08.12.2013: “SANGEETHA CHAKRAVARTHI”  Sri T. V. Sankaranarayanan launched the inaugural  concert with Gajanana Mampalaya in Mohana  ragam with exemplary swara kalpana. He then presented Sogasujuda Tharama  in Kannadagowla and Guruvayurappan in Chakravaka ragas. Then he rendered Thyagaraja kriti Sarasa samadana in Kaphinarayani raga, Abhayavarade Sharade in Hindolam and Marakatavallim in Kambhoji. He was accompanied by Sri N.C. Madhav on violin, Sri Sadgurucharan on Mridangam and Sri Venkataramana on Ghatam.         

09.12.2013: Smt. Mahati, a Child progidy, now Carnatic Vocalist and film playback singer opened her concert with Sri Muthaiah Bhagavatar kriti Mate Malayadwaja in Khamas. She then rendered Swati Thirunal kriti Devadeva Kalayamite  in Maymalavagowla and Rupaka talam followed by a composition in Tamil of Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer in Sivaranjani.  She chose Thyagaraja kriti Enduku Peddalavale in Sankarabharanam as the main number of her concert, which she rendered with extensive raga essay to the delight of audience. She also presented Saravanabhava Samayamidira  and Marakatalingam Chintaye. This is her maiden performance in Hyderabad. She was ably supported by B. Raghavendra Rao on violin, Satishkumar on Mridangam and Trichi Krishna on Ghatam.

10.12.2013: Sri N. Ravi Kiran on Chitraveena  opened his concert with Annamayya kriti Srimannarayana in Bowli  followed by Adamodi Galada in Charukesi and Bhajimpave Manasa , a composition of Thyagaraja. He then presented the main number of his concert, Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer kriti Padmavathi Ramana in Poorvikalyani ragam. The swara kalpana was very engaging with impressive tani avartanam by Sri  Sadguru Charan on Mridangam and Sri Nemani Somayajulu on Ghatam.  Sri Surya Deepti provided the Violin support.  Sri Ravi Kiran then  played Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi in Keeravani on audience preference. The pallavi line was Sarigamapada Neerajamulu Bhajimpave Manasa using the swaraksharas. He also presented Rara Naa Sami in Behag and concluded with Madhura Nagarilo in Anandabhairavi.

11.12.2013: Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan (Bharatanatyam):

Smt. Rama is the first disciple of veteran dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy and this is her maiden  performance in Hyderabad. The alarippu set the mood of her brisk dance. She followed it with a varnam in Telugu in Vasantha ragam and Jhampe talam specially for the audience in Hyderabad. She presented another piece Namasthe Rudraroopini  in Ragamalika  with  very impressive abhinaya.  She also  presented  Dr Bala Muralikrishna composition Ennadaina Vintina, a thematic presentation keeping Khandita Nayika in focus. She ended the show with a novel number Sivoham .

12.12.2013: Smt. Mahalakshmi  Ramadorai, a noted vocalist in both  Carnatic and Hindustani  traditions, started the first part of her  concert in Carnatic tradition with Neevevari Bodhana Vinnavo . Then she rendered Marubarikorva in Khamas and Marugelara O Raghava  in Jayanthisri.  She also presented Papanasam Sivan kriti in Mohana ragam. For this Carnatic part of the concert, she was accompanied by Saikumar on violin and Jayabhaskar on Mridangam.

In the  Hindustani part of concert, she rendered Chota Khayal in rag Jog and in Teen taal. She was accompanied by Ravindra Katoti on Harmonium and Abhay Datar on Tabla.

13.12.2013: Sri U.P. Raju & Smt. Nagamani (the Mandolin Duo) opened their concert with Navaragamalika Varnam followed by Mahaganapathim Manasa in ragam Nata.   Then they presented Endaro Mahanubhavulu in Sri ragam, Marivere Dikkevvaru in Latangi, Pariyachakama in Vanaspati. They rendered Kapali in Mohana ragam as the main number. The swarakalpana was masterly and the audience enjoyed  it very much. The Tani Avartanam by D.S.R. Murthy on Mridangam and Ramanamurthy on Ghatam was a  musical treat for the audience.

Source: Friday Reviews in  ‘The Hindu’

During the 55th Annual Art Festival, SICA introduced the Short Duration Concerts (SDCs) of about an hour before the main concert of senior musicians starts. These  SDCs are intended to provide opportunities  to the highly talented young artistes who, otherwise, have not been able to get a chance to perform under the banner of SICA.  These short concerts  provide good encouragement to the youngsters and also two concerts a day for the rasikas.  Another attempt was also made to provide experienced accompanists to these new talent artistes to boost their confidence.

09.12.2013: Kum. Sistla Rama Amukta (Vocal) accompanied by Ms Radhika Srinivasan on violin and Sri T. P. Balasubramanian on mridangam. Amukta, a disciple of Dr Pantula Rama opened her concert with Varnam Chalamela in Darbaru ragam and then Dikshitar’s kriti Vallabhanayakasya in Begada. She then rendered Anandamrutakarshini in Amruthavarshini followed by Thyagaraja kriti Enduku dayaradura in Thodi ragam  as the main number . She  concluded  the concert  with a Meera  bhajan. View her performance.

10.12.2013: Sri Mallela Tejaswi (Violin Solo), a disciple of Avasarala Kanyakumari, wasaccompanied by C.H. Ramakrishna on Mridangam and M. Chandrakanth on Ghatam. He commenced the evening concert with Thyagaraja Swamy kriti Entamuddo  Entasogaso in Bindumalini. He then played Paridanamichite in Bilahari ragam, Bantureeti in Hamsanadam,  Devadevakalayamite in Malayamalavagowla, Vasihnava  Janatho in  Khamas. He concluded the concert with Tillana in Sindhubhairavi.

11.12.2013: Kum. Sowmya Sridhar (Vocal), accompanied by Mallela Tejaswi on violin and Burra Sriram on Mridangam, started the concert with Shivatraya Maha Ganapathim in Nata ragam and then rendered Swati Tirunal kriti Paripalayamam in Reetigowla, Padaravindamule in Pranavapriya, Rama Nannubrova  in Harikombhoji, Jayajaya Rama in Manirangu ragas. She concluded the concert with  Nanyare Badahano  of Purandaradasa in Behag raga. View her performance

12.12.2013: Kum. R. Mridula (Vocal) accompanied by Sri K. Sai Kumar on violin and Sri P. Srinivasa Gopalan on Mridangam, opened her concert  with varnam  Ninne Kori  in Mohana  followed by Mahaganapathi Ravatumam in Gowla. She then rendered Nijamarmamulu in Umabharanam, Radha Sametha Krishna  in MIsra Yaman, Saramegaani  Anyamarga Vicharamemiti Manasa in  Kamavardhani and Mridula concluded her concert with Nee Namame Maku in Madhyamavathi.

13.12.2013: Kum. Pranav Pallavi (Vocal) accompanied by Sri K. Ananth  Sourirajan on violin and Sri K. Shyam Kumar on Mridangam started her concert with varnam in Malhari ragam followed by Varasiddhi Vinayaka in Kannada. She then rendered Manavi Alakimparadhate  in Nalinakantha,  Paluke Bangaramayena in Anandabhairavi, Oadanu Jaripe Muchata  Ganare, Smaravaram Varam in Bahudhari, Kanti Akhilanda Karta Adhikuni Kanti in Brindavana Saranga. She rendered Dikshitar’s kriti Govardhana Gireesam in Hindolam as the main number of her concert.

The audience very much appreciated these concerts on all the days. Thus this experiment  of SICA has been quite successful and very  encouraging.