Now Reading: Hyderabad hosts three-day Carnatic flute tribute for Mali centenary
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Hyderabad hosts three-day Carnatic flute tribute for Mali centenary
The Story in Brief
Kalasagaram is hosting a three-day Carnatic flute festival in Hyderabad from October 30 to November 1 to mark the birth centenary of T R Mahalingam, the legendary flautist known as Mali. Three concerts will feature flautists Jayaprada Ramamurthy, B Vijayagopal and J B Sruthi Sagar, each with a full complement of violin, mridangam and percussion accompanists.
Born in 1926 in Tamil Nadu, Mahalingam taught himself the flute at age five and made his concert debut at seven. He revolutionised Carnatic flute with the cross-fingering grip, redesigned the bamboo instrument with eight holes, and achieved breath control that allowed vocal-style microtones. He declined the Padma Bhushan in 1986. All concerts begin at 6 pm, admission is free, and dinner is provided after each performance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The festival frames the centenary not as a retrospective but as a living tradition performed by multiple generations of flautists. By pairing each artist with a distinct ensemble and venue, Kalasagaram spreads the event across different Hyderabad neighbourhoods, making access free. The organisers have not named any state or central government sponsorship, so the full cost is borne by the cultural body itself. That the orchestra includes up to four accompanists per night suggests a substantial logistical effort. No future events have been announced, this appears to be a standalone centenary salute rather than the beginning of a rolling series.
Source: telanganatoday.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
