This one of a kind event will have nine different genres of musicians and vocalists performing together all in a bid to spread awareness on Cancer. Healthcare Global Enterprise will be joining hands with Swaralaya Academy to bring forth this musical extravaganza with nine musicians performing for one noble cause.
Since its inception in 1987, the Swaralaya Academy has made it its objective to bring together high quality music for the music-appreciating common man. Although the main idea was to celebrate culture and heritage, Ravi Kumar, founder and organiser, elaborates, “We felt that the emphasis coupled with a noble cause, the fight against Cancer makes the event come full circle. Even the hoardings say ‘9 people for one cause’. This is the main guiding idea behind the initiative.” This musical event is the first of its kind in the city. “This one of a kind show has nine people performing under one roof. The nine stars who will be performing in this event are Shri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Shri Mysore Nagraj, Shri Giridhar Udupa, Fabrizio Cassol, Ustad Maa Zila Khan, M Jayachandran, Stephen Devassy, Mattannoor Sankaran Kutty and Kavalam Sreekumar. The troupe has a good blend of youngsters and elderly performing together. The uniqueness is that each artist is a star in his own right and will perform together without any accompaniments.” Ravi says, adding, “The audience can expect to take away music performed by talent from across the globe. They can also take away a message of fighting against Cancer.” Ravi wants both the youth and elderly to appreciate and carry forward this message of preserving Indian classical music as well as fighting against Cancer.
This event will have leading artists and maestros like Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman who has been conferred with three Padma Shri awards, Giridhar Udupa, Stephen Devassey and many more. Giridhar Udupa, who is fondly called Ghatam Giridhar Udupa is a city-based Ghatam musician, who says, “I have been playing the Ghatam, a claypot-like instrument for almost nine years. This event is very special as it is being curated by (Shri) Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman and because so many different and diverse musicians are coming together for a good cause.” Having performed with Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman and Stephen Devassey before Giridhar adds, “I feel that the one special thing about Indian classical Carnatic music is that it has a huge scope for improvising. It has the ability to collaborate with any other genre of music. And due to our system, we can adapt to any other genre.” The Mumbai-based Stephen Devassey has been in the music industry for almost 17 years, and his main focus has been fusion music. “I feel that the understanding that these eight musicians have while practising helped us achieve this,” says Stephen, adding about the music scene in the city, “The Bengaluru audience I think is one of the best in the city. Almost half of my fans are from the city. I think the city is a perfect melting spot for both classical as well as fusion music.”
The event will be held at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall on February 27.
