The Global Carnatic Musicians Association (GCMA), under the leadership of Padmabhushan awardee Vidushi Sudha Raghunathan, has long stood as a pillar of support for musicians — from providing essential aid to offering medical cover during Covid. Carrying this vision forward, Kalaimamani Vidushi Nithyashree Mahadevan launched CAR – Create A Rasika, an initiative to revive live concert culture in the post-Covid era. In just over a year, CAR has taken Carnatic music to 80+ schools across Chennai, inspiring children through engaging sessions by both senior stalwarts and young musicians.

To deepen this engagement, Student Ambassadors of Carnatic Music (SAC) members were inducted from each school, ensuring that the connection with music extended beyond a single workshop into a lasting cultural bond. The initiative gained remarkable momentum during the December Season 2024–25, when SAC students attended concerts across city sabha-s, experiencing the grandeur of live performances firsthand.

Building on this success, GCMA launched the special series “Mahaan Medhai”, aimed at deepening students’ understanding and appreciation of music. The inaugural sessions featured Smt. Sudha Raghunathan presenting on her illustrious guru, Smt. M.L. Vasanthakumari, followed by an interactive session with Śrī Vijay Siva on the great composer Śrī Muttusvāmi Dīkṣita. Both sessions were met with great enthusiasm, leaving students inspired and eager to learn more.

The second edition, held last month, opened with a delightful performance by Śrī Unnikrishnan and Kum. Uttara Unnikrishnan. Their soulful renditions of timeless kṛti-s created an intimate and engaging musical space, striking a chord with rasika-s young and old alike.

What followed was an extraordinary presentation by Vid. Nithyashree Mahadevan on the life of her grandmother, the legendary Smt. D.K. Pattammal. With emotion and reverence, she wove together stories, struggles, and milestones from DKP’s illustrious journey, making the session both profound and deeply moving.

The audience was treated to a rare glimpse of the young DKP’s Columbia recording, alongside her unforgettable renditions of Eppaḍi Pāḍiṉārō, Pūṅguyil Kūvum, Vaiṣṇava Janatō, Ārō Ivar Yārō, and Vēlaṉ Varuvār. Her versatility shone through in diverse genres — from Tiru̱ppāvai and Hindi bhajan-s to devotional pieces like Gōkulam Yamuṉai Bṛndāvaṉ and the Aṣṭapadi Rādhikā Kṛṣṇa. Particularly touching was a video where she recalled receiving the blessings of Ambi Dīkṣita, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

Through this narrative, listeners were reminded of DKP’s pioneering spirit — as one of the first women to perform the male-dominated Rāgam–Tānam–Pallavi, and as a powerful voice behind patriotic songs that became the heartbeat of India’s freedom movement. Her unwavering discipline, quiet strength, and fearless artistry continue to inspire generations of musicians and rasika-s alike.

For the younger audience, this was more than a history lesson; it was a living testimony of how music, embraced with sincerity and conviction, can shape not only an artiste but an entire era.

Through initiatives like CAR and Mahaan Medhai, GCMA is not just supporting musicians but also safeguarding the future of Carnatic music by cultivating a vibrant, knowledgeable, and engaged community of rasika-s — ensuring that the tradition of live concert appreciation remains strong and cherished for generations to come.

Stay tuned for our next issue, where we will share more insights and highlights from this inspiring journey.