Chennai | This Margazhi, unconventional venues click with music fans

Why musical performances in unconventional spaces are a hit this Margazhi season in Chennai.

Food and music

Veena artiste Nirmala Rajasekar has performed in many unusual places – such as a classroom, an open air theatre, college campuses and a state fair in the US. But for this Carnatic veena player, who has one foot in Minnesota and another in Mylapore, a key Margazhi moment this season happened at Southern Spice Restaurant inside the iconic Taj Coromandel hotel in Nungambakkam, Chennai.

At Margazhi Sangamam, an event by the hotel to celebrate this musical month, Nirmala forayed into ragas like Nattakurunji, Amritavarshini, before launching into a Bharatiyar composition and a few original tracks.

The setting was different, the music the same.

“We learn so much from where we perform,” says the Kalaimamani Awardee, who was accompanied by her daughter Shruti Rajasekar (keys), Ixchel (electronic music) and D Chandrajit (tabla), “It was gratifying to see an audience that really cared and received us well. We were even asked to play the same piece twice by someone at the audience.”

The chefs at Southern Spice put together a special menu for the performance, and other musical evenings during the Sangamam (December 27-30). This had, among other things, manathakali vathal kuzhambu, arachuvitta sambar and javvarisi semiya paysam. The mocktails and cocktails were named ‘Jaladarangam’, going with the musical theme of the evening.

Inspired by the evening and the need to promote the arts, Nirmala has suggested a corner for musicians at a grocery chain. She says, “More spaces should become art-friendly and take music directly to newer audiences. Only then, Carnatic music will, not only survive, but also thrive.”