Music-lovers in New England experienced a truly melodious evening of Tamil film songs of various genres, from toe-tapping gaana pattu, soulful romantic ballads to scintillating dance numbers performed by seven notable local artistes during the Isai Mazhai 2012 event held at Ashland High School on January 14^th. The fundraising concert for Isha Vidhya, one of Isha Foundation’s highly acclaimed large-scale humanitarian projects in Tamil Nadu, was organized by volunteers who were inspired to donate their talents and time to this worthy cause that focuses on educating underprivileged children in rural India.

The event was a grand success raising over $6000 to support the education of underprivileged children in villages of south Indian state Tamil Nadu. Attended by about 300 visitors and supporters, the event started around 5:00 PM with a group song “Thai Pongalum Ponguthu” from the movie “Mahanadhi” to celebrate the “The Pongal” festival. Following that, the "Ninaithale Inikkum" team presented melodies and super hit numbers like “Konja Neram” from Superstar's Chandramukhi, “Kuzhaloodum Kannanukku” from Mella Thiranthathu Kathavu, “Ponmagal Vandhaal” from Azhagiya Tamizh Magan and many more. “Kadhal Kavithaigal Padithidum Neram” from Gopura Vasalile received an overwhelming response from the audience requesting to do it “once more”! The first segment ended with a super hit from Kamalhasan's Nayagan, “Nilla Adhu Vanathumelae”. The second half started with a classical number, “Ennai Enna Seidhai” from Ivan, and raised the tempo of the program to faster and kuthu songs like "Yammadi Athaadi" and "Otha Sollalae". The YouTube sensation “Kolaveri Di” was also featured, which involved and entertained the audience immensely. The show concluded with a AR Rehman's megahit song “Tamila Tamila” from the movie Roja.

The Ninaithale Inikkum team comprised of local artistes Priya Anand and Uma Sankar who are carnatic music teachers from the greater Boston area, Dr. Meena Sundaram, Bharath Sundararaman, Mahesh Subramanian, Sankar Gangaikondan, and Krishnakumar Velmurugan. The sound services for the show was delivered by Jawed Wahid from Live Sound Engineering. The program was emcee'd by Naveena Shanmugham and Shankar Narayan who were student volunteers of this event.

There were over a dozen sponsors who supported this fundraiser and numerous volunteers and friends worked tirelessly to help coordinate and conduct the event to make it a terrific success!!

The show received a overwhelming support from the audience. Here are some quotes from a few of the audience: “..song selection and mix made us reminisce good old melodies from 80's/90's.”, “..the engaging and dancing singers kept the energy of the show up...”, “...a very good mix of all genres kept the show interesting and entertaining to the broader audience..”

About Isha Vidhya: The mission of Isha Vidhya is to work for the economic and social empowerment of the rural child, and thus of society; this is accomplished by building high quality schools and offering a nurturing approach to education. Isha Vidhya also actively promotes the education of the female child and creates the possibility for the rural child to pursue higher education or find gainful employment, thereby building a strong foundation for our country’s economic growth.

There are many opportunities and ways that one can support Isha Vidhya. Donors can sponsor a child’s education as a full scholarship, provide for a child’s transportation to school and noon-time meal, or help build and furnish new schools and purchase school buses. And, as Isha Foundation is 100% volunteer-driven, donations represent a value well beyond its face value, which is tax-deductible within the law.

For more information about Isha Vidhya visit www.ishavidhya.org - make a difference in one child’s life and ensure a bright future for India today.

You can follow the Ninaithale Inikkum team and this event at this website: https://sites.google.com/site/bostonisaimazhai/

Please visit our Web Photo Gallery for pictures from the event.

Please send your comments or feedback to ninikkum@rajpriya.com

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