The budding artistes, who have secured gold medals and cash prizes for excelling in music and performing arts, want to make it big in their respective fields.
A majority of them want to pursue higher education in music, arts and want to serve the society.
For R Raghu, son of a driver, it is an unbelievable movement. “I was singing songs just for passion during my school days. When I was pursuing high school at Ganapathi Sachchidananda School, Mysuru, I was drawn towards music. The school management started music classes under the name ‘Raagarangini,’ which attracted me in a great way and thus my passion for Carnatic music began,” he explained.
“I am a follower of Anna Hazare and participated in many events during my studies. Now, I am into Swaraj Abhiyana, a political movement towards alternative politics, to support a good cause,” he said.
Raghu, son of Ramu, a retired driver with Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), Mysuru, wants to use his artistic skills for social harmony. He bagged two gold medals in Carnatic Music in BA.
‘Discrimination’
Kathyayini S C, a native of Kollegal, gained interest in Bharatanatyam only due to discrimination, she had to suffer. When she was in high school, a few of her friends, who were good at dance, discriminated her as she could not compete ith them.
“I took it up as a challenge and started practicing Bharatanatyam rigorously from Class VII. Initially, I wanted to overtake my friends, but, as days passed, dance became my profession,” said Kathyayini and thanked her Guru Kripa Phadke.
Kathyayini discontinued her BSc to be a professional in Bharatanatyam. “I will pursue higher education and also want to conduct more researches in natya,” she said. She has bagged a gold medal and cash prize for securing highest marks in BA.
Double joy
For Ashwini Krishna Bhat, apart from bagging gold medal and cash prize for her achievement in Hindustani Music, she is proud of being a student of Gangubai Hangal’s granddaughter, Vyshnavi Hangal, a music teacher at the varsity. She wants to pursue PhD in Hindustani music.
Daughter of priest
Archana M S, daughter of a priest in Kollur Mookambika temple, M S Sathya Ganapathi Rao, gained interest in Bharatanatyam by watching other artistes, who were visiting the temple to perform natya (dance).
“I have been practicing natya since I was four-year-old. Artistes from Kerala and other parts used to come to the temple to perform a variety of concerts and thus I was attracted towards it,” she says.
Archana’s husband Manasa Narayana is a Carnatic vocalist. Archana bagged Vasundhara Doraswamy gold medal.
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