“Music is the best art form to reach God,” said L Ganesan, former Rajya Sabha MP.
Inaugurating the 51st Fine Arts Festival of Chennai Cultural Academy Trust yesterday, Ganesan said, “When compared to Western countries, music, whether it is Carnatic or Hindustani, is based on spiritual thoughts and philosophy.”
Academy president, Dr Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, chaired the function and presented awards to Rajini Hariharan (Sangeetha Kala Siromani), Radhika Shurajit (Nrithya Kala Siromani) and dramatist Delhi Ganesh (Nataka Kala Siromani). Saxophone vidwan, Dr Kadri Gopalnath was not present due to health reasons to receive the honour ‘Sangeetha Kala Siromani’.
Canara Bank, chairman, T N Manoharan delivered the keynote address and recalled how music helps them to overcome the stress involved in debt collections and recovery. Managing Director of Gopuram Products Limited V V Harikrishnan, Tata Consultancy Service’s Suresh Raman, New India Assurance Company’s Jayanthi and chartered accountant P B Santhanakrishnan were present.
Later, scholar Dr Lakshminarasimhan gave a speech on the topic ‘Brain and Music’. Bharatanatyam exponent Roja Kannan and her disciples staged a thematic dance, ‘Mummoorthigalin Maanikkangal’.
The awardees then gave their acceptance speech.
Academy secretary, Dr S Natarajan, thanked Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti for supporting the sabha’s activities all these years.
The festival will be on till 3 January with a wide range of programmes, including vocal, Harikatha, namasankeerthanam, Bharatanatyam and plays.
Chennai Cultural Academy can be reached at 7200074538. The website is www.chennaicultural.org
Photo: B Anand