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The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
When a mridangam maestro meets a marxist leader
What could be common between a mridangam exponent and a Marxist leader? Music. The friendship between Umayalpuram Sivaraman, who describes himself as a hardcore traditionalist, yet ultramodern, and M.A. Baby, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a connoisseur of Carnatic music, dates back decades. The two came together to share their story at a special conversation session at The Hindu office, where N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief, explained how an unusual association blossomed into an enduring friendship. It was during the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that the world of Carnatic music first opened its doors to Baby. Then a student, who almost went underground and later courted arrest, he found an unexpected path to music. 'His elder brother advised him to visit a temple and listen to concerts. That is how he first discovered the great music of Sivaraman,' Ram said. Baby fine-tuned his taste in music by attending concerts of past masters, who were often accompanied by Sivaraman on the mridangam. To this day, he vividly recalls the songs rendered at those performances and the way Sivaraman's artistry elevated each concert. He once even travelled to Erode to hear him accompany K.V. Narayanasamy, after seeing an announcement about the concert in The Hindu. 'That day KVN sang 'Evarimata' in Kamboji. The elaboration of the raga, the rendition of the kriti, and the tani avartanam that followed are unforgettable,' Baby said. So thorough is Baby with Sivaraman's bani that when he was a Member of Parliament, he once asked Arun Kumar, after listening to him perform, whether he was a disciple of Umayalpuram Sivaraman. When the mridangam maestro was thoroughly impressed when he came to know about this. Recalling the incident, Sivaraman said, 'Later, I received a call on my landline — I still don't have a mobile phone. The person at the other end said, 'I'm Baby. I'd like to meet you.' So I invited him over, and that's when I realised he was the person Arun had mentioned. We again met with some friends, and ended up discussing music till late in the night. 'My wife, who was worried, called to check if I'd been kidnapped,' he laughed. Appreciative of Baby's deep sensitivity to music, Sivaraman pointed out how we can identify the style of most artistes, both vocalists or instrumentalists. That's a rare quality. Baby, who has organised many concerts, was instrumental in bringing together Chenda melam exponent Mattanoor Sankarankutty Marar and Sivaraman for a performance. He even arranged for the latter to accompany Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj. Babyrecalled Sivaraman's decision to call Neyyattinkara Vasudevan to sing a Pallavi for the inauguration of the Kerala University Students' Union. 'When Vasudevan saw Sivaraman walking in, there were tears in his eyes.' Referring to himself as a honeybee, Sivaraman said, 'Wherever there is good music, irrespective of caste or religion, I offer to accompany the artiste'. Believe it or not, he has also composed music for a fashion show. Sharing his experience of accompanying stalwart musicians, Sivaraman pointed out how each possessed mastery in their respective field. ' Your imagination should come through in your playing. Through hard work, you reach the top and maintain your place by constantly improving. Otherwise, others will overtake you,' he said. Speaking on the subject of creativity, Sivaraman said, 'Don't think everything old is good, and don't term everything new as bad. People with wisdom always choose the best from the old and the best from the new.' The conversation also featured Sivaraman's friendship with the actors Sivaji Ganesan and M.G. Ramachandran. He played for the Sivaji Ganesan starrer Mridhanga Chakravarthy. 'Sivaji Ganesan used to call me vathiyar (teacher). Before every shot, he would ask me if he was playing it right. Such was his humility,' he said. Sivaraman also recalled the presence of MGR and Devaraj Urs at the Music Academy to attend a concert of M. Balamuralikrishna, the year he was conferred the Sangita Kalanidhi award. 'I accompanied him. After the concert, we went to meet both the Chief Ministers. MGR came up to me and said, 'You played well. He had prepared the pallavi at home, but you played on the spot. You are great.' Will anyone say that? That shows how deep his musical knowledge was..'
