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K.S.R. Anirudha - mridangist recipient of the Kalaimamani award from the Govt. of Tamilnadu for 2003 October 30, 2003  Seeing the keen interest shown by the barely three-year-old Anirudha in rhythm and percussion, Smt.Kamaladevi Chattopadyay (Scholar, art-promoter, freedom-fighter) presented him with a number of skin instruments in the year 1980. From then, Anirudha has not looked back in his artistic journey. A left-handed mridangist, whose percussive skills have won him wide acclaim, K.S.R. Anirudha is the son of renowned Bharatanatyam exponent, Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy. Having trained under mridangam maestro Shri. Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Anirudha's playing is known for its 'naadham'. A talented artiste, Anirudha is endowed with the unique ability of wielding three mridangams (Triangam) simultaneously, which is a rarity. He has provided mridangam accompaniment for senior dancers like Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Prof. Chitra Visweswaran, Smt. Sonal Mansingh, Shri. Jayant Kastuar (Secretary, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.) and Kalaimamani. Anita Ratnam, to name a few. 
He also had the unique honour of being featured with Sarod Maestro, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in 'Jugalbandhi' concerts.  Anirudha's lec-dem titled 'Nuances of Mridangam for Dance' (in December 2000) was adjudged the best presentation at the 20th Natya Kala Conference of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.  In September, 2002, Music Maestro. A.R. Rahman released "ASHTARUCHI -an octave of emotions", an album highlighting the percussive talents of Anirudha. ASHTARUCHI, conceived and played by Anirudha with the support of the violin, attempts to represent the human emotions in an aural form with the aid of Carnatic music. Shri A.R. Rahman appreciated the audio album as a 'new concept'. A recipient of the 'Yuva Kala Bharathi' award from Bharat Kalachar (1998), his talents are varied - he composes 'jathis' for dance, writes poems in Tamil, and embellishes dance recitals with special effects built up with Udukkai, Kanjira and even the conch! He has been selected for the prestigious Award of "KALAIMAMANI" by the Government of Tamilnadu.  An advocate of the Madras High Court, Anirudha holds a Master's Degree in Law from the University of Madras. Old #.50, New #.117, Luz Church Road Mylapore, Chennai - 600004 Ph: 24994460 / 24997443 Email: sudharani.raghupathy@gems.vsnl.net.in |
