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Dear Members,
We have great pleasure in forwarding herewith the Calendar of Programmes for
the members for the year 2025-26 commencing from April 2025. For the first time
in the history of the Sabha, a whole year of music and art is dedicated to
a singular state. “Carnataka Keraleeyam” is the beginning of the journey taking
us all through the glory of the culture, art and tradition of our nation through
the prism of the various states which have a distinct cultural identity that
remains unexperienced to most of the Indians.
The year 2024-25 had several firsts. The centenary celebrations of the Mahavidwan
Padmashri Dr. T. K. Murthy, the year long centenary celebrations of the eternal
voice of the silver screen Padmashri Shri. Mohammed Rafi, the centenary celebrations
of the greatest showman of Indian films Padma Bhushan Shri. Raj Kapoor and the
commencement of Shravana Sharada Navaratri Yuva Kalakaar Utsav, the continuation
of the ICCR collaboration which featured several artistes from across the country,
the launch of the Marghazi Utsavam on a modest scale featuring six young vocalists
all added to the vibrancy of the year long programmes and attracted enthusiastic
participation. The continuation of all the awards only consolidated our efforts
in preserving and perpetuating the Indian classical music. The Sabha also organised
a few fund raising concerts for Sri Shanmukhananda Charitable Community Healthcare
Hospital. It was indeed a satisfying year of which all of us can be legitimately
be proud of.
A long shoreline with serene beaches, tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters,
lush hill stations and exotic wildlife make Kerala a land of diversity,
beauty and culture. God's own country is one of India's most progressive
states in terms of social welfare and quality of life. Legend has it that
the land of Parasurama was raised from the depths of the ocean. Kerala
prides itself for being the flag bearer for not just how a culture can
respect its past but also march forward confidently into future. Kerala's
vibrant festival season, thunderous rhythms of the 'Chenda' echo through
the landscapes adorned with majestic elephants and snake boats,Onam's grand
feast to Vishu, Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Carnatic classical music at its
choicest best, the Sabha explores the core of Kerala's culture through its
year long 'Carnataka Keraleeyam' immersing in its rich cultural tapestry.
Music and Dance festivals of Kerala ignite the senses and inspire the soul.
From the graceful movements of Kathakali dancers to the rhythmic beats of
traditional percussion, the year long events will be a mesmerising journey
into the state's rich artistic heritage and promises unforgettable memories
and a deeper connection to this enchanting land. Several of the stalwarts of
Kerala's cultural fraternity will be conferred the Sabha's highest honours.
Life in Kerala simmers with music and dance, colour and movement, some of it
seemingly as ancient as the land itself and all of it pregnant with meaning.
The year long programmes will be an humble effort to bring alive on our stage
the greatness of Kerala's culture, not certainly to miss its traditional food.
The Sabha's highest award “Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan”
will be conferred on
Padma Vibhushan Shri. K. J. Yesudas and the Sakalakala Vallavan
Padma Bhushan Dr. T. V. Gopalakrishnan.
The special Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan Award would be given to Kalamandalam Gopi,
the living legend of Kathakali that uses immense concentration, skill and stamina gained
from Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial arts of Kerala. Thiruvizha Jaishankar,
the greatest practitioner of Nadaswaram from Kottayam will receive the Sangeetha Kala Vibhushan (Nadaswaram)
during the annual Nadaswara Thiruvizha.
Consciously, the Sabha in recent times has been moving away
from concerts of senior artistes of yesteryears and current
times and focussing on emerging stars in the landscape of
Carnatic music and also expanding the opportunities for young
musicians. The Sabha has taken on hand the project to have the
Navaratri Utsava Mandapam in the 3rd floor above the Main Auditorium to provide the
members the experience of enjoying music in the traditional
background and seated on the floor.
Quite often than not, members have been asking as to why most of
the programmes are moving away from the Main Auditorium to smaller
Auditoria. The only factor that guides the venue selection is the
extent of participation by the members. Over the years, it has fallen
to pathetically low levels and despite our fervent appeal to get back
to the Auditorium to experience the richness of classical music,
away from the small screen and the mobile handsets through various
digital media has fallen on deaf ears. The only way to motivate a
promising artiste is our physical presence at the concerts. We appeal to you to
attend atleast in the minimum 50% of the annual programmes.
Since the Calendar of Programmes has been given in advance,
it will reasonably allow you to plan your engagements. All the
travails of never expanding urban infrastructure will remain as
they existed in the past. Dug up roads, no space for parking cars
or other vehicles, narrow congested entry lanes, irregular public
transport system, we have got used to them. We came in large numbers
in the immediate past. It is no denying that the geriatry profile of
our membership has steeply gone up. Inspite of all this, we request
you to support our efforts and enthusiasm in preserving this great
Viraasat of our blessed land for the generation next with
your participation to the extent you can.
Please renew your membership before 30th June 2025.
If the subscription remains unpaid on that date,
the membership would be automatically cancelled with
no further notice to the member. With a view to
encouraging regular attendees at the various programmes,
the Sabha is proposing a discounted subscription for the
year following, based on attendance, as under :
| S. No. |
Attendance Range |
Discount for the subsequent year |
Subscription Payable |
| 1. |
90 – 100% |
100% |
NIL |
| 2. |
75 – 89% |
75% |
25% |
| 3. |
60 – 74% |
40% |
60% |
| 4. |
51 – 59% |
25% |
75% |
Members with attendance in the first category
of 90 – 100% can recommend admission of any family
member with waiver of admission fees. Biometric
attendance will be recorded for each programme
which will be the basis for determining the attendance
of the member. Members above 80 years of age will be entitled
to bring an accompanying family member with free entry
for the programme. How far these measures will support
our efforts to bring you all back to the Auditorium,
only time will tell but you can make the difference and ensure its success.
More than 60% of the member of the Sabha are life members
who have paid a life time subscription ranging from
Rs. 250/- to Rs. 2500/-. Even at the maximum subscription
of Rs. 2500/-, the interest earned on the subscription will
be a maximum of Rs. 200/-. Only new admission to life
membership are at such rates as would ensure that the
interest earned on the life membership fund would be
no less than that paid by the ordinary members.
The cost of hosting the programmes has steeply risen.
The cost of hosting the entire programme of events for
an year including the awards is over Rs. 2 crores
and the total collection from membership is just about
Rs. 7 lakhs excluding new life membership contributions.
It has therefore been decided that in respect of life members
who have contributed no more than Rs. 2500/- as one time
subscription, an activity fees of Rs. 1200/- per annum will
have to be paid in advance to attend the various programmes
of the Sabha. While life membership shall give them the benefit
of voting rights, attendance to the various programmes will
be on the basis of cost sharing. We appeal to the life members
to contribute Rs. 1200/- even if some of them attend rarely
any of the programmes of the Sabha. Their contribution would
certainly strengthen our financial bandwidth to encourage
several young artistes to experience our stage.
The attendance based subscription discount will equally
apply to 'Activity Fees' of life members.
Since the year is celebrated as “Carnataka Keraleeyam”,
please recommend atleast one Keralite living
in Mumbai for membership of the Sabha and help
enjoy seeing closer to home the unseen Kerala.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Dr. V. Shankar
President
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Dated: 15" March 2025
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