Annual festival attracts worldwide audience

A global audience gathered virtually to celebrate a legendary South Indian singing saint and composer, during an annual festival backed by the Solihull business community.

Touchwood shopping centre, Solihull Chamber and the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce were one of several businesses to back the seventh edition of the Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival 2021 (BTF), streamed live last week.

This year's festival, organised by South Asian arts organisation ShruthiUK, was a vibrant and colourful commemoration of the 174th birthday of the South Indian singing saint and composer Thyagaraja.

The ten-hour long, virtual festival featured over 100 performances of Indian classical and folk music and dance from across continents showcasing their brilliant talents.

Chithra Ramakrishnan, founder and artistic director at ShruthiUK, said: “Festivals such as the BTF further strengthen the cultural links between the UK and India, defining India 's unique cultural heritage and its national identity and help preserving them in the years to come.

“The format of this festival being online was completely new to us and curating the festival required a lot of coordination and planning. It has, however, enabled successful partnerships and allowed us to connect with more people.

“These classical Indian festival and art forms have evolved and passed on from many generations n and are still practised with great respect and fervour globally and to wider Communities, making it culturally diverse and distinct. It helps them give the rich experience to learn, enjoy and to unite all of us through the Indian classical art forms

“A huge thanks to the team and everyone involved in putting together this amazing event at such challenging times. The festival would not be possible without the wonderful support of the participants from across the globe. ”

The festival was presided by Dr Shashank Vikram, consul general of India in Birmingham, and was held in partnership with mayor Andy Street, Touchwood in Solihull, the Solihull Chambers of Commerce, the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), The Royal Asiatic Society and a host of other premier partners.

Special festival partners included Sridhar Ranganathan, chief executive and founder of Shankar Mahadevan Academy and legendary Bollywood musician and composer Padma Shri Mr. Shankar Mahadevan as Special Festival Partners.

Every year the festival also honours women achievers at the award ceremony, in lieu of International Women 's Day, as recognition of those who have made a positive impact and contribution to the society.

This year 's inspiring women were:

Diana Crabtree, country president at St John 's Ambulance

Deborah Cadman, chief executive of Birmingham City Council

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce