Institution of National Importance An autonomous body Under Ministry of Culture Government of India

Report for the Month of December 2018

1. Central Office

(i) Finance Committee meeting: Fifty-eighth Finance Committee meeting of Kalakshetra Foundation was held on 18th December, 2018 at Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai under the Chairmanship of Dr. Dharmendra Singh Gangwar, Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Ministry of Culture , New Delhi. Smt. Revathi Ramachandran, Director, K.F., Shri R.D.S.Sridhar, Dy. Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Tamil Nadu attended the Meeting. Representative from Ministry of Culture did not attend the meeting.

(ii) Capital works

(a) Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium renovation work is in full swing and nearing completion. In connection with the Auditorium work the following works were undertaken by the Foundation—

(i) Supply, installation, testing and commissioning Rs.4,65,360.00 of control panel for curtain and light bars

(ii) Construction of pathway between Bharata Rs.1,88,018.00 Kalakshetra Auditorium to New Costume Block

(iii) Provision of new gates in the north and south Rs.1,79,761.00 sides of the Auditorium

(b) Construction of compound wall in front of Museum to get it readied for the Annual Art Festival for an amount of Rs.1,16,764/-/

(iii) Security Services: For provision of security services, a new firm viz. M/s. Bharatheeyam Security Services Pvt., Ltd., Pallikarani, Chennai was engaged w.e.f. 28.12.2018

2. Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts

 Based on the requests received from the organisations concerned, recommendation letters were issued for salary grant and production grant from the government.

 In connection with the Karthigai Somavaram – concerts by staff and students of Kalakshetra was held at Sri Marundeeswarar Temple on 03.12.2018 & 10.12.2018.

 Dr.G.S. Arundale’s birthday was celebrated on 1st December 2018 under the Banyan Tree.

 Kathak workshop by Vidhushi Saswati Sen was conducted for the staff and students of RDCFA from 05.12.2018 – 07.12.2018.

 Workshop was conducted by Shri Malladi Suribabu on "Annamacharya Kritis" on 19th December 2018 (Wednesday) – 21st December 2018 (Friday) at Tagore Hall for the music students.

3. Craft Education and Research Centre

I. Production

Sl. No. Block Printing Section No. of items

1 Sari 19 nos. 2 Duppata 63 nos 3 Dress materials 28.60 mts 4 Shawl 156 nos

Hand Painting Section 1 Stoles 8 nos 2 Duppatta 1 no

Handloom products

1 Silk Sari 9 nos

2 Cotton sari 61 nos

3 Dance Dawani 16 nos 4 Silk stoles 8 nos

II. Sales

Handloom products Rs. 3,00,655 Block printing & Hand painting Rs. 3,57,541 products Total Rs.6,58,196

4. Museum

During the Annual Arts Festival, Museum was opened for general public.

5. Theatre

Kathak Workshop from 5th to 7th December 2018 Kalakshetra Foundation in association with Kathak Darpan conducted a 3 – day workshop from 5th to 7th December 2018, by Padmavibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj and Vidushi Saswati Sen. Kalakshetra was venue partner for this workshop. The workshop offered special sessions for the students and staff of Kalakshetra on all days. Kalaketra has also presented a short performance as part of the ‘Mehfil’ that featured various renowned artists of Kathak on the final day of the workshop. Total Receipt – Rs.47,200/-

65th Annual Art Festival from 20 December 2018 to 2 January 2019 In order to promote the artistic and cultural richness of India and to be an active participant in the Chennai Art Festival of December season, Kalakshetra Foundation has been conducting its annual art festival for the past six decades. This year, the festival was conducted for 14 days from 20th December 2018 to 2nd January 2019 at Rukmini Arangam from 6 PM onward. Shri Robert G. Burgess, Consul General of the United States of America, inaugurated the festival on 20th December 2018. Following were the programs held during the festival. While 750 people witnessed the programme everyday and the amount collected through ticket sales amounts to Rs.10.00 lakhs and the sponsorship amount received is Rs.2,29,400/-.

Date Names of Programs 20th Dec Sita Swayamvaram by Kalakshetra Foundation 21st Dec Carnatic Vocal by Shertallay Dr. K.N. Ranganatha Sharma 22nd Dec Sri Rama Vanagamanam by Kalakshetra Foundation 23rd Dec Paduka Pattabhishekam by Kalakshetra Foundation 24th Dec Koodiyattam by Shri Margi Madhu Chakyar & Troupe 25th Dec Odissi Solo by Smt. Sujata Mohapatra Kathak Solo by Smt. Saswati Sen 26th Dec Sakunthalam by Kalakshetra Foundation 27th Dec Carnatic Flute by Shri Shashank Subramaniam 28th Dec Jugalbandhi by Shri Lalgudi GJR Krishnan & Ustad Shahid Parvez 29th Dec Carnatic Vocal Recital by Smt. Sudha Raghunathan 30th Dec Hindustani Vocal by Pt. Rajan & Sajan Mishra 31st Dec Sabari Moksham by Kalakshetra Foundation 1st Jan Choodamani Pradanam by Kalakshetra Foundation

2nd Jan Maha Pattabhishekam by Kalakshetra Foundation

Sita Swayamvaram by KF on 20th Dec 2018 Carnatic Vocal Concert by Shertallay Dr. K.N. Ranganatha Sharma on 21st Dec 2018

Koodiyattam performance by Shri. Margi Madhu Chakyar & Troupe on 24th Dec 2018

Kathak Solo by Smt. Saswati Sen on Odissi solo by Smt. Sujata Mohapatra 25th Dec 2018 on 25th Dec 2018

Sakuntalam by KF on 26th Dec 2018 Carnatic Vocal Concert by Smt. Sudha Ragunathan on 29th Dec 2018

Hindustani Vocal Concert by Pt. Rajan Mishra & Pt. Sajan Mishra on 30th Dec 2018

Sabari Moksham by KF on 31st Dec 2018 Maha Pattabhishekkam by KF on 2nd January 2019

6. REPERTORY

(i) Kalakshetra Foundation was invited by Bharat Kalachar Sabha on 11th December 2018 to perform Rukmini Kalyanam a dance drama as part of their annual December festival. An amount of Rs.25,000/- was received for this programme.

(ii) Kalakshetra Foundation was also invited by Brahma Gana Sabha on 28th December 2018 to perform Rukmini Kalyanam a dance drama as part of their annual December festival. An amount of Rs.50,000/- was received for this programme.

7. Outreach

 Bharatanatyam classes are continue to be held for under-privileged children in seven schools in collaboration with Aanmajothi, a NGO.

 Kalasmprekshana- the first national Seminar was conducted from 24- 25th December 2018.

8. Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School

 On December a workshop was conducted for teachers of primary classes.  On December 6th students of classes XI and XII Humanities group were taken on a field trip to Palaverkadu.  On December 8th Brahma Sadhana All India Dance Competition was conducted in Mumbai. Sanjena Ramesh of Class XI participated and won Gold Medal for Bharatanatyam.  On December 9th a National Level Cultural Competition was organized by INTACH at the South Zonal Cultural Center, Tanjore. Sanjena Ramesh won the “Ilanthalir” award for Bharatnatyam in the Seniors Category.

9. Besant Theosophical Higher Secondary School

 On 6th December, 2018 – Headmistress attended meeting which was held at Santhome Higher Secondary School regarding ‘Girl child abuse’.  On 10th December, 2018 Half Yearly Examination started from class X, XI & XII std.  On 10th December, 2018 Headmistress attended the meeting regarding “Leadership Training” at Cresent College at Vandalur.  On 12th December, 2018 Term II – Summative Exams started from class I to VIII std.  On 21st December, 2018 “Betti Bacho Betti Padao” programme drama was staged about Women’s Education by our students from class VI to VIII.