Vishaka Hari
| Visakha Hari | |
|---|---|
 Visakha Hari at a concert in Bengaluru in 2016. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | India |
| Origin | India |
| Genres | Indian classical music |
| Occupation(s) | Harikatha exponent |
Vishaka Hari is a Carnatic music vocalist and proponent of Harikatha, otherwise known as a storyteller of Kathakalakshepam. She holds the rank of Chartered Accountant.
Early days
Vishaka Hari learned Carnatic music under the legendary Carnatic violinist, Padma Vibhushan Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman. Her spiritual guru and father-in-law is Sri Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal (Sri Sri Anna).[1][2] She learned the art of Harikatha from her husband, Sri Hariji, an experienced Harikatha exponent who delivers discourses in Tamil, English and Hindi.
Musical career
Vishaka Hari has performed in several sabhas during the Chennai Music Season since 2006.
Vishaka Hari occasionally performs with her husband, Sri Hari (son of Paranur Mahatma Krishna Premi Anna), who uses her English literary background to supplement her kathakalakshepam performances. Her brother, Saketharaman, also a disciple of Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman, is one of the leading carnatic musicians in India. An artist of All India Radio, she has given discourses and concerts abroad.
Vishaka Hari learned Bharatha Natyam from prominent dancer, Professor Sudharani Raghupati.[2] Smt. Vishaka performs Harikatha on various topics such as Srimad Ramayanam, Srimad Bhagavatham and Skandam. She also performs Srisrianna's works such as: Sri Vaishnava Samhitha; Sri Brindavana Mahatmyam; Divya Desa Vaibhavam; Harikathamritha Lahari; Sri Bhakthapurisha Stavam; Sati vijayam Shatakams and Keerthanas.
Harikatha topics
Topics on which she has performed Harikatha are:
- Sudama Charithram
- Tyagarajar Charithram
- Sabari Moksham
- Sundara Kaandam
- Rukmini Kalyanam
- Seetha Kalyanam
- Radha Kalyanam
- Andal Kalyanam
- Parvati Kalyanam
- Padmavathi Kalyanam
- Gajendra Moksham (The liberation of Gajendra the elephant from the Bhagavata Purana)
- Nandanar Charitram
- Haran thiruvadi charanam
- Shambo mahadeva
- Subrahmanya Vaibhavam
- Venkatesha Mahatmyam
- Krishna Leela (The acts of Krishna)
- Guruvayoorappan Leela
- Meerabai Charitram
- Bhooloka Vaikuntham (Sriranga mahatmyam)
- Prahaladha Charitram (The story of Prahalada)
- Srinivasa Kalyanam
- Meera Charithram
- Surdas Charithram (The story of Surdas)
- Kanakadasar Charithram
- Ramakrishna Paramahamsar Charithram
- Bhadrachala Ramadasar Charithram
- Narayana Theerthar Charithram
- Sadhashiva Brehmendral
- Vrithropakyanam
- Srimadh Bhagavatham
- Rama Jananam
- Kouslya Mangalashasanam
- Padhuka Pattabhisekham
- Jatayu Moksham (The liberation of Jatayu the eagle)
- Sugreeva Sakyam
- Vibhishana Saranagathi (The supreme surrender of Vibhishana, brother of Ravana)
- Rama Pattabhisekham (The coronation of Rama)
- Bheesma Stuti
- Kunti Stuti
- Aajamilopakyanam
- Kurma Avatharam
- Vamana Avatharam
- Narada Bhakthi Sutram
- Pancharatna Vaibhavam
- Rama Nama Prabhavam
- Endaro Mahanubavlu
- Meenakshi Kalyanam
- Valli Kalyanam (The wedding of Valli, consort of Muruga)
- Geethayum Sangeethamum
- Purandaradasar Charithram
- Druva Charithram (The story of Dhruva ((son of Uttanapada)) from Vishnu Purana)
- Rukmangatha Charithram
- Ambarisha Charithram
- Ambujam Ramyanam
- Role of Women in Ithihasas and Puranas
- vaiyagam kakum kannan
- Prema Ganam
- Dhana Mahimai
- Guru Mahimai (Avadootha geethai from the 11th canto of Srimadh Bhagavatham)
- Women of Wisdom
- Little Krishna
- Hanumath Prabhavam
- Matram Kanda Mahangal
- Kannan En Kadhalan-Rukmini Kalyanam through Bharathiyar compositions
- Azhwargal Vaibhavam
- Panduranga Leelai
- Malai nadu divya desam
- Dashavatharam
- Ramanuja vaibhavam
- Kannada Ashtadasargal
- Sri Rudhram
- Hanumath Prabhavam
- Thygarajarum thygarajanum
- krishnam vande jagathgurum (11th canto of Srimadh bhagavatham)
- Kakkum deivam Kapaliye (Charithrams of Avvaiyar, Thirumoolar, Karaikal ammaiyar & Nandanar)
Places of recital
- Keyes High School For Girls, Secunderabad
- RR sabha-1st recital in front of Paranoor Mahatma sri sri Krishna Premi Anna
- Paranoor Radhika Ramana Sri Bhakthakolahalan Sannidhi
- Madras Music Academy
- Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha
- Sri Brahma Gana Sabha
- Vani Mahal
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Vasanthotsavam
- Thiruvisanallur Ayyaval Madam
- Mardanallur Sathguru Swamigal Madam
- Nanganallur Guruvayurappan Temple
- Madras University
- At Sudharma, Chennai, in front of Sringeri Sannidanam
- Infosys Hall, Ramakrishna Mission School, Chennai
- Chowdaiya Hall, Bangalore
- Naradha Gana Sabha, Karur
- Rama Bhaktha Jana Samaj, Ayodhya Mandapam,Chennai
- Geylang Shiva Temple
- Chettinad Vidyashramam-Margazhi Mahotsavam
- Sri Krishna Gana Sabha
- Sindhi Hall, Dubai
- Sringeri Mutt, Srirangam and Pondicherry
- Ilangnar Bhajana Samaj, Kumbakonam
- Guruvayurappan Temple
- Bharath Kalachar
- SASTRA University, Thanjavur
- Kumbakonam Uppiliappan Temple
- Rathnagirishwarar temple, Besant nagar
- Sringeri Mutt, Pondicherry
- Brigade Theatre, Bangalore
- Kalakshetra, Chennai
- Srivilliputhur Andal Sannidhi
- Hamsadwani, Indranagar, Chennai
- Vittal Rukmani Smasthan, Govindapuram
- Bharthiya Vidya Bhavan (Trichy, Mylapore)
- Udamalpet
- Canon's High School, London
- Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society, Singapore
- Hoover Auditorium, London
- Veda Temple, Seattle
- Sbat, Washington
- Guruvayur Temple, New Jersey
- Aiyyapan Temple, Salem
- Rukmani regency, Guruvayoor
- Jaganmohana palace, Mysore
- Thyagaraja Aaradhana - Thiruvaiyaru
- Sunnyvale Hindu Temple, Sunnyvale, USA
Awards and recognition
She has received many prizes and awards for her contributions to the Harikatha and Carnatic music fields.
References
- ↑ The Hindu : Friday Review Bangalore / Interview : The raconteur's raga
- 1 2 "From commerce to katha". The Hindu. Retrieved 2017-03-30.