Sep 04 2025 to Sep 04 2025 7 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

This Karnatik vocal concert by TM Krishna commemorates the golden jubilee of the International Music and Arts Society (IMAS)—an organisation dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of the arts through a rich diversity of music, dance, theatre and visual art programmes. For five decades, the IMAS has played a vital role in bringing some of the finest exponents of performing and visual arts to Bangalore. In this special concert by TM Krishna, whose repertoire encompasses both tradition and innovation, the Society celebrates the shared interests of its members in the classical and contemporary arts of the world. 

Image Credit:
Photos of TM Krishna by Sandhya Kannan

Presented by the International Music and Arts Society

Performers

TM Krishna
Karnatik Musician, Author
Thodur Madabusi Krishna is one of the pre-eminent vocalists in the rigorous Karnatik tradition of India’s classical music. His tutelage is in this form that originated in the southern peninsula of the sub-continent nearly five hundred years ago. His training has been under the distinguished gurus, B Seetharama Sarma, Chengalpet Ranganathan and Semmangudi Srinivasier, placing him in the highest reaches of that time-honored system. He has, at the same time, come to occupy a markedly distinct place in the Karnatik universe for the stunning individuality of his renditions distinguished for an inner luminosity and a passionate intensity that are all his own. Krishna belongs to a tradition, but is not owned by it. His concert stage, whether in his hometown of Chennai or anywhere else in the world, is wholly classical but his concert practice is uncompromisingly his own.

As a public intellectual, Krishna speaks and writes about issues affecting the human condition and about matters cultural. His path-breaking book, A Southern Music – The Karnatik Story, published by Harper Collins in 2013, was a first-of-its-kind philosophical, aesthetic and socio-political exploration of Karnatik music. For this he was awarded the 2014 Tata Literature Award for Best First Book in the non-fiction category. His latest book Sebastian and Sons published by Context in 2020, traces the history of the mrdangam-maker and the mrdangam over the past century. It received the Tata Lit Live Award for the Best Non-Fiction book for the year 2020.

He has been part of inspiring musical productions and collaborations, such as the Chennai Poromboke Paadal with environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman, performances with the Jogappas (transgender musicians) and co-conceptualising and performing Karnatik Kattaikuttu, an unusual aesthetic conversation between art forms and communities that belong to two ends of the social spectrum.

His musico-poetic partnership with India’s leading contemporary Tamil writer Perumal Murugan, is unprecedented. Rarely have a poet and a musician, who are contemporaries, collaborated to bring out works of art on the ‘classical’ stage. He has also been a pioneer in bringing the poetry of the social reformer and philosopher Sree Narayana Guru into the Karnatik fold.

In collaboration with Ashoka University, TM Krishna is now involved in The Edict Project, an attempt to reimagine Ashoka’s edicts in musical form. The project aims at creating vibrant aesthetic, socio-political and academic conversations around the edicts.

In 2017 he received the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for his services in promoting and preserving national integration in India. In the same year, he received the revered Isai Perarignar award from Tamil Isai Sangam for his contributions to Tamil music. In 2019, he received the Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram, the highest honour for musicians instituted by the Kerala State Government. In 2021, he received the Pasumai Award in memory of Dr. Jeevanandam, a well-respected Gandhian and social worker.

Krishna was awarded the Sangita Kalanidhi in January 2025, one of the most prestigious honours in Karnatik music, conferred annually by The Madras Music Academy.

Sukanya Ramgopal
Ghatam
Sukanya Ramgopal is the first woman ghatam artiste of the country. She hails from a family of musicians and Tamil scholars and is the great granddaughter of Mahamahopadyaya Dr. UV Swaminatha Iyer, fondly known as ‘Tamil Tatha’ (grand old man of Tamil). 

Sukanya began training in the mridangam under the tutelage of Sri TR Harihara Sharma and later transitioned to the ghatam under the guidance of his son, the ghatam legend Sri Vikku Vinayakram. She is today considered one of the torchbearers of the Vikku baani of ghatam playing. She is also a proficient performer on the Konnakol (vocal percussion). 

