All India Radio (AIR), Bengaluru, has received nearly 300 applications for its National Music Competition announced last month. Amongst the applications received, the Vocal Category in the Carnatic segment has received the maximum entries, say AIR officials. Upcoming artistes in the State will get an opportunity to showcase their talent at the competition to be held between July 10 and 28 at all regional stations. The 63-year-old competition has in the past propelled several artistes to fame, including Karnataka's khanjira ambassador Amrit N., 32, and vocalist S. Shankar. Other artistes, who have participated, include the Rudrapatnam Brothers, D. Balakrishna, T.V. Gopalakrishnan, Sudha Raghunathan, and Ranjani Gayathri.
Introduced in 1954, the competition was initially focused on Carnatic and Hindustani music. "Over the years, based on the response it received, it has grown to cover 50 categories," said K. Vageesh, former Deputy Director General (Music), New Delhi, AIR, who is a vocalist himself. "Western music made its way into the competition just last year and was welcomed in Bengaluru," according to N. Raghu, programme executive, Akashvani, Bengaluru. Public response determines the addition or deletion of categories. For instance, the category of 'Music Composers' was introduced two years ago, but was discontinued following a dismal response. The most popular categories are Geet-Ghazal, Rabindra Sangeet and Vrindagaan (chorus). Nadaswara and mridanga are also seeing a swarm of applications and requests that they be made separate categories. Akashvani came up with sub-categories for some instruments, including plucked (stringed), bowed and wind instruments.
"Classical music and light music received such an unprecedented response that we had to create separate categories for girls and boys," says Vinod Kumar, Programme Executive, AIR, Bengaluru. Winners get the coveted title of B-Grade artist of AIR. The National Programme and the National Orchestra began in 1952 while the Sangeet Sammelan and National Music Competition began in 1954. "It was at the insistence of the then Union I&B Minister B.V. Keskar that classical music received a major push," said N.S. Krishnamurthy, who served AIR for 33 years and retired as director of Akashvani Bengaluru in 1995. India is the only country to hold such an event, he added.
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