First BKS Indo-Bahrain Dance, Music Festival set

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) will organise the First BKS Indo-Bahrain Dance and Music Festival, under the patronage of the Embassy of India and in association with Bahrain Authority for Culture Antiquities and Soorya Stage and Film Society. The festival will commence on May 3 and conclude on May 14. The festival marks the monumental occasions of the 75th year of India’s Independence, the 75th year of the founding of BKS, and the 50th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bahrain.

The event is also an esteemed part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, an initiative of the Government of India, conducted by the Ministry of Culture, celebrating 75 glorious years of Independent India. The Mega Festival, curated by India’s foremost art director and connoisseur Soorya Krishnamoorthy, will witness performances by various art exponents, and will provide a magnificent cultural experience like never before, BKS said in a statement issued.

The highlights of the festival include an inimitable performance by the world renowned Sarod trio Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, and his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, the man moving people with his moving fingers Rajhesh Vaidya, and his team of accompanying artists, and the crowd-favourite keyboard magician Stephen Devassy and team. BKS Indo-Bahrain Dance and Music Festival will mark its first day on May 3rd with a soulful ghazal music night by Anoop Jalota.

Indian classical dance exponent Asha Sharath will bring to life Sugathakumari’s “Krishna Nee Enne Ariyilla” through Bharatnatyam on May 4. The next day will witness a night of musical magic orchestrated by Stephen Devassy, and his team Umayalpuram, Attukal Balasubrahmaniam and Amith Nadig. Popularly known as The Violin Duo, Ganesh and Kumaresh, accompanied by Vidwan Patri Satishkumar on Mridangam, will perform on May 6. On May 7, Carnatic music concert will be conducted by Abhishek Raghuram and his team of accompanying musicians.

Music exponent with the voice of a nightingale, Nithyasree Mahadevan and her team will perform a concert on May 8th. A dance drama production from Bahrain, Buddha – The Divine, by Vidyasree, with music composition by Palakkad Sreeram, and lyrics by L Sampathkumar, will grace the stage on May 9th. South India’s most favoured singer – music director M Jayachandran, accompanied by Sankaran Namboodiri, Sreevalsan J Menon, Lalu Sukumar and team, will bring a night of melody on May 10. Artists from the Kingdom of Bahrain will perform on May 11.

A Kathak performance by Khalil Alashar will be followed by a concert by the band Majaz Bahrain. On May 12 is a classical instrumental night headed by Mysore Nagaraj, Dr Mysore Manjunath on the violin, accompanied by Thiruvaroor Bhakthavalsalan, Alappuzha R Karunamoorthy, and Giridhar Udupa. On May 13 is a concert by the man with the enchanting fingers, Rajhesh Vaidya, and his team Bhuvanesh, Kumaran, Mohan and Sai Hari.

May 14 will showcase a once in a lifetime night of music by the Sarod Maestros Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash. The BKS Indo-Bahrain Dance and Music Festival is conducted in association with the Embassy of India, Bahrain, Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and Ministry of Social Development, Kingdom of Bahrain.

The pandemic brought a standstill to physical, offline, tangible cultural experiences that bring joy and solace to life, the statement said. P V Radhakrishna Pillai, President of BKS, and the brain and brawn behind the event is bringing back cultural extravaganza to the art lovers’ society of the Kingdom of Bahrain, with this Mega Festival. “The arrangements for the Mega Festival are in full swing, and we hope to fulfil Bahrain’s art lovers’ dreams,” said Varghese Karakkal, the General Secretary of BKS.