Blab Music
81st Sri Thyagaraja Music and Dance Festival Opens in Tirupati
A resonant bell rang out over Tirupati’s Thyagaraja Hall on August 1 as the 81st Sri Thyagaraja Music and Dance Festival opened, inviting connoisseurs to a five‑day pilgrimage of Carnatic music and dance.
The event, organised by the Tirupati Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Cultural Trust, ran through August 5. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer M. Ravichandra—who also serves as the ex‑officio chairman of the festival committee—formally launched the festival. In his address he underscored the trust’s long‑standing role in presenting the festival each year and praised the cultural organisation for offering a “treat to connoisseurs of classical music.”
During the ceremony, Ravichandra unveiled a portrait of the late M. Krishnaswami, former chairman of the cultural trust. The unveiling coincided with the centenary of Krishnaswami’s birth, a gesture that highlighted the trust’s reverence for its past leaders.
A key moment on opening day was the conferral of the annual title “Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani.” The award, which has previously honoured musicians such as Malladi Suribabu, T. Rukmini and Guruvayur Dorai, was bestowed on noted mridangam player and vocalist Srimushnam V. Raja Rao. The award recognises Raja Rao’s lifelong contribution to rhythmic mastery and Carnatic excellence.
The ceremony was attended by the trust’s executive chairman K.V. Mohan Sundaram, honorary secretary Kanchi Raghuramaiah, and members M. Dorai Raj and M. Durga Prasad, underscoring the organisational support that sustains the festival’s continuity.
While the opening report did not detail the full schedule, the five‑day programme traditionally features solo and ensemble concerts, dance recitals, and tribute performances by leading Carnatic musicians and dancers from across India. The Sri Thyagaraja festival is part of the broader Tyagaraja Aradhana tradition, which honours the 18th‑century composer Sri Tyāgarāja Swāmi. His compositions, especially the Pancharatna Kritis, remain central to Carnatic repertoire and are frequently performed during festivals celebrating his legacy.
Thyagaraja Hall, the venue for the festival, has long served as a cultural hub for classical music in the region. Its acoustics and historic ambience make it a preferred location for festivals that aim to preserve and promote Carnatic traditions.
The Tirupati Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Cultural Trust, established under the auspices of TTD, has organised the festival annually since its inception. The trust’s activities extend beyond the festival, including music education programmes and support for local artists.
Local media coverage highlighted the opening ceremony and the award to Raja Rao. The Hindu reported on the event, emphasizing the trust’s role in sustaining classical music traditions in Andhra Pradesh.
Although specific attendance figures were not released, the festival’s reputation suggests a steady turnout of classical music enthusiasts from the city and surrounding districts.
The festival will conclude on August 5, after which the trust will resume its regular activities, including music workshops and community outreach. The event’s success reinforces the importance of institutional support for classical arts in India.
In summary, the 81st Sri Thyagaraja festival opened with a focus on heritage and the recognition of contemporary musicians. The involvement of TTD officials, the unveiling of a portrait of a former trust chairman, and the award to Srimushnam V. Raja Rao highlight the festival’s blend of tradition and contemporary celebration, underscoring the continued relevance of Tyagaraja’s music and the role of cultural trusts in preserving India’s classical heritage.
The event, organised by the Tirupati Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Cultural Trust, ran through August 5. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer M. Ravichandra—who also serves as the ex‑officio chairman of the festival committee—formally launched the festival. In his address he underscored the trust’s long‑standing role in presenting the festival each year and praised the cultural organisation for offering a “treat to connoisseurs of classical music.”
During the ceremony, Ravichandra unveiled a portrait of the late M. Krishnaswami, former chairman of the cultural trust. The unveiling coincided with the centenary of Krishnaswami’s birth, a gesture that highlighted the trust’s reverence for its past leaders.
A key moment on opening day was the conferral of the annual title “Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani.” The award, which has previously honoured musicians such as Malladi Suribabu, T. Rukmini and Guruvayur Dorai, was bestowed on noted mridangam player and vocalist Srimushnam V. Raja Rao. The award recognises Raja Rao’s lifelong contribution to rhythmic mastery and Carnatic excellence.
The ceremony was attended by the trust’s executive chairman K.V. Mohan Sundaram, honorary secretary Kanchi Raghuramaiah, and members M. Dorai Raj and M. Durga Prasad, underscoring the organisational support that sustains the festival’s continuity.
While the opening report did not detail the full schedule, the five‑day programme traditionally features solo and ensemble concerts, dance recitals, and tribute performances by leading Carnatic musicians and dancers from across India. The Sri Thyagaraja festival is part of the broader Tyagaraja Aradhana tradition, which honours the 18th‑century composer Sri Tyāgarāja Swāmi. His compositions, especially the Pancharatna Kritis, remain central to Carnatic repertoire and are frequently performed during festivals celebrating his legacy.
Thyagaraja Hall, the venue for the festival, has long served as a cultural hub for classical music in the region. Its acoustics and historic ambience make it a preferred location for festivals that aim to preserve and promote Carnatic traditions.
The Tirupati Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Cultural Trust, established under the auspices of TTD, has organised the festival annually since its inception. The trust’s activities extend beyond the festival, including music education programmes and support for local artists.
Local media coverage highlighted the opening ceremony and the award to Raja Rao. The Hindu reported on the event, emphasizing the trust’s role in sustaining classical music traditions in Andhra Pradesh.
Although specific attendance figures were not released, the festival’s reputation suggests a steady turnout of classical music enthusiasts from the city and surrounding districts.
The festival will conclude on August 5, after which the trust will resume its regular activities, including music workshops and community outreach. The event’s success reinforces the importance of institutional support for classical arts in India.
In summary, the 81st Sri Thyagaraja festival opened with a focus on heritage and the recognition of contemporary musicians. The involvement of TTD officials, the unveiling of a portrait of a former trust chairman, and the award to Srimushnam V. Raja Rao highlight the festival’s blend of tradition and contemporary celebration, underscoring the continued relevance of Tyagaraja’s music and the role of cultural trusts in preserving India’s classical heritage.
