First-of-its-kind musical presentation in Karnataka to showcase Kannada culture through music
Mangaluru, 28 September 2026: First Bhajana-Sankeerthanotsava and inaugural ceremony of ‘Nada Nandanam (R)’, a Mangaluru-based organisation formed to take Kannada language, culture, heritage and literature to people through music, will be held on October 4 at 5 p.m. at Ambedkar Bhavan, Urwa Store, Mangaluru.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Club in Mangaluru on Monday, Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, mentor of the organisation, shared details of the programme.
‘Nada Nandanam’, established with Karnataka as its centre, aims to introduce Kannada language, culture and literature to a wider audience through music. The inaugural programme will bring together devotional songs, Bhavageethe, folk songs and film songs, along with philosophical compositions of Purandara Dasa, Kanakadasa, Basavanna and other Sharanas, presented in different musical formats.
A team of 19 artistes, led by renowned playback singer Shankar Shanubhog and three-time State Award recipient Ramesh Chandra of Bengaluru, will present the musical programme. Shankar Shanubhog will formally inaugurate ‘Nada Nandanam’ by lighting the traditional lamp.
Organiser S.L. Bharadwaj said the organisation plans to conduct Bhajana-Sankeerthanotsavas and other musical programmes across India and abroad in the coming days.
Program will feature multilingual songs, bringing together devotional, emotional, folk and film music. Accomplished singers and musicians will perform with the support of an LED screen and specially designed sound and lighting arrangements.
Several prominent personalities from the banking, cultural and business sectors are expected to attend the inaugural ceremony. They include Dr. M. Mohan Alva, Chairman of Alva’s Group of Institutions, Moodbidri; Dr. G. Shankar, Chairman of Shyamili Group of Institutions, Udupi; Raghavendra Bhat, Managing Director of Karnataka Bank; and B. Sarvottam Shetty, President of the Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, among others.
Free passes available
Free passes for the programme will be available at counters at Ocean Pearl (Navabharath Circle), Taj Mahal, Pathumudi (Lalbagh), Ayodhya (Kodialbail) and Padmashree (Pumpwell) hotels in Mangaluru. Those collecting the passes are required to register their name and mobile number.
S.L. Bharadwaj appealed to music lovers to participate in large numbers and extend their support to the new initiative. Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, Mulki Ravindra Prabhu, Ramesh Chandra, Jagannath Shirlaalu and S.L. Bharadwaj were present at the press conference.
Contact: S.L. Bharadwaj Nada Nandanam (Regd.), Mangaluru Mobile: 9880924411
Keywords: Nada Nandanam, Bhajana Sankeerthanotsava, Mangaluru music event, Kannada cultural program, Kannada devotional music, October 4 Mangaluru, Citizen News Puttur