The December Season in Madras kicked off with Kartik Fine Arts opening its 28th annual art festival on 1 December at Sathguru Gnanananda Hall, (Narada Gana Sabha's main auditorium), Alwarpet. The fest was inaugurated by the Union Home Secretary, N. Gopalaswami.

The title of 'Isai Peroli' was conferred on carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna and 'Nadanamamani' on Bharatanatyam dancer Priya Murle. The awards carried a citation, an idol of lord Muruga, a medal and a cash component of Rs. 15,000. The D.K. Pattammal award was presented to young vocalist Visalakshi Nityanand. D.S. Ramanujam of Kartik Fine Arts was presented the 'Best Cultural Organiser'award.

The grand old man of carnatic music, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer was present on the occasion. It was amazing to watch this 90-plus veteran speak at length, making his observation on the carnatic music scene. He said, "Today, there are a lot of young musicians, who also sing very well. And most of them perform kutcheris abroad very often. America has become another Mylapore today! But, I have never been to the U.S since my father stricly advised that I shouldn't fly." He went on to ask why several musicians were composing today. He said, "There is already a huge treasure of compositions left for us by the Trinity. If one can master those compositions, that itself is an achievement."

Dancer Lakshmi Viswanathan felicitated the awardees. The inaugural concert featured violinists Ganesh and Kumaresh.

Kutcheris are held at the Narada Gana Sabha's auditorium, RR Sabha hall and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's auditorium in Mylapore.

The sabha also organises a Seminar on Dance Dramas, 'Natya Darshan' between December 20 and 22 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The convenors for the seminar are dance gurus Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy and Chitra Visweswaran.

An exclusive Tamil Isai fest will be held from 26 December at Valliammal College auditorium, Anna Nagar. The title of 'Tamil Isai Vendhar' will be conferred on vocalist Sirkazhi S. Sivachidambaram at this fest.

Contact R. Rajagopal, Secretary, Kartik Fine Arts at 39, Bheemanna Garden Street, Chennai 600 018. Ph: 4997788.