The best way to experience nature is through the colors presented, the music performed and dances controlled by breezes and wind through the accompaniment of all the percussion nature presents.

Shri Sai Chavadi Kala Kendra was born to reemphasize, teach, educate and give new birth to the thrill of the performing arts. Yesterday night in the fourth concert of the season at the Chavadi we got a taste of what happens when jazz is fused with classical Hindustani music. 

Sitarist Mani Akella joined forces with guitarist Priyant Sundas and to the accompaniment of table percussion by Pranav Ghatraju held the audience at the Chavadi spellbound for a period of 1 hour as they wove their way through through the performance. 

Starting with the slow, sedate raga Hamsadhwani from the world of Carnatic music, they expanded into the majesty of the Hinudstani raga Yaman otherwise known as Kalyan before exploding into a crescendo with raga Bhairavi. 

Through the entire session, the audience was treated to a musical fest that floated form Carnatic, to Jazz , to Hindustani without any break or pause.

As the music progressed under the watchful eye of Sai Baba, its intense connection to Bhakti was exposed and became very evident why music is the most natural path to devotion as well as its best expression.

The artists Mani and Priyant are conducting Sitar and Guitar lessons respectively at the Chavadi Kala Kendra to help bring up the next generation of aspiring musicians at the Kala Kendra. Other classes in the Chavadi Kala Kendra include tabla and keyboard along with upcoming Bharatanatyam classes. The Kala Kendra is slowly but surely morphing into a centre of excellence for the performing arts. 

Mani Akella started playing sitar at the age of 5. He has had the fortune of being tutored by traditional gurus for 17 years in the intricacies of Hindustani classical music. Mani has blended the styles into his own unique form which uses delicate artistry combined with the precision classical expression to produce audible bliss.

Priyant started playing guitar at the age of 4. He has designed and mentored Hindustani classical music for World guitar for the Shankar Mahadevan Academy. He is the recipient of numerous awards/ accolades for Guitar. 

Priyant Ghatraju is a Ganda Bandhan shagird of Ustad Shabbir Nissar in the Ustad Shaik Dawood tradition.