May 14 2025 to May 14 2025 7 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Water in various forms – in oceans, rivers, lakes, temple tanks and life-giving rain – has been the subject of numerous musical compositions in our rich aural classical tradition. Poets and composers across the ages have celebrated this precious resource and captured its significance from religious, philosophical and utilitarian points of view in their great works and compositions.

What profound message using the imagery of a lake did Saint Purandaradasa convey in a ‘Geetam’, one of the first compositions a child learns? When we water a Tulasi plant, does it signify anything beyond the obvious? What are the beautiful scenes visualised by Saint Tyagaraja on the banks of the Yamuna and the Cauvery? How did the great composer Sri Muddusvami Dikshithar bring relief to a drought-stricken place?

This Carnatic music concert titled ‘Celebrating Water Through Music’ will provide answers to all these questions and more. It will feature several compositions which, through their lyrics and melody, draw our attention to water and its paramount importance in our lives. The context and connection of each song to water, be it a water body or the venerated form of the Divine itself, will be presented with explanations enhanced with beautiful visuals.

Supported by:

Performers

Sumitra Nitin
Artiste Founder, Natyasruti
Sumitra Nitin is a Carnatic vocalist and Bharatanatyam dancer with an illustrious career spanning over 4 decades. She has performed both artforms at major venues and festivals in India and abroad. Her training was with eminent Gurus Smt. Neela Ramgopal in music and Smt. Rhadha in dance. Sumitra is a highly regarded teacher and has trained scores of students for over 20 years at her school for Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam – ‘Natyasruti’ in Bangalore, .

The synergy between Sumitra’s expertise in music and dance enriches her performances in both fields, with her musical renderings reflecting the emotivity and vibrance of dance, and her dance choreography in turn reflecting her musicality. Sumitra has presented many acclaimed thematic performances in music and dance, both as a soloist and along with her students.

Recently, Sumitra has won great appreciation from audiences and critics for the play ‘Kamalakshi’, where she is the protagonist. This play produced by the Madras Players (a leading English theatre group), showcases her many skills as actor, dancer and musician. An erudite speaker, Sumitra has researched and delivered presentations on a variety of topics at prestigious forums. She is the recipient of many awards and accolades from reputed organisations over the years.

Krithik Koushik
Violin
Krithik Koushik is a talented violinist and has been under the tutelage of Vidwan Sri HN Bhaskar. He previously learnt from Vidwan Dr. S Nataraj Murthy and Vidwan HK Narasimhamurthy.

Krithik has performed across many venues in South India, including several prestigious organizations such as the Madras Music Academy, the Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Rama Seva Mandali, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Kartik Fine Arts among many others. His awards include the ‘Sangeetha Mudhra Award’, the ‘Best HCL Concert Award’ from the Madras Music Academy, and the ‘Best Violin Accompaniment Award’ from the Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha Mysore.

An MBA by qualification, Krithik is also a B-High graded artiste of the All India Radio, and a recipient of scholarships granted by CCRT and the D. Subbaramaiah Trust Bangalore.

Abhiram Nitin
Mridangam
Abhiram Nitin is a mridangam artiste under the tutelage of Bangalore Sri Arjun Kumar. He was previously trained by Sri RSR Srikanth.

Abhiram has performed at many sabhas including the Madras Music Academy, Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira, Narada Gana Sabha and Suswaralaya College of Music, in addition to performances abroad at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival and Harvard University. He has won prizes in competitions conducted by The Hindu and the Bangalore Gayana Samaja. Hailing from a musical family, he has also learnt Carnatic vocal music from his mother Smt. Sumitra Nitin, and received the CCRT Junior Scholarship for the same.

Abhiram is currently a final-year student at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.