The Ghata Tharang, where melody is played on multiple ghatams, is a unique idea conceptualised by Sukanya. This is the first time that the ghatam has come to occupy the centre stage in a Karnatik concert. 

Sukanya is an ‘A Top’ grade artiste of All India Radio. She is an empanelled artist of the ICCR in the ‘outstanding’ category. She is the recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar, 2014. She is also the author of ‘Sunaadam: The Vikku Baani of Ghatam Playing’, the first textbook for ghatam learning.

Sayee Rakshith S
Violin
Sayee Rakshith’s violin training began with TV Ramani, developed further under KG Rajesh, and advanced under the legendary Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padma Shri A Kanyakumari. He also honed his vocal skills with maestros like Neyveli Ganesh, AS Murali, and Rajkumar Bharathi. In addition to his violin expertise, Sayee is a versatile music producer, arranger, and composer, proficient in harmonium and keyboard. 

Sayee Rakshith’s musical journey began at the age of 10, and since then, he has shared the stage with revered Karnatik artists, captivating audiences both in India and internationally. Sayee is a key member of the renowned band Staccato, collaborating on various projects and performances that showcase his diverse musical abilities. His involvement in the ‘Dharti Ma’ initiative by the Earth Day Network brought him together with leading musicians across India, including Bombay Jayashri and Shankar Mahadevan, to promote environmental awareness through music. In the film industry, Sayee’s talents have been featured in over 30 films, where he has worked with prominent music directors such as MM Keeravani and GV Prakash. Additionally, his creativity has flourished in the realm of dance, where he has composed and contributed to various productions, demonstrating his ability to seamlessly integrate classical traditions with contemporary styles. 

His awards and recognitions include the CCRT Scholarship for Carnatic Violin; First Prize – National Competition, All India Radio; Best Accompanist Award – Kalavanta 2016; Lalgudi Jayaraman Endowment Award – Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, 2017; Best Concert Award – Music Academy, Madras, HCL Concert Series; Shri Shanmukhananda Bharat Ratna Dr. MS Subbalakshmi Fellowship – 2020; Best Violin Accompaniment Award – Music Academy, Madras, 2022; and the Best Concert Award – Music Academy, 2023.

Delhi S Sairam
Mridangam
Kalaimamani Delhi S Sairam is a disciple of Mridangam Maestro Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. Thiruvarur Bakthavatsalam. He is a post graduate First Rank holder in Rhythmology from the University of Madras. He has also won several awards like the ‘Kalaimamani’ from the government of Tamil Nadu, ‘Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, ‘Yuva Kala Bharathi’ from Bharat Kalachar, ‘Best Senior Mridangist’ award from The Music Academy, Chennai, and ‘Laya Lavanya Trust Award’ from Padma Bhushan Umayalapuram Sivaraman to name a few.

His energetic yet sensitive style of accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists alike has won him critical acclaim all over India and abroad. During the past 20 years, he has given thousands of performances accompanying eminent senior artists and promising and upcoming musicians. He has accompanied veterans like Flute Ramani, TV Sankaranarayanan, Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, Ranjani Gayathri, Sudha Raghunathan and many senior artists. He has toured the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Abu Dhabi with several artists and performed at prestigious international festivals and venues.

He has had the good fortune of sharing the stage alongside his guru on a few occasions, one such being the Guru Shishya Parampara series under the auspices of the Delhi International Arts Festival, India International Centre. He has been part of various jugalbandhis and rhythmic ensemble concerts.

He has been a teacher par excellence imparting to students the art of mridangam accompaniment for the past two decades. He is also a visiting faculty member of the Kalaikovil Academy of Fine Arts in Toronto, Canada for the past 14 years. He has trained over 40 students for their arangetram (maiden performance) in Canada and India.