Swati Tirunal (1813-1847), Maharaja of Travancore, India, composed music in both Hindusthani and Karnatic styles and is also perhaps the finest-ever composer of music for dance in India as well as one of the earliest writers of modern Hindi poetry for music. The Day's program consists of several hours of renditions of Maharaja Swati Tirunal's compositions (Ragamaalikas, Navaratri Kritis, Kirtanams and Padams) by well-known local musicians. The Maharaja’s Hindustani compositions are also featured. All music lovers are welcome at the program, and musicians are welcome to perform. A unique new item in the program will be the Thiruvaathira dance piece set to a Swati Tirunal compositions

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Featured Evening Programs

Chief Guest

Sangeeta Kalaanidhi (Music Academy, Chennai) and
Gaayaka Ratnam (Swati Tirunal Sangeeta Sabha, Thiruvananthapuram)

Sri.  R. K. Srikantan

Concert by Sri. R. K. Srikantan
Vocal Support: Rudrapatnam S. Ramakanth
Violin: Hemmige V. Srivatsan
Mrudangam: Nirmal Narayan

Sangeetha Kalanidhi Rudrapatnam K Srikantan hails from a family of Musicians that includes his Guru, Violin maestro RK Venkatarama Sasri, a disciple of Mysore T Choudiah. He was born in Rudrapatanam in Karnataka in the year 1920. He is the 6^th prasishya of Sadguru Thyagaraja Swamy. He served All India Radio for over 30 years and retired as the Classical Music Producer. During his musical career, a number of titles have been conferred  on Vidwan Srikantan that include Sangeetha Kalanidhi by MMA, Gaayaka Ratnam by the Thiruvananthapuram Swati Tirunal Sangeeta Sabha, Sangeetha Kala Ratna by Bangalore Gayana Samaja and Sangeetha Ratnakara by the Cleveland Music festival.Dr RK Srikantan trained a number of students.  Prominent among some of his disciples who have attained performing status are RS Ramakanth (his Son),  Shashank and M.S Sheela.

Tiruvaatira Kali

"Paarvati Naayaka"

Sindu Pillai, Rekha Jayadeep, Priya Sivadasan, Sreedevi Warrier,
Lakshmi Warrier, Deepa Adoor, Deepa Deepak, Sindhu Suresh
With Live Orchestra

Mohiniyattom Dance Program 

Elizabeth Kurien

Nattuvangam:  Radha Carman
Vocals: Heera Nair, R. Jayakrishnan
Violin: Shiva Ramamurthi
Mrudangam: S. Dhamodharan

Elizabeth Mani Kurien has studied Indian dance in Kerala with Shyamala Surendran at the Dharani School of Performing Arts since 1987. She continued her arts education by completing a Masters in Dance from the Central University of Hyderabad. Later she became a faculty member at Dharani until her move to Los Angeles in 1999. She is also member of Mandalam (Kerala Dance Theater) in Los Angeles. Elizabeth teaches Indian dance in Pasadena and Rancho Cucamonga.
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Admission: Free. For more information, or to perform during the day, contact/email: R. Jayakrishnan (949-856-3225), Hari Nair (949-888-8527), or Ravi Vellatheri (949-786-0866)