Past events

Raaga 2020.

**Phil played an exciting line up of Rag Charukesi, Raghu vamsa Sudha in Rag Kadanakuthuhalam, Rag Bhageshri, Rag Chandraprabha and ended with a Dhun.**
Our September 12 concert was presented by saxophonist Phil Scarff and tabla artist Amit Kavthekar. You can find out more about these artists by visiting their websites:
**Phil Scarff**
Indian classical music: philscarff.com
Phil Scarff leads the world-jazz fusion ensembles Natraj (natrajmusic.com) and the Lewis Porter-
Phil Scarff Group (porterscarff.com).
Recordings are available from itunes and many digital streaming platforms.
To purchase CDs, contact Phil directly at philscarff@natrajmusic.com.

**Amit Kavthekar**
amitkavthekar.com

Vishayka Hari kept the audience of 100 Zoom participants mesmerized by weaving together a story of 6 saints from 5 states and passages from the Bhagwat Gita.

Rajhesh Vaidhya enthralled the audience by playing:
Vatapi ganapatim bhaje. -Raga Hamsadhwani,
composer-Dikshitar
Teliyaleru Rama -Raga Dhenuka, deshadi Tal,
composer- Tyagaraja
Ni daya rAda. -Raga VasantaBhairavi, Rupak Tal,
composer -Tyagaraja
Manavyalakim Chara, Raga nalinakanti, Aadi Tal,
composer- Tyagaraja
Nagumomu galaleni – Raga Abheri, Aadi Tal,
composer-Tyagaraja
Kurai onrum illai- Ragamalika, Aadi Tal, composer- Rajaji
Krishna ni begane baro-composer- Vyaasaraya
Chinnanjiri kiliye-Ragamalika, composer-Bharatiyar
Paluke banagaramayana, Raga AnandaBhairavi,
Adi Tal, composer- Ramadas
Prema mudita man se kaho Ram,Ram,Ram bhajan
Lag ja gale – Hindi film song
Brahmamokate – Raga bowli, Aadi Tal,
composer-Annamacharya
Maitrim bhajata-Ragamalika, Aadi tal,
composer- Chandrasekhara Saraswati

Ullam irangi vandu arul purivaye – Raga Hamsadwani,
Aadi talam, Composer Papanasam Sivam
Palisemma muddu sharade – Raga Sriranjani, chatushri
ekatalam tishra nadai, Composer-Purandara dasa
AruL seiyya vendum – Raga Rasikapriya,
Composer-koteeswara Iyer
Paramapurusa jagadeeswara– Raga Vasanta,
Aadi talam, Composer-Swati tirunaL
Viruttam-Nama shivayattai nan maravene
Irakkam varAmal ponadenna kAraNam en Swami–
Raga Behag, Rupaka Tal,
Composer -Gopalakrishna Bharati
Enna kavi padinAlum – Raga NeelamaNi, Aadi Tal,
Composer-Anayampatti Aadisesha Aiyyar
Sriramachandra krupAlu – Raga – Yaman,
Mishra chapu Tal, Composer-Tulsidas
Abhang- Ye hi Vittale bhaktajana vatsale– Raga –
brindavani , Eka tal, Composer-Saint Namdev
Ek Mantra japte raho – Rag Darbar,
Composer-Swami Prabhupada

Maate Malayadhwaja – Raga Kamas, Composer Muttayyah Bhaagawatar
Shri Vighna Rajam Bhaje – Raga Gambeera Nattai, Composer Ootukkadu Venkatasubbaiyyar
Shri Valli Devasenapate – Raga NaTa Bhairavi, Composer Papanasam Shivam
VidajAladhura – Raga Janaranjani, Composer Tyagaraja
Ethavunara – Raga Kalyani, Composer Tyagaraja
Pibare Rama Rasam – Raga Ahir Bhairavi, Composer Sadasiva Brahmendra

Raaga 2019.

Raagas played by Anupama were Rageshree Ek Tal,
Behag (Alap,Jor,Jhala,Teen Tal)
Anar Anar folk song from Afghanistan its six beat dadra.
She concluded with Rag Sindhubairavi

Soundararajan started with Mahaganapatim – Raga Nattai,
Adi Tal, Composer: Muttuswamy Dikshitar
Santana gopalakrishnan upasmahe – Raga Kamas,
Composer: Muttuswamy Dikshitar
Ranganayakam bhAvayeham – Raga NAyaki, Adi Tal,
Composer Muttuswamy Dikshitar
Banturiti kolu viyya vayya Rama – Raga Hamsanandam,
deshadi Tal, Composer Tyagaraja
Nagumomu – Raga Abheri, Adi Tal, Composer Tyagaraja
Jayadeva ashtapadi – Raga Amir kalyani
Venkatachala Nilayam – Raga Sindhubairavi, Adi Tal,
Composer: Purandaradasa
Oruthi Maganai Pirandhu – Raga Behag, Adi Tal,
Composer: Andal
Tillana
Pibare Ramarasam – Raga Yaman Kalyani, Adi Tal,
Composer Sadashiva Brahmendrar
Kurai ondrum Illai – Ragamalika, Adi Tal, Composer Rajaji

Jayanth accompanied by Murari and Bharadwaj started with
Mahaganapathim – Raga Nattai; Chatusra ekam Tal
Akhilandeshwari – Raga Dwijavanti; Adi Tal
Pavana Guru – Raga Hamsanandi; Rupaka Tal
Kaligiyunte – Raga Keeravani; Adi Tal
Vaishnava Jana To – Bhajan
Raghuvamsa Sudha – Raga Kathanakuthuhalam; Adi Tal
Jagado Dharana – Raga Sindhu Bhairavi-Kapi: Adi Tal
Pahadi Dhun
Thillana – Raga Behag; Adi Tal

Raaga 2018.

Sushmitha Suresh performed the following dances:
Saraswati Kauthvam :The blessings of goddess Saraswati are
invoked in a mixture of Nritta the abstract aspect of dance
and Abhinaya-narration
Pranamamyaham Sri Gauri Sutam: A Salutation to the son Gauri,
Lord Ganesha.
Innum yen manam– Nrityopaharam: Nrityopaharam or Varnam
forms the central piece of a Bharatanatyam performance,
testing the dancer’s skill in Nritta and Abhinaya.
Momu Jupura :
Shringara Lahari: In praise of the mother of the universe,
Goddess Gauri, the fierce protector of her loved ones.
Chinnanjiru kiliye:
Madhuvanthi Thillana: Sushmita closed with a traditional Thillana
in Bharatanatyam.

Rooted in the style of the Virtuoso violinist Dr Manjunat, Arun Ramamurthy brings in a fresh approach to the age old south Indian classical repertoire,The trios collaborative sound is driven by the propulsive rhythm section of drummer Sameer Gupta and bassist Perry Wortman. Selections played that evening:
Delusions – Raga Madhuvanti; Adi Tal
Preservation – Raga Natabhairavi; Adi Tal
Simple Joys – Raga Mohana Kalyani; Adi Tal
Walk As One – Raga Chakravakam; Misra Chapu Tal (7 beats)

Raaga 2017.

Raaga 2016.

Kathak Yatra is the journey of kathak dance through history.It offers glimpses of the evolution of different eras starting from the temple period,through the Royal courts of kings and emperors to todays proscenium Stages!
The word Kathak is derived from the Sanskrit word Katha, meaning a story,Rhythmic footwork, fast pirouettes ,and complex moments characterize this graceful spontaneous dance.The form has its origin in the narrative tradition of the village minstrel, the ‘Kathakars”,who sang songs of heroic tales and dramatized their lyrics with subtle gestures and expressions.

Ragas played by the artists
Ragam Malayamurtham; Rupaka Tal
Ragam Simhendramadyamam; Mishra Tal
Ragam Mohanam RTP
Mohanam is an audava(pentatonic) ragam using only 5 notes,and is the oldest raga known.
It is a very pleasing and enchanting ragam that invokes a wide range of emotions.
Ragam alapana is a pure melodic improvisation based on the ragam,followed by Tanam.

Raaga 2015.

Raaga wishes to thank all the members, donors and well-wishers, that made these programs possible in its first year.
Donors:
Arun & Sarada Penukonda, Arun & Vijaylakshmi Maheshwari, Mukund Kini, Murali & Madhumati Muppala, Ramiah & Lakshmi Krishnan, Subhash & Seema Kshetrapal, Viswanatham & Rukmini Piratla, Eric & Sherry Hynden, Suresh & Usha Tate, Rathna & Lakshmi Bushan, Radhakrishna & Shirley Bharath, Rao & Purna Chalasani, Ira Dash, Paramasiva & Premalatha Halasyamani, Mallika & Kumar Nandur, Vishal & Sandy Madhar, Shiva & Nithya Sharma, Lakshman & Menaka Setty, Piyush & Abantika Shah, Suresh & Usha Tate, Vaishali Dihenia, Mukesh Vyas, Sahees, C.V. & Sathya, Daniel Singh.

Ragas Sung by Bhuvanesh Komkali
Rag Bhimpalas
Naad so Jaanu re Sur gaani– Vilambit Ek Tal-12 beats,
Composer: Pandit Kumar Gandharva
Tarana in Teen Tal-16 beats
Rag Multani
Balama moare , Madhya laya (medium Tempo)-Composition in Teen Tal-Traditional Composition
Dil Bekaraar Haiga -Drut(Fast Composition) in Teen Tal
Rag Kalyan
Mukha Tero Karo – Madhya laya teen tal-
Composer: Pandit Kumar Gandharva
Nirguni Bhajans: In praise of god in his formless aspect
Rag Bhairavi
Komkali ended with this late evening raga, filled with devotion, love and peace.

Ragas sung by Vrinda Acharya
Aparadhamula -Raga Latangi; Adi Tal, Composer: Tyagaraja
Pakkala Nilabadi – Raga Kharaharapriya; Chapu Tal,
Composer: Tyagaraja
Sri Varalakshmi -Raga Shree; Roopak Tal,
Composer: Dikshitar

Board of Directors of Raaga — Board of Directors: From left, Rathna Bushan, Shirley Bharath, Mallika Nandur, Anju Uttamchandani, Lakshmi Krishnan, Sarada Penukonda, Harshad Bhatt