In this Issue
Variegated fare is what you'll find in this issue. The centre-section (21-32) this time has been given over to the Madras song-and-dance festival which was cyclone-like in its proportion and impact. Members of the SRUTI staff have joined hands to produce a report which comments on and analyses the different facets of what is probably the biggest show on earth of Indian classical music and dance. I draw your attention specifically to the proposal to stretch the Madras festival season over a six-month period beginning in August.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi will be presenting its 1986 awards this month. The brief profiles of the various award winners (11-15) and the interview-based article on awardee Nedunuri Krishnamurthi offer topical reading (16-20). Also topical is the brief article on the Dance Of Siva-Nataraja (47) and a yoga teacher's remembrances of Balasaraswati and Rukmini Devi (45). Topical too is the strong but sincerely-felt opinion expressed by S.P. Sundaram in the Bull's Eye column entitled The Travesty Of Tyagaraja Aradhana (33-34).
Raga-s In Oblivion (43-44), an article by vocalist R. Sundar, also falls in this category, coming as it does right after the season of surfeit. Regretfully, because of space considerations, we have had to postpone the second part of the article on Kerala musicians to the next issue, but the second instalment of the interview with Palghat K.V. Narayanaswamy is very much here (37-42). I think it's fascinating. Sruti Scholastics (48) takes on a different colour this time. If you enjoy the quiz shows on tv, you'll enjoy this too.