M.A. Narasimhachar Music Foundation celebrates its silver jubilee
The M.A. Narasimhachar Music Foundation is celebrating its silver jubilee with a year-long series of non-ticketed concerts in Bengaluru. The foundation continues the legacy of the Gana Kala Mandira, a historic concert space that promoted Carnatic music.
Why it matters
Preserving cultural heritage and making classical arts accessible to the public remains a vital aspect of community and artistic development.
Mysore-based musician, M.A. Narasimhachar, was born in 1924. It was from his home that he established Gana Kala Mandira, an intimate yet influential concert space that hosted many of 20th century’s well-known Carnatic musicians, including Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and Umayalpuram Sivaraman. It was an important meeting point for musicians and rasikas.
Even in his later years, Narasimhachar spoke with enthusiasm about his gurus including Tiger Varadachariar, Sabesa Iyer, Ponniah Pillai, Sattur Krishna Iyengar and T.K. Rangachar for initiating him into the tradition. He also studied Western music through courses conducted by Trinity College London.
Gana Kala Mandira celebrated its diamond jubilee in 2002. Though it no longer exists, its legacy continues through the M.A. Narasimhachar Music Foundation, established by his son, Sri Kishan.
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