Remembering MS Subbulakshmi, a ‘samarpanam’

The Indian Music Experience in JP Nagar is, as its Outreach Director, Dr Suma Sudhindra puts it, a "non artefact-driven, interaction-based" take on a museum. "Indian music is extremely complex and we don't focus simply on the classical traditions, we look at all genres, from folk, film and contemporary styles to the music of the national movement," she explained.

This weekend, the IME, a not for profit trust, is organising two concerts as part of a fundraising event. The first, Samparpanam, is a tribute to Bharat Ratna M.S. Subbulakshmi in her centenary year. The concert, which is presented by musician Manasi Prasad, who is also the Project Director for IME, features two young musicians - Sahana Ramachandra and Aditi Prahlad on vocals, performing the spectrum of Subbalakshmi's music. "we start off with a small invocation by the kids of MES Kishore Kendra, who have been trained at the IME Learning Centre," said Sahana Mohan, who works with Manasi Prasad.

"The concert will look at the songs that M.S. Subbulakshmi has rendered, across all genres including Bollywood, bhajans and shlokas."

On Sunday evening, acclaimed veena exponent Dr Suma Sudhindra and flautist Ned McGowan, will come together for the Carnatic Crossover Project, featuring Karthik Mani on drums and Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma and BC Manjunath on mridangam. McGowan, a Swedish musician and composer, always held a great fascination for Carnatic music.

"I met Dr Sudhindra in 2001 and we hit it off straight away. Since then, I've been coming to India every year." Ned attempted to study the Carnatic traditions, but decided that "the mountain was too big for him to climb," and returned instead as a western key flute player, who knows a little bit of Carnatic music." The Carnatic Crossover Project began two years ago and the compositions were first performed at the Bangalore International Arts Festival. "This is a follow up to that concert, we are playing some of the same pieces," said Ned.

The concerts will raise funds for the IME - "We need to raise about Rs 21 crore, for the museum require sa lot of money," said Dr Sudhindra. Artist BKS Verma will create paintings that reflect the music as well.

"He has very generously offered to donate the paintings to our cause," Dr Sudhindra added.