CHARSUR ARTS FOUNDATION has been formed primarily to Promote, Preserve and Support the art and the artistes who have made enormous contributions in the field of CARNATIC MUSIC. Carnatic music is the most ancient form of Indian Classical music which is more than 3000 years old. This music system is based on Indian values, and the themes often are spiritual and philosophical in content. The new system is an outcome in appreciation of the efforts that has gone into maintaining and sustaining this ancient art form. This is a unique opportunity to preserve the ancient Indian art and culture - CARNATIC MUSIC. Through a modern, up to date virtual webstore www.charsur.com. Charsur streaming offers complete Charsur catalogue on demand. This is a first time effort to support all involved in the promotion of Carnatic music and also receive revenues for life time.
2. A state of the art digital audio/video studio: The studio is involved in recording works of the foundation. The recordings of concerts, albums, music lessons, cleaning and digitizing archival music
• Since 2009, more than 50 concerts of great legends has been cleaned and digitized.
• This provides monetary support to the existing musicians and the families of the musicians who are no more.
• Supports economically weaker musician families.
• More than 100 musicians have benefitted from this digitizing and cleaning work.
3. Promotes Young Talent : youngsters are provided with a platform in the music scenario. Not only that the music thereafter is presented in the webstore for the world to benefit from it. This encourages many more youngsters to take this art form more seriously and work with it. Since 2009 the foundation holds one concert every month - an average of 10 concerts in a year – totaling to about 80 new artistes – young talent promotion. In these concerts senior musicians usually accompany the youngster. This the youngsters feel more challenged and have to perform better and gain experience working with seniors. The seniors musicians have been given the platform to perform and monetary support too. Each concert a month costs approx Rs 0.50 lacs and the total budget is around Rs5 lacs per annum.
5. CHARSUR ARTS FOUNDATION – MID YEAR SEASON
As part of its objectives the foundation conducts a three to four day music festival in Chennai during July/ Aug. This event features artistes who have dedicated their lives to Carnatic music. The great legends in Carnatic music as performer, teachers and contributors. The event also features the top ranking artistes of today as a contrast in popularity and fame. This event is a great opportunity to be a part of the program for the cause of promoting Carnatic music.
2012 - 5th Sept 2012 – 8th Sept 2012 – this featured young popular and older musicians 2013 – 24th Oct 2013 – 27th Oct 2013 - this featured young popular and older musicians
2014 – 16th Sep to 17th Sep – a thematic concert series was conducted – SARVESHVARI – an ode to the Primordial Shakti
2015 – 5th Aug to 9th Aug - a thematic concert series was conducted - Sagunaat Nirgunam – from the known to the unknown
2016 –25th Aug to 28th Aug - a thematic concert series was conducted - Dvayam – sounds of duality
These concerts featured more than a hundred artistes – all seniors and monetary support was provided. Usually such festivals costs close to Rs 7 lacs per annum.
6. MARGHAZI SANGEETOTSAVAM IN KAPALI TEMPLE
A Seven DAY music festival showcasing promising youngsters is being organized in divine serene backdrop of the Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore during January each year.. These festivals have been organised since 2016 – this features many youngsters – promoting them and providing the right opportunities to them. Over 75 artistes have been featured so far. Each festival costs more than Rs 5 lacs.
7. CHARSUR ARTS FOUNDATION – DECEMBER SEASON 2016
The foundation has been conducting a nine day music festival in Chennai in December during the peak Music Season since 2009. The unique feature of this program is to provide senior accompaniments to support the main upcoming and known singers. The festival started as small series for 2 days and now has spread to a festival for 15 days in the peak music season. This years music series features more than 60 artistes. The costs of conducting this festival is over 9 lacs.
8. The Foundation is involved in basic research - in the area of working on concepts, themes, presenting ideas, music and technology, music and acoustics etc.
9. Constantly educating and giving information on the evils of piracy, illegal downloads, the need to develop interest in maintaining ancient art and culture etc, purely out of public interest is being undertaken by the Foundation. The foundation over the years:
1. Makes payments to artistes who are unable to earn their livelihood but have contributed a lot to carnatic music.
2. Provides scholarships for research and learning music.
3. Showcase artistes in India and Abroad - through festivals.
4. Show Cases Carnatic Music in most Music Festivals in the World.
5. This is a first channelized effort to fight illegal downloads and distribution of music to listeners.