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Business Standard
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
KVN Properties, Assetz Group join hands for ₹1,000 crore Bengaluru project
KVN Properties, an institutionally backed real estate investment platform led by former Prestige Group CEO Venkat K Narayana, has entered into a strategic Development Management Agreement (DMA) with Assetz Group to develop a premium residential project in North Bengaluru. The collaboration will span approximately 1 million square feet, with an estimated Gross Development Value (GDV) of ₹1,000 crore, according to a statement. Further, KVN said the agreement boosts its total tied-up residential development for FY 2025–26 to approximately 4.4 million square feet, building on its May 2025 joint development announcement of 3.4 million square feet with Puravankara Group. The partnership with Assetz Group further strengthens KVN's strategic roadmap towards developing 10 million square feet of residential real estate within the current fiscal year. "This is a high-conviction investment backed entirely by KVN Properties where we are not only aggregating land but building a portfolio of end-to-end residential developments that combine intelligent planning, financial discipline, and customer-centricity. As we scale to 10 million square feet this fiscal, our goal remains clear: create exceptional living spaces in high-growth corridors with the right partners and a disciplined investment approach," said Venkat K Narayana, Promoter, KVN Properties. The Bengaluru-based KVN noted that the project is planned as a single-phase development spanning 3–4 years, commencing after securing all necessary approvals, including RERA registration. The Development Management Agreement outlines detailed specifications for unit types, sizes, and amenity planning, ensuring the final offering aligns with evolving buyer preferences while preserving brand identity and differentiation. "North Bengaluru is a high-growth corridor with a discerning buyer base. This partnership allows us to co-create a landmark project that reflects KVN's commitment to community-focused development and our passion for design-driven living. The 5.6-acre parcel in North Bengaluru aligns well with our strategy to deliver quality residential apartment development in high-growth markets backed by strong economic drivers," added Sunil Pareek, Executive Director, Assetz. KVN caters to Bengaluru while actively exploring expansion into Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai. The company's expansion occurs against the backdrop of a buoyant Bengaluru residential market, which posted 14 per cent year-on-year price growth in H1 2025, the highest in India alongside NCR.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
KVN Properties partners with Assetz Group for Rs 1,000 cr premium residential development in Bengaluru
Synopsis KVN Properties and Assetz Group are partnering for a residential project in North Bengaluru. The project will cover nearly 1 million square feet. The estimated value is Rs 1,000 crore. KVN aims to develop 10 million square feet of residential space this fiscal year. Assetz Group will manage the development. The project is expected to take 3-4 years after approvals.
News18
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Watch: Vijay Greets Fans In Kodaikanal Ahead Of Jana Nayagan Shoot
The film, produced by KVN Productions and is reportedly Vijay's final film before entering politics Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan has grabbed the interest and excitement of fans like no other. The actor is now in Kodaikanal, where a large section of the film directed by H Vinoth will be shot. In a few videos that have surfaced on social media, the actor is seen being approached by fans as he heads to the shooting location. As they approached his car, Vijay greeted everyone politely. What also caught everyone's attention was Thalapathy Vijay 's clean-shaven, slender appearance. It appears to be one of his more recent looks for Jana Nayagan, and fans are already excited to see what it will look like on screen. #JanaNayagan in Kodaikanal 😍 — Arun Vijay (@AVinthehousee) May 2, 2025 Meanwhile, Indian rapper Sooraj Cherukat, also known as Hanumankind, is creating waves by joining the team of Jana Nayagan. The artist stated that he will sing a song in Thalapathy Vijay's highly anticipated final film. Hanumankind will be collaborating with famed composer Anirudh Ravichander on the song Chatting with Ananda Vikatan, he expressed his delight saying 'I have rendered a great rap song for Thalapathy Vijay in Jana Nayagan, composed by Anirudh." The film, Jana Nayagan, will be released in theaters on January 9, 2026. The film, produced by KVN Productions and is meant to be Vijay's final film before entering politics, as well as KVN's debut Tamil-language production. Vijay will co-star with Pooja Hegde as the lead, and Bobby Deol will portray the villain. The film also stars Mamita Baiju, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and others. The film was first announced in September 2024 under the working title Thalapathy 69, and it marks Vijay's 69th appearance as a lead actor. The actual title, Jana Nayagan, was announced in January 2025. Shooting began a month later, with important schedules in Chennai and Payanoor. Anirudh Ravichander composed the music for the film, which was shot by Sathyan Sooryan and edited by Pradeep E. Ragav. First Published:
