Navaratri Kritis of Maharajah Sri Swati Tirunal – Carnatic Music Concert in Bengaluru

Experience the timeless beauty of Carnatic music with a focused presentation of the Navaratri Kritis of Maharajah Sri Swati Tirunal at Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha, Bengaluru.

This special paid monthly concert brings together Vidushi Smt Sumitra Nitin and her students, accompanied by an accomplished ensemble of classical musicians. The programme presents the complete cycle of all nine Sanskrit Navaratri kritis composed by Maharajah Sri Swati Tirunal, enriched with concise explanations, musical analysis, and selected elements of Carnatic improvisation.

The concert is designed not only as a performance but also as an opportunity to understand and appreciate the depth of this important repertoire. Audiences will be introduced to the lyrical character, melodic treatment, historical context, and improvisational traditions associated with Sri Swati Tirunal's Navaratri compositions.

Date: 3 October, Saturday
Time: 5:30 PM
Venue: Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha, Indiranagar, Bengaluru
Admission: Paid event – tickets required

About the Navaratri Kritis of Sri Swati Tirunal

Maharajah Sri Swati Tirunal is celebrated for his contribution to Indian classical music and particularly for his compositions in Sanskrit and other languages.

His nine Navaratri kritis form a distinctive body of repertoire associated with the Navaratri festival. Known for their lyrical depth and melodic richness, these compositions offer musicians and listeners an opportunity to explore both the compositional craft and the expressive possibilities of Carnatic music.

This concert presents all nine Navaratri kritis in a single focused programme, giving audiences the opportunity to experience the complete Navaratri cycle together.

A Complete Presentation of All Nine Kritis

A major feature of the concert is the presentation of all nine Sanskrit Navaratri kritis.

Rather than selecting only a few compositions, the programme brings the entire cycle together and places each work within a broader musical and contextual framework.

The presentation includes concise sahitya explanations to help audiences understand the textual content and meaning of the compositions.

Alongside this, musical analysis provides insight into the treatment of the ragas and the structure of the compositions.

This approach makes the concert particularly relevant to listeners who wish to go beyond simply hearing the repertoire and develop a deeper understanding of it.

Exploring Sahitya and Musical Analysis

The programme includes explanations of the sahitya, or lyrical content, of the compositions.

These explanations are intended to provide context and make the words and ideas within the kritis more accessible to the audience.

The musical analysis adds another layer to the presentation, drawing attention to the ways in which the ragas are handled and how the compositions can be interpreted within the Carnatic tradition.

Together, the lyrical and musical explanations create a more informed listening experience.

Manodharma in the Concert

The presentation also features selected manodharma, the improvisational aspects of Carnatic music.

These include:

Alapana

A melodic exploration of the raga without fixed lyrics, allowing the artist to unfold the character and mood of the raga.

Neraval

A form of improvisation built around a selected line of the composition, combining lyrical structure with melodic development.

Kalpanaswaram

Improvised passages using swara patterns, highlighting rhythm, melodic movement, and the artist's creativity.

The inclusion of these elements allows listeners to observe how Carnatic musicians move between composed repertoire and spontaneous musical expression.

Honouring the Navaratri Mantapam Tradition

The concert also pays tribute to the historic Navaratri Mantapam practice associated with the presentation of Sri Swati Tirunal's Navaratri compositions.

As part of this connection with historical performance practice, the programme includes the rare presentation of tanam with mridangam accompaniment.

This adds an important traditional dimension to the concert and offers audiences an opportunity to experience a performance element that is less commonly encountered in contemporary concert settings.

Curated Visual Presentation

The musical programme is further enhanced by a curated PowerPoint presentation featuring images and contextual information.

The visual material is intended to provide additional background and help audiences connect the music with its historical and cultural setting.

By combining live performance, musical explanation, sahitya context, and curated visuals, the concert creates a format that encourages deeper audience engagement.

Meet the Artists
Vidushi Smt Sumitra Nitin & Students

The concert is led by Vidushi Smt Sumitra Nitin and her students, who present the Navaratri kritis as the central repertoire of the programme.

The presentation brings together performance and learning, making the concert relevant both as a musical experience and as a study of a significant compositional tradition.

Vidushi Smt Charulatha Ramanujam – Violin

Vidushi Smt Charulatha Ramanujam accompanies the concert on violin, adding melodic support and complementing the vocal presentation.

