Shree Sundarkumar is called the Khanjira Man. For Carnatic music rasikas that is a familiar name – Shree is a leading percussionist and after a busy December Season, he has curated the Beats Festival.
The fest was launched at the Navaratri mantap of Sri Kapali Temple, Mylapore on Friday, Dec.4.
The fest opened with a passionate Thayambaka recital with the chenda that is so famous in Kerala. The team was led by master artiste and Padma Shri awardee Mattanur Sankarankutty, with his sons Sreekanth and Sreeraj and team.
The temple campus resounded to the drumming, drawing a sizable crowd this evening.
Later, was a concert by leading khanjira artistes of the Laya Chatura khanjira quartet ensemble – B. S. Purushotham, K. V. Gopalakrishnan, Shree Sundarkumar and Anirudh Athreya.
The Beats Fest is organised by Kanjira Man Foundation and Parampara. It is on for the weekend.
On Saturday, mridangist Patri Satish Kumar and later, tavil artiste Mannargudi R. Vasudevan are featured. On Sunday, ghatam maestro Vikku Vinaykaram performs solo, and then Shivapriya and Somasekar Jois play the konnakol and the finale, khanjira duet by Selvaganesh and Swaminathan.
Open to all.
