81st Thyagaraja Festival to Open in Tirupati with Centenary Tribute to M. Krishnaswami
The Tirupati Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Cultural Trust will launch its five-day annual music and dance festival on August 1. Highlighted by the centenary tribute to M. Krishnaswami, the event features a prestigious award ceremony and a deep roster of classical performers.
Key takeaways
- The 81st Annual Festival of Music and Dance runs from August 1 to 5 in Tirupati.
- A documentary and portrait ceremony will celebrate the centenary of former trust chairman M. Krishnaswami.
- Srimushnam V. Raja Rao will receive the Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani title.
- Confirmed performers include Nithyasree Mahadevan, Pantula Rama, and Neyveli Radhakrishnan.
Festival Launches with Centenary Commemoration
Tirupati prepares for the 81st Annual Festival of Music and Dance, an event managed by the Tirupati Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Cultural Trust, running from August 1 through August 5. According to announcements made by the trust’s executive chairman K.V. Mohan Sundaram and honorary secretary Kanchi Raghuramaiah during a Thursday press briefing, the session opens with a major tribute to former chairman M. Krishnaswami. TTD Executive Officer M. Ravichandra, acting as the festival committee's ex-officio president, will unveil a portrait of Krishnaswami to mark his centenary year.
The inaugural day also features contribution from former Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishna Murthy, who will present a documentary focused on the life and legacy of the centenarian chairman. These ceremonies set a commemorative tone for the five-day gathering of classical arts enthusiasts.
Honors and Artist Roster
A central fixture of this year’s program is the presentation of the Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani title. The trust will confer this annual distinction upon Srimushnam V. Raja Rao for his contributions to the field. The schedule promises a dense rotation of technical mastery and cultural performance.
Audiences can expect performances from a variety of notable musicians, including:
- Vocalist Nithyasree Mahadevan
- Vocalist Pantula Rama
- Vocalist Sunil Gargeyan
- Vocalist Anuvratha Narasimhan
- Violinist Neyveli Radhakrishnan (double violin)
Trust officials including M. Durga Prasad and M. Venugopal Reddy oversaw the final preparations and poster release for the event, which remains a staple of the regional cultural calendar.
Source: The Hindu — National
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