Driven by the musical note

Sharada Cultural Trust is an all ladies association and is about women empowerment. A small group that was spearheaded over two and half decades ago by Saraswati Venkataraman to learn bhajans and slokas has now flowered into an association that takes on the management of top-level music festival in Hyderabad. It is arguably one if its kind that defies the male bastion without making a statement

At a time when classical music is celebrated in an unmatched manner in Chennai, lovers of Carnatic music find a contrasting scene in Hyderabad. A few organisations strive hard to keep the banner flying. While organisations like SICA and Kalasagaram have their audience geographically divided in the twin cities, there are few others that have outlasted the challenges of time and finance.

It is strange that while there is a sure targeted audience for the genre, there are not enough who are willing to put their money where their taste is. It is in this backdrop that the effort of Sharada Cultural Trust is worth salutations. The all lady management has not only lasted for over a quarter-century but has also ensured a heady mix of acclaimed artistes and promising youngsters in their menu over the years.

Almost the who’s who of Carnatic music from the likes of Sangeeta Kalanidhis ( TN Seshagopalan, Sankarnarayan, Sudha Raghunathan, Sanjay Subramaniam) to high voltage talent packs like TM Krishna Trichur Brothers, Ranjini Gayatri, Malladi Brothers have performed under the banner.

Celebrating their silver year in 2015, they ensured that Sangeeta Kalanidhi Sudha Raghunathan kick-started the annual event. They had among the other performers, OS Thiagarajan, TM Krishna, Amritha Murali and Vijay Shiva.

The all ladies association is all about women empowerment. A small group that was spearheaded over two and half decades ago by Saraswati Venkataraman to learn bhajans and slokas has now flowered into an association that takes on the management of top-level music festival. It is arguably one of its kind that defies the male bastion without making a statement. Here it is not a battle of the genders.

Nor is it the hype of women equality labouring to make a statement that what men can do women can do better. Watch how they go about their programmes and you can discern an unalloyed passion for the task at hand and without much ado. Fortunately, they do not have long boring speeches before the main concert of the evening. In fact, they have a very interesting dimension to the programme.

During the fest (ongoing) in late January and ticking off the season for the Thyagaraja Aradhana, they ensure promising artistes perform before the invited audience and get the needed exposure without the accompanying hype. This is also matched with awarding young talent by conducting annual competition in Carnatic music.

The organisation that has had its 25 years (and still counting) has surely left a great mark. Artistes prepare for the concerts for they know that the group of Trustees know their music - the intricacies of ragas and talas. They know how ‘Varumu’ is different from ‘Hindolam’. No wonder the extremely scholastic Panthula Rama did her Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Varumu and did not even announce the rare raga to the audience. So goes the assessment of the viewer.

Headed by septuagenarian Ambuja Ramakrishna, the lady brings in all her experience and knowledge with added grace and humility. The eleven lady trustees are supported by a committee of eight members – all women who run the show. From ensuring the carpets are in place, to the mike system to stalls for added commerce, to having the banners put up, the tent pegged, the bouquets and shawls in order - every minute detail is worked out with precision.

They do not have those long drawn self-boasting speeches on their achievements. They eschew long drawn introduction of the artist including what awards, where he sang etc. They restrict the role of the chief guest to just honouring the artistes of the evening and discourage them from making discourses. In short, the evening is for music - Top class music. They ensure that the city gets the very best. Their enthusiasm and sincerity ensure that the artist gives the audience the very best.

All this and more and yet the happening event is ignored by the media. Even this does not hamper the spirit of the “elder citizen lady group” who march on with spirit. They acknowledge ungrudgingly the supportive role of their respective spouses and dress in wonderfully selected sarees – all in uniform for each day a different silk saree!

Head to Sharada Cultural Association events every year, it is great music, sublime spirit and an awesome environment echoing our great culture.