master, Sri Nishad, Sri Sanoj, Sri Winswaraj, Smt Gayathri and Smt Prathibha. Vidyadharan Master will be directing the Ganamela.

October 9

It is Jugalbandhi evening. Sri Ramesh Narayanan (Hindustani vocal) and Sri Anandapadmnabhan (veena-Carnatic) will be regaling the audience. One of the leading music directors, Ramesh Narayanan is a leading Hindustani vocalist and disciple of Pandit Jasraj. Anandapadmanabhan is a living legend in Veena. Smt Sonia B Nair will perform Kuchupudy later at night. Smt Sonia was inspired by the performances of eminent dancers. She performed Mohiniyattam initially and participated in several dance festivals. She is also a noted actress.

October 10
 
Violin duet by Sri GJR Krishnan and Smt GJR Vijayalakshmi will be the highlight of the evening. GJR Krishnan and Smt GJR Vijayalakshmi are born in the lineage of an illustrious disciple of saint and composer Thyagaraja. They were groomed to musical perfection by none other than the legendary Lalgudi Jayaraman. The evening programmes conclude with Kama Dahana Saptam (Dance drama by Natana Kairali) Kama Dahana Saptam is a dance drama choreographed in Mohiniyattam style, based on a classical theme. Dancers are: Ms Kapila, Ms Sneha Sreekumar, and Ms Corrina Mathou. Smt Nirmala Panicker is the director.

October 11
 
Valedictory function: Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balkrishnan inaugurates the valedictory function presided over by Mr N N Krishnadas at 5 pm. Key note address will be by Mr M M Ramachandran, Chairman, MD, Atlas Group. The guest of honour will be Mr P N C Menon, Chairman, Shobha group). The prizes will be distributed by Mr Gopinath Muthukad and Mr Sparjan Kumar I P S.
At 6 pm leading playback singer Vani Jayaram & party will render Ghazals and bhajans. Accompanying artists are Berny (guitar), Mahesh Mani (tabla), Jossy (flute) and Prakash Ullyeri (harmonium).

Naushad Nite as tribute to legendary music director Naushad will be the grand finale of Swaralaya. The incomparable and innovative Naushad introduced classical music into Hindi films raising the mundane tunes to divine heights. He was the first composer to have developed the system of western notation in India. He had the honour of introducing some of the prominent singers of yesteryears like Suraiya, Umadevi and Mahendra Kapoor. The singers for the evening will be Sri Pradeep Somasundaram, Sri Tagore Das, Sri Nishad, Sri Anish Kumar, Smt Manjari and Smt Alka Ajith.