Dubai : Soulful Music Resounds at Kannada Koota 'Sangeetha Saurabha'

Report: Shodhan Prasad
Photos: Jovin Dsouza- Pangala
Daijiworld Media Network - UAE

Dubai, Apr 4 : Kannada Koota UAE affiliated to ICWC-Indian Consulate Dubai, presented a memorable musical evening titled ‘Sangeetha Saurabha’ on Friday April 1 at Sh Rashid Auditorium (Indian High School, Oud Mehta Road, Dubai).  The programme, which started at around 5 pm, went on till midnight, with a number of requests continuing to come in from the audience for more.  The whole show presented before the packed auditorium was witnessed by the real music lovers, basically Kannadigas, who were cheering and enjoying every bit of the entertainment that was a package of songs, music, mantra and laughter.

Kannada Koota UAE, which was formed in the year 2003, and which has organized innumerable successful shows in the past including talent shows, philanthropic and social activities mainly for the Kannadiga communities in the UAE, is purely a non-profit making organization. The organization also has started a Kannada teaching classes for the children of Kannadigas in UAE.  Kannada Koota is being led to new heights under the able presidentship of Irranna Mulimani and his team comprising Manjunatha M as secretary, Mallikarjuna Gowda as treasurer, ex-president, S Muthugadur Aruna and Veerendra Babu, Basavaraj Salimath, Uma Vidhyadar and Sadan Das as directors.

The host gave a real feast to the music lovers in UAE, by beginning the programme with a prayer song dedicated to Lord Vigneshwara, and then presenting the winners and runners up of the famous Zee Kannada TV – ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs’, namely Master Ashwin Sharma, Master Anirudha, Sahana Hegde and Arundathi.

14-year-old Ashwin, who is a native of Bangalore, has been practicing music for the past ten years. He has so far won a number of awards including in the television show, ‘Champion of Champion’ hosted by famous singer, S Janaki.  He has performed around 300 successful shows so far.

14-year-old Aniruddha, who is born with lot of talent, is a gold medalist from Sadhana Music Academy. He is also a state award winner for his role in Kannada Movie ‘Raakshasa’.  He was one of the top five selected for the Pogo Amazing Kids Contest 2006.

Arundhati, another born talent, had started her singing ever since she was three.  She had participated and won in S P Balasubramaniam-hosted ‘Yede Thumbi Haaduvenu’ television show, and S Janaki’s ‘Champion of Champion’ singing contest. She was one of the youngest contestants in these shows.  She also has to her credit a solo song sung in Times Musc CD, ‘Eternal Waves’.

14-year-old Sahana Hegde had started her singing ever since she was five years of age, and has mastered Hindustani classical music.  She has won over 150 prizes, which are nicely put on display at her showcase at home.  She has sung for five movies and audio CD’s.  She has presented more than 300 live shows so far.

All the four amazing kids of Zee Sa Re Ga Ma fame rendered a number of melodious songs including some hits from yesteryear Kannada films, one after the other in a professional manner.  Their stage appearance and presentation was in no way inferior to those of the veterans.  They were accompanied by a light orchestra with Krishna on the drums, Pradhyumna on Tabla, Ashwin in lead Key board, and Rajeev Joyce in another keyboard.

This was followed by a performance by flute maestro, Pandit Praveen Ghodkindi, who touched the hearts of all the audience. He received standing ovations time and again, as every note presented through his flute was amazing.  His magic with flute transported the audience to another world of ecstasy.  Ghodkinidi’s performance really touched the souls of the entire hungry audience, making them to crave for more, as they bathed in the gentle waves of soothing music coming out of his magical flute.  He presented different ragas with pre narration and presented raga based filmy songs from both Kannada and Hindi films for the audience to identify.  Vidwan Praveen, a master of Hindustani classical music hailing from Dharwad, perhaps is from the only family of musicians where the three generations, Pandit Venkatesh Ghodkindi, Praveen himself, and his son, Shadaj Ghodkindi, perform together on a single stage.  Praveen gave a new dimension to the Indian classical music with his fusion compositions.  He has to his credit innumerable compositions for audios, videos, television Serials, dance ballets, dramas and movies.  He is famous for his raga-based tele show ‘Raagaranjini’. Praveen’s message to the audience is to pass on the Indian traditional music to the coming generation and let them know and identify the different ragas of Hindustani and Karnatic music, which he said, are the mothers of all music.

Prof Krishne Gowda, a well-known humorist from Mysore, took over the stage thereafter. Initially, he started by praising Praveen for his wonderful performance.  He said the audience may not like to lend an ear to him after having heard Praveen’s flute recital. Thereafter, he mesmerized the audience with his quick wit and humour. With his fluent and unstoppable Kannada humour, he related subjects like English language, common talk, image, beauties of bad words etc, for more than an hour.  His breathless fluency and floating words were adding fuel to his humour, making the audience jump from their seats automatically.  A Kannada professor by profession, Gowda has performed innumerable shows and has many VCD’s to his credit, and fans all over the world.  His television show ‘Harate’ in Udaya TV is well-received and appreciated by people from all age groups.

The final part got continued with the songs by the amazing kids with the concluding song, ‘Huttidare Kannada Nadalli Huttabeku’

The entire show was ably anchored by the beautiful and famous TV personality and movie actress, Spoorthi Suresh, who always presented herself with a smile on her lips.

In between the programme, Arshad Hussain’s ‘Vismaya’ book was released, and the main sponsor, SAPIL’s ‘Ecstacy’ new scent launch programme was held. Later, presenters, sponsors, supporters, well-wishers and the media personalities were called on the stage and felicitated with flowers, fruits and mementoes.

All in all it was a great programme ably conducted by the members of Kannada Koota UAE with chief convener, Muthugadur Aruna and joint convener, Verendra Babu, functioning as event coordinators.

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