svanubhava 2015

Give me a programme in Kalakshetra, it does not matter what it is, I will consider being there. Okay, I may not make it all the time, maybe a few times in a year, that's it. But the place is so beautiful and green and has that special ambience that I care so much about, so I am a sucker for anything kalakshetra. We stay very close to the campus actually, so it does not require much planning. Soem of the programmes are ticketed  and getting tickets is a hassle. They get sold the day previous to the announcement in the papers. Campus touts? seriously;  or the rasikas have cosied up to somebody in kalakshetra and the minute a programme is planned they come to know of it and  book in advance through the contact.

Anyways, svanubhava has been a "must go" event for the last few years. Initiated by T M Krishna, as part of his passion to take arts to the masses and students it has a very nice and novel format. It is to make it also more open, there are question answer sessions at the end of a recital.They also webcast the programme.Normally  it is spread over three days.

This time around, the format was new, it was a 24 hour long continuous programmes starting from midnight till the next day midnight. Very interesting programmes were arranged. I was quite interested in workshop sessions scheduled for early evening. So I trooped in but was told , welcome, but sorry cannot go into the workshops. It is for students who had preregistered. So I came back but went again for the 7 pm carnatic music concert. It was held outdooors,And no garish lights but only lawn lights where audience sat sprawled over. The singer was in a small mantap which again had very soft lights which was just right and just enough for the audience to view.Gayathri venkatraghavan has a very sweet melodious voice and it was perfect for the setting. The venue was 'tamarai kulam'. The volunteer girls were so graceful and sweetly guiding the guests to their comfortable seating arrangements without disturbing and causing nuisance to other guests. How do they do that? Dhoti clad students were also bustling about and talking in soft undertones. Smell of jasmine was in the air and we could as well be in another  time and place.

It was magical.