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A sabha's diamond jubilee
The Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha
THE SEASON entitles me to a second paragraph on a subject I know little about — except that it connects with Madras' heritage. Part of that heritage for the last 60 years has been the Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, the story of whose birth I was reminded of as much by the recent rains as by its being a neighbour whose growth I've watched over the last 50 years.
The sabha's history records that it was when cine artiste and musician Chittoor V. Nagiah, returning home after a concert in Mylapore one evening in 1944, saw several rasikas waiting at a bus stop in pouring rain to catch a bus to T. Nagar that he felt a sabha was necessary for the then growing residential area that had been developed in the 1930s on the site of the old `Long Tank.' Teaming up with friends, he organised the sabha which they agreed to name the Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, as much for its location as for the connection with music and a member of the Trinity. The inauguration was held in the Hindi Prachar Sabha with a concert by Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar.
Over the next few years, the sabha's programmes were held at the Hindi Prachar Sabha in large pandals raised for the concerts. But as the sabha's popularity grew, it began thinking of its own hall. The sabha was able to take a step further, when one of its members leased it at nominal rent a vacant plot he owned at the junction of G.N. Chetty Road and Dr. Nair Road. Here, with contributions from other members, led by Nagiah, a hall was raised that was, as I remember it from across the wall, anything but impressive.
But it served the purpose and drew the crowds from its inauguration by Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar. A Gopinath-Thangamani ballet was the first performance on this new stage at what was named `Vani Mahal.'
`Vani Mahal' was added to in 1973 and also refurbished. But though its name became an identifying landmark in T.Nagar, the building, even after renewal, hardly matched that status.
It was in the new millennium that it was decided to pull down the old building and celebrate the Sashtiabdapoorthi ahead with a new hall. But what well-wishers and members enabled it to raise was not one hall but three! an 850-seat hall, a
150-seat hall and a 250-seat hall — all air-conditioned and with excellent acoustics.
The halls help considerably in allowing the sabha maintain its unique three-pronged focus — Iyal, Isai, Natakam — which it showcases during the season, this year a few days from now. It also honours artistes from all three performing arts.
S. MUTHIAH
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