Chief Guests
Former head of the music department at the Kerala University, and renowned Carnatic musician, teacher and researcher, Dr. Omanakkutty is a familiar name to all Keralites. She is fondly known as Omanakkutty teacher amongst her long list of eminent disciples and public alike. She devoted her life to the rendition, composition and research in Carnatic music, especially the kritis of Maharajah Swathithirunal.
Carnatic musician and a budding playback singer Sri Hari Shankar is the grandson of Dr. Omanakkutty. Having born in a family of famous musicians, Hari Shankar learned classical music from a young age, and he has now grown into an accomplished singer.
Dr. Omanakkutty and Sri Hari Shankar were accompanied by the famous violinist Smt. Jyotsna Sreekanth and the percussionist Sri Bangalore Prakash in their Carnatic music rendition.
The programmes presented on the Day
- Kavyanjali – A tribute to the late Sri O. N. V. Kurup, the beloved poet who inaugurated the Sruthi by lighting the lamp 11 years ago.
- Janani Namasthubhyam – A dance performance traversing the cycle of creation, existence and destruction of life and nature, seeking harmony among the five elements for the longevity of mother earth.
- Carnatic music concert by the Chief guests- Dr. Omanakkutty and Sri Hari Shankar, accompanied by Smt. Jyotsna Sreekanth on violin and Sri Bangalore Prakash on mridangam.
- Old is Gold – Music programme. A musical journey to remember and celebrate the works of some exceptional but lesser known singers of yesteryears- singers who decorated the golden era of Malayalam cinema and drama scene in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Krishna – A celebration through dance. A colourful blend of Indian dance forms and mesmerising music, a celebration of Lord Krishna, and a celebration of life. It featured a special introductory tribute to the late Sri ONV.
- Mukhamukham with the chief guests
- Udampadi – Drama. A realistic play written by the late Sri Vayala Vasudevan Pillai, it draws attention to the vices of globalisation in the context of a family torn apart by the vicious clutches of a “Pact”.