The violin forms an integral part of the Carnatic concert tradition, providing both accompaniment and opportunities for musical dialogue.

Vidwan Sri Arjunkumar – Mridangam

Vidwan Sri Arjunkumar accompanies the programme on mridangam.

The mridangam provides the principal rhythmic foundation for the concert and plays an important role in supporting the compositions and improvisational sections.

Vidwan Sri Ranganatha Chakravarthy – Ghatam

Vidwan Sri Ranganatha Chakravarthy accompanies the concert on ghatam, adding another layer to the rhythmic texture of the performance.

The combination of mridangam and ghatam creates a rich percussion accompaniment for the presentation.

A Concert for Carnatic Music Students and Enthusiasts

This programme is particularly suited to audiences interested in the study and appreciation of Carnatic music repertoire.

The concert can be especially relevant for:

Carnatic music students
Music teachers
Scholars and researchers
Classical music enthusiasts
Listeners interested in Sri Swati Tirunal's compositions
Audiences interested in Carnatic improvisation
Those keen to observe traditional concert presentation and stagecraft

The inclusion of sahitya explanations, musical analysis, manodharma, historical context, and visual material makes the programme educational as well as performative.

Observe Repertoire, Raga Treatment and Stagecraft

For students and serious listeners, the concert provides an opportunity to observe several aspects of Carnatic music in one programme.

Audiences can listen closely to the treatment of the ragas, follow the structure of the kritis, and observe how improvisational elements such as alapana, neraval, and kalpanaswaram are incorporated into the presentation.

The concert also provides an opportunity to observe how a traditional repertoire programme can be presented to a contemporary audience through explanation, visual context, and performance.

An Intimate Musical Experience

The event is presented as a focused musical presentation, allowing attention to remain on the repertoire, the performers, and the musical traditions surrounding Sri Swati Tirunal's Navaratri compositions.

With limited paid seating, the concert is intended to offer a carefully curated listening environment.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to book early to secure their preferred seats.

Why Attend the Navaratri Kritis Concert?

The concert offers an opportunity to experience:

All Nine Navaratri Kritis: Hear the complete set of Sri Swati Tirunal's Sanskrit Navaratri compositions.

Sahitya Explanations: Gain contextual understanding of the lyrics and themes.

Musical Analysis: Explore raga treatment and compositional details.

Manodharma: Experience selected alapana, neraval, and kalpanaswaram.

Traditional Practice: Discover the connection to the historic Navaratri Mantapam tradition, including tanam with mridangam accompaniment.

Visual Context: Follow curated images and contextual information through a PowerPoint presentation.

Live Ensemble: Experience vocal music supported by violin, mridangam, and ghatam.

Event Details at a Glance

Event: Navaratri Kritis of Maharajah Sri Swati Tirunal
Date: 3 October, Saturday
Time: 5:30 PM
Venue: Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha, Indiranagar, Bengaluru
Admission: Paid event – tickets required
Lead Artists: Vidushi Smt Sumitra Nitin & Students
Violin: Vidushi Smt Charulatha Ramanujam
Mridangam: Vidwan Sri Arjunkumar
Ghatam: Vidwan Sri Ranganatha Chakravarthy
Programme: All nine Sanskrit Navaratri kritis
Additional Features: Sahitya explanations, musical analysis, alapana, neraval, kalpanaswaram, tanam with mridangam accompaniment, and curated visual context
Seating: Limited paid seating

Experience the Navaratri Repertoire of Sri Swati Tirunal

The Navaratri Kritis of Maharajah Sri Swati Tirunal concert offers a focused opportunity to experience one of Carnatic music's distinctive Navaratri repertoires in depth.

With Vidushi Smt Sumitra Nitin and her students, supported by Vidushi Smt Charulatha Ramanujam on violin, Vidwan Sri Arjunkumar on mridangam, and Vidwan Sri Ranganatha Chakravarthy on ghatam, the programme brings together performance, explanation, analysis, improvisation, and historical context.

From all nine Sanskrit Navaratri kritis to selected alapana, neraval, and kalpanaswaram, and from sahitya explanations to the presentation's connection with the Navaratri Mantapam tradition, the concert offers a detailed musical journey through Sri Swati Tirunal's Navaratri cycle.

3 October | 5:30 PM | Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha, Bengaluru

Paid concert. Limited seating. Tickets required